February greetings from Tumbleweed Tidings! Here it is almost the middle of the month, and it appears we have dodged the snow bullet completely this year. It is sunny, warm, and the feeling of spring is in the air. (That noise you just heard was me knocking on wood:))

If you are a regular reader, you will remember that last month I shared the transformation of the orange and yellow guest bedroom into a more soothing, neutral palette. If you missed that post, you can view it here: https://tumbleweedtidings.com/2020/01/18/time-to-put-it-in-neutral/

Adjacent to this bedroom and the twin bed guest room, there is a shared bathroom that sits in the hallway right between them. It was decorated in the same orange and yellow plaid as the guest room next door, with sage green painted walls. It was sunny and bright, but after re-doing the two guest rooms, it stuck out like a very sore thumb. Time to put this room in neutral, too.

The first thing we did was repaint the bathroom to match the walls in the rest of the house using Sherwin Williams Patience. This color reads well in every light and is a warm, creamy greige that pairs nicely with any other color you put with it. Once the painting was done, it was time to make a few small changes that had a big impact.

Our two guest bathrooms have the fiberglass built-in tub/shower surrounds. Not my favorite, but they are in brand new condition, so we are not inclined to change them out to a spiffier, on-trend tile option at this time. What bothers me most about them is how low they are. The ceilings are high, but the enclosure doesn’t go up far enough to look right. In the past, I put the shower curtain at the same height and it looked squatty. (Squatty; adjective meaning short and thick, low and broad.)

I improved the squatty shower issue by looking online and finding a longer shower curtain and liner. Who knew? I thought I’d have to make one custom, but I found the wide-banded stripe at Target and the liner on Amazon. Since the rod was adjustable and had been removed for the painting, my husband and I just reinstalled it at the correct height for the new curtain. Problem solved. I have included the link for the shower curtain, which comes in several colors for $32.99. You should be able to cut and paste this into your browser if it doesn’t connect. (This is not an affiliated link that I get compensated for if you order, just passing on useful info!)

https://www.target.com/p/spa-waffle-shower-curtain-with-3m-treatment-taupe/-/A-53461928

Next, it was on to the fun stuff, more commonly known as the decorating. I removed the large orange picture above the toilet and replaced it with a wooden Amazing Grace sign that had hung in our entryway. The wooden carved piece next to the window was purchased on Mauii a few years ago and represents a hibiscus. The remaining wall art stayed from before. The floor runner in a gray, cream and white floral came from Home Depot. The simple shear linen pleated valance was $26.95 and came from Vermont Country Store, who now carries the old Country Curtains line that I know and love.

On the counter, I updated the accessories with a little tray that contains a small glass and brass candle holder and a small bird. Behind it sits a shadow box I made. You can read how I made it here: https://tumbleweedtidings.com/2019/08/07/diy-shadowboxing/

There is a new soap dish that matches the tray, a towel holder, and a real white orchid. Tumbleweed Tidings Tip: When purchasing orchids, try to find ones that have many unopened blooms. Typically, it will continue to bloom for up to two months. On the floor next to the tub, I spray painted a previously orange garden stool in metallic bronze and boy, what an improvement that made!

If you’ve been keeping track, other than the wall painting, I purchased seven items; a shower curtain, liner, rug, valance, tray, soap dispenser, and a fresh orchid. The rest of the changes were items moved from other rooms or from my decorating closet stash. In all, the room was transformed by moving some decor, a little DIY spray painting, and a cost of around $150.

The next time you want to change the look of a room but are afraid of the work or cost, fear not. It doesn’t have to be overly time-consuming, labor-intensive, or expensive. In fact, the more creative ways I find to do a room makeover without breaking a sweat or the bank, the more joy it brings me. The same philosophy, and joy, can work for you as well!

Good tidings,

Diane