60 Bathroom Remodel Ideas That Prove There's Potential in Every "Outdated" Space

We’re sure the nighttime photo doesn’t help, but this cold bathroom was just so basic. Devoid of all personality, this "before" shot shows a dreary space that lacks any character.

We can hardly believe this gorgeous terrazzo-patterned bathroom once looked like the one above it. The team at The Tap End Design completely transformed the space into something serene and warm.

From the broken mosaic tiles on the floor to the bulky built-in tub, it was time for this outdated bathroom to go. The homeowner, who was also the interior designer who took on this project, wanted a brighter, fresher bathroom, which is exactly what she got below.

Designer and homeowner Liz Williams got the updated bathroom of her dreams after almost 20 years in her Atlanta home. They decided to keep the existing floor plan but update the finishes. “We used the cabinet ‘boxes’ but added new drawers and door fronts,” Williams says. “We added doors to the tower because it was hard to keep neat, but chose a painted cane to keep it somewhat open.” However, it was getting rid of the built-in tub and replacing it with a freestanding one that really opened up the space.

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Besides tossing out the heavy drapery, this space desperately needed a more functional layout. Also on the homeowners’ list was a brighter space and a freestanding tub.

Originally built in 1929, it’s not a shock that this bathroom needed a full remodel. It was the perfect time too: The husband was about to retire, so he and his wife decided to invest in their Nashville home and transform it into their beautiful and calming paradise. “In order to achieve these goals, we were tasked with creating a more functional bathroom layout, which included a freestanding tub, private water closet, and separate makeup/vanity space,” designer Debbie Mathews explains. Her team gutted the space, adding a stunning nickel tub, an elegant antique chandelier, and new green stone tile to complement the wallcovering and custom cabinetry. It became just the right amount of glamorous and sophisticated with a fresh new layout.

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Sometimes, the historical aspects that add to a house’s charm are simply too impractical to live with. Such was the case with this clawfoot tub and shower combination for these homeowners. The worn tiles, small vanity, and early signs of mold were just a few reasons why this bathroom needed a remodel.

“This guest bathroom needed a modern update without sacrificing its historical charm,” designer Gabriela Eisenhart of Silo Studios says. She decided to get rid of the impractical clawfoot tub and shower, replacing it with a walk-in shower to open up the layout in this guest bathroom. However, since they had to get rid of the charming bathtub, they honored the home’s history by incorporating “a beautiful landscape wallpaper from England, adding timeless character to the modernized design,” she adds.

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Any designer can find a way to make an outdated bathroom work in a home. However, when the rest of the house has already been updated and the old design doesn’t align at all with the fresh look, like with this house, it makes it harder to make any outdated room look good.

Designer Sarah Tract is behind this moody and luxurious powder room update. “While we kept the same footprint in this powder room, it feels completely different thanks to the high-end materials and chic black and white color palette,” she explains. The lighting specifically exudes luxury and will make anyone feel like they’re standing in a boutique hotel bathroom.

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To put it simply: This original bathroom is “dated, dark, and depressing,” according to designer Sarah Tract. The wooden vanity combined with the stainless steel sink on top of the dark tile wasn’t doing this space any favors when it came to style.

However, after Tract remodeled the space, this bathroom became an exciting and playful room. “The epitome of a jewel box space, we gutted this powder room to create a more elevated aesthetic,” she says. It’s perfectly moody and bright, and the Kelly green wallpaper helps make the space feel larger.

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Prior to the renovation, this bathroom was basic and focused on functionality. The space was so dark and the triple medicine cabinet only made the room feel smaller.

Luckily, the team at JAM was able to expand the room's square footage to accommodate a shower stall. “The ‘after’ bathroom is much more in line with the homeowner’s personal style. It’s a bit moody with the deep blue tinted plaster on the walls and gray floor tiling, but also super modern with the floating vanity and a fun pendant,” says Joe McGuier, JAM's cofounder and principal.

Upon first glance, this bathroom is totally fine, but it's not special nor a design moment. The finishes aren't cohesive, and the pink countertops never look clean.

To elevate the space without expanding the square footage, the JAM team chose to upgrade to a double vanity. “We also custom-designed these chic, modern shower doors that are made with ribbed glass and rubbed bronze. An abundance of white marble makes the space feel larger, cleaner, and more serene,” says McGuier.

This busy bathroom was not only a bit dizzying to the client and the team at JAM, but it was overly traditional. Thankfully, the sink and counter weren’t in bad shape.

Megan Prime, cofounder and principal of JAM, installed this tree motif wallpaper to add some color and connect the home to its location near Central Park. While there were several other updates in this bathroom remodel idea, the new wallpaper significantly revitalized the space.