Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

| By | | 265 Comments

Upcycling A Secondhand Bathroom Light

But before we get to that: an armadillo in the bathroom. Let’s talk about it. Everyone needs one, right?

New Art Shot

I mean, we can argue that a lot of decorating “rules” are personal preference and yada yada, but seriously, can we all agree that a bathroom is not complete without a golden armadillo?

Armadillo1

That’s a print we bought from this craft fair from an awesome local artist named Rachel that I finally got around to framing and hanging up. I especially love it in the burlap-y/grasscloth-ish frame (an old Pottery Barn Outlet find) hanging above the framed instagram photo of Clara holding a naked doll (felt kinda bathroom-esque).

Clara Pic Detail

The linen-like fabric behind the instagram photo looks great with the textured frame above it, and I actually have a secret agenda when it comes to bringing these cream/straw tones into the room. After looking at the gold-tones in our soap containers and even that loofah on the toilet tank, I realized they help the oddball cream sink feel less out of place.

Art 22

I mean don’t get me wrong, it’s still shaped like a shell and won’t be here forever, but it’s a lot cuter and a less clashy when it’s paired with other things that we already own in that color palette (like the soap pumps, the art, the loofah, and the frames). So there’s gotta be a design lesson in there, right? Say it with me: everyone needs an armadillo in the bathroom! sometimes adding a little bit more of a color that feels like the oddball can make it feel more layered and intentional. At least for that Phase 1 (in the meantime) type of decorating.

Bathroom After2

And I know it’s hard to tear your eyes away from that gorgeous armadillo, but we also got a new light fixture. We dug it up for $9.99 at the Habitat For Humanity ReStore (see the chrome guy hiding in the middle of this shot?).

New Light 1

We just gave it a few thin coats of Rustoleum Universal oil-rubbed bronze spray paint with the light bulb parts taped off to protect them. It’s self priming, so it was an easy one-step update.

New Light Sprayed

Then we grabbed two cheap frosted bulb covers at Home Depot and called it good.

New Light After11

It definitely helps the whole room feel more crispy and updated. And since we’re planning a deeper room makeover down the line once we save our pennies (perhaps with a tiled accent wall or some grasscloth wallpaper?) we love that we could find some cheap secondhand charm in the meantime. Psst- Notice how the red flowers on the sink from the first shot are gone? I added those for a pop of color after I took these shots, and love ’em. So pretend they’re here too.

Bathroom After2

UPDATE: We’ve finally transitioned our entire house to LED lights (they save tons of energy & money, and they’re a lazy person’s best friend because you never have to change them). For anyone wondering, these are our favorite interior LEDs. Their glow is warm & natural (not weird/blue like some of the others we’ve tried) and they use around 90% less energy.

* This post contains an affiliate link

Comments

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Actually once I brought in the red flowers I though… ooh what about a coral red mirror? But for now I like that the mirror has silver and ORB and gold tones all worked into one piece (it helps merge things like the knobs and the faucet and the light and door hardware since they’re all different).

      xo
      s

  3. dlichten says

    What a difference coordinating your whites (and metals) makes. The sink went from dated eyesore to nothing to see here part of a whole palette. Neat trick.

    Reply

  4. Starr @ The Kiefer Cottage says

    The only place I’d like an armadillo would be in a bathroom. Preferably shot by yours truly and stuffed by the local taxidermist. Those jokers better not be in my garden!

    Anyway, the harvest tones are really pretty, shell sink and all.

    Reply

  9. Kelly Lippert says

    I love it! And, by the way, I just kept hearing Ross say, “I’m the holiday armadillo!!!” Except you can replace it with, “I’m the bathroom armadillo!”

    Reply

  12. Laura says

    I had a totally random dream about an armadillo last night. I “won” it as a prize at a party (huh?!). I laughed so hard when I saw today’s post title! Armadillos on the brain!

    Love your blog! So excited to see everything you guys do in the new house!

    Reply

  15. Michelle says

    I’m sure that last line was said in the voice of Ross for all who read it, right? I sure hope so! Made my morning!! Thanks for always giving me something to look forward to when I get to work every day! :)

    Reply

  16. Lesley says

    I’m glad you mentioned the loofah a few times, I was wondering if you didn’t realise you put one in a bathroom with neither a tub nor shower. (even though I got right away that it was part of visually balancing the frames and other tones going on)

    My must have in all bathrooms (yup, even ones without a tub) is a rubber ducky. Every bathroom in my home has one.

    Reply

  19. Cyn says

    Looks so classy and fresh! Getting ready to spruce up my own small first floor bathroom. Can I ask what color/brand paint you used on your cabinet?

    Reply

  21. Jennifer says

    I would love to see one of your famous “side-by-side” comparisons of how the bath looks now with what it looked like when you first moved in :) You did a comparison shot a few days ago but it didn’t have the art work or new light fixture. I think those two small additions really finish the room off nicely!

    Reply

  22. Tara says

    Looking good! I am curious as to why you are replacing the faucet before you change the countertop and/or sink. Wouldn’t it be more efficient to find a faucet that goes with a new top that you love rather than fit a faucet to the top you are planning to replace? Just a thought . . .

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh yes, we’ve looked high and low for a new counter/faucet at places like the ReStore but nothing fits, and since this is just a phase 1 update, we don’t want to sink too much loot into anything we do now since down the line I have big dreams for a new vanity/sink/wall of tile/etc. But you can find cheap faucets pretty easily (our current one leaks) so that’s why it’s on the list :)

      xo
      s

  23. Kristie says

    Wow! Your little bathroom looks so grown up now, but it still has your “we never take ourselves too seriously” fantastic sense of style. I love it guys!

    Reply

  25. Rebecca Alvarado says

    We have a clamshell sink that is cream with GOLD flecks in it. Totally 70’s in a bad way. The sink is even chipped in a part. The faucet leaks and is ugly. This weekend I found a cute faucet for $10! Plans are to attempt to switch it out this weekend. Never done a faucet replacement so looking forward to your tips. One day the counter and sink will be replaced, too. Pennies are collecting for that one now.

    Reply

  26. bethany says

    another reason why I love your blog. You guys totally can do those inexpensive/ creative/ not-take-it-too-seriously updates that make a space feel loved while planning bigger things down the road. I have a tendancy to just say, ah, I will live with it since we are updating later. I like your ‘tude better!

    In other DIY news: ten more weeks of this pregnancy left! Any advice on how to keep up the momentum in the last trimester, Sherry? my energy level is at record lows!!!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh man, I remember slowing down at the end too! Hmm, I always felt better when I ate good stuff (watermelon, veggies, chicken, etc) and got lots of sleep, although that got harder in the end too. Music really kept me going too, so if I was nesting and wanted to clean out every cabinet in the kitchen I’d put on my favorite CD and rock out.

      xo
      s

  27. Lauren says

    LOVE the armadillo! In fact, I am loving everything about how this bathroom is evolving… it is really looking great! The mirror is gorgeous.

    Reply

  29. Julianne says

    I’m lovin’ the updates. Looks amazing! Rustoleum’s oil-rubbed bronze is also my absolute favourite. Everything around here got a coat of it while we are updating. Your comment about adding more of a colour that perhaps isn’t “sitting well” is interesting. We chose (what we thought was a neutral light grey), but tends to have purplish undertones. We’re probably not going to have the time (or interest) to repaint by the time we are aiming to put this baby on the market. Soooo, my question to you is, when staging, we found a new grey mat that we will only put out for showings to keep it fresh, but as far as accents for the countertop, would you suggest keeping them white, the same purplish grey, or perhaps add a floral arrangement with some deep purples to make the cabinet appear more grey and less purple, or do you think this would this bring out the purple too much?

    Reply

  30. Brenda says

    I hadn’t even realized that the sink wasn’t white until you pointed it out! I am very unobservant sometimes. Love the armadillo, love all the little updates! It’s really bringing the little space together.

    Reply

  31. Katie says

    It suddenly seems so simple -h ow to make the best of a fixture that you really cant stand. It totally looks like everything was done on purpose!

    Ps, I LOVE the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. Theres one down the street from my job. We shop there all the time for display pieces, and I absolutely plan on shopping there for future home furnishings!

    Reply

  32. Heather V. says

    Gorgeous updates!! I love how you’re working “with” the sink instead of against it. The whole room looks very classy!

    Reply

  33. Christy says

    Love the color palette and textures you combined in this small space, they make it look so rich. One thing I’m learning from you both is how to see with intention, and look beyond the obvious to what something *could* be. Previously, I wouldn’t have thought to spray paint a cast-off brass light fixture, or pick up a cute animal print to pair with a burlap frame to put in the bathroom – but they all come together to create something fabulous! I feel like I need to take notes…

    Reply

  34. Jennifer : Creative Scatter says

    Looks great! I like how you used fabric behind the instagram photo instead of matting it. I’ve been looking at frames for a batch of instagram photos I got printed and I couldn’t find the right size anywhere! Using fabric is such a great idea because it can be used with any size frame!

    Looking forward to the new faucet!

    Reply

  35. audra says

    Looks great! I wanted to share a green that I LOVE! My grandmother loves green and I have painted her doors with this cheery shade as well as a few other things throughout her home. Not that you want to paint the vanity again, but incase….. Behr Shamrock ( I knew it was the right color for my grandmother, but after seeing them name it was destined….my late grandfather loved shamrocks.)

    Reply

  36. JennieM says

    My first house had 70s orange laminate countertops and a golden/tannish linoleum floor…I knew I wouldn’t be able to redo the kitchen for a long time ($$$) so I covered a wall with a wallpaper that incorporated the orange and golden/tan…a little too country for my tastes but that blatent orange just kind of melted away…it actually looked ok, dated, but not the huge eye sore it was when I moved in. All for $20. Work with what ya got!

    Reply

  37. Christine says

    I actually decorated around a faux cream/tan marble countertop in my last house’s bathroom. I painted the room blue and used and brown/cream/blue as the towels and art work. It made the room look intentional. I loved it and still miss that bathroom kind of!

    Reply

  38. Camryn says

    Hi, I get that you love your daughter and love to have her photographs displayed, but, do you really think that behind a toilet is the best place to do this?
    I certainly wouldn’t want male friends/family standing there looking at my kid whilst, well, you know what!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      To us eye contact is weird (ex: entire family portrait of everyone staring and smiling while you pee) but her looking down at a doll felt kind of sweet. No eye contact. No child nudity. Just our kid being cute in the powder room. I know some folks who frame their kids taking baths in their bathroom. I think whatever you like works for art in your own home.

      xo
      s

    • Carla says

      I agree with Camryn. The photo of Clara is sweet – but feels “off” in a powder room that almost all of your guests will use. To me the photo would feel more appropriate upstairs, in Clara’s bathroom. I would consider putting one of your amazing Instagram beach/water shots in the powder room and maybe shells in the clear glass holder (since a loofah and cotton balls won’t get used in a powder room). Hope I don’t sound too negative!

      I do love the idea of adding more of an unwanted color or element in to a room during Phase 1; I’ve done it myself and have sometimes surprised myself by growing in to loving and keeping the combo! Good job.

    • Plein Jane says

      My husband has a “rule” against photos of people in the bathrooms. In doesn’t bother me at all, but there must be strong feelings about it. It came up when we had some friends over, and it was a topic of conversation for 30 minutes!

    • Lesley says

      Ha, ha – adding shells to that bathroom would certainly cover adding more of an unwanted element.

      I actually think with the sink (grew up with a shell shaped one myself in a home built in the late ’70s) the addition of the colour of the shells would actually achieve the offset for the sink colour, and the fact that it’s really shells would be a great tongue-in-cheek offset of the sink shape!

  39. Jennifer I says

    I love how you demonstrate how you can make things you have, even things that seem hideous (shell sink), work. I did not like this mirror much, but now love it with all the tones you have added. I think this looks pretty good as a forever bathroom!

    Reply

  40. shanna haycraft says

    Looking Good Guys! I love all your quirky art! I get so hung up on what to hang on walls that I get analysis paralysis. Also curious to see how you guys tackle the grasscloth wallpaper – I hung it in our dining room with help from my mother who has hung countless rolls of wallpaper back in the day and we had to do a little staple staple here and there at the top since it was so heavy. BUT 4 years later I still love it so it was totally worth the stress! Pics here:
    https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1242304626765.2037565.1503820523&type=1&l=27e80114f5

    Reply

  42. Kay says

    I love this. The neutrals all play together wonderfully and everything looks so purposeful, even that darn cream shell sink :)

    Reply

  44. Holly says

    Loving the new tones in this room …

    … but I gotta say that a loofah in a powder room (especially on the back of the toilet) just makes me wonder why it is there … as in, here is something for you to use … in a space with no bath or shower …

    Don’t wanna draw you a verbal picture of what immediately springs to mind as soon as I saw it there.

    Please save us having to use the brain bleach! Surely you have something else in that color you could substitute?

    Reply

  47. heyruthie says

    I also have (otherwise unobjectionable non-shell) cream countertops in all my baths. THANK YOU for helping me see how to “work them in” since I do not have the budget right now to “upgrade” them. I really like what you’ve done in the spirit of “if you can’t beat ’em join ’em” because heretofore, I was trying to “ignore” them, and it wasn’t working. at. all.

    Reply

  48. Julie says

    There is something about the frame with the armadillo print that REALLY makes the floor pop. Amazing what the right shade of colors can do for each other! Looks great, coming along!

    Reply

  49. Lauren says

    I really love the color scheme in this bathroom! And the bathroom Armadillo is hysterical. We have a small Buddha statue in our bathroom. It’s my husband’s and when we first started dating, I got such a kick out of seeing this random Buddha just sitting on the toilet tank (no he is not Buddhist, I think it was a movie reference…Rush Hour, I think?) Anyway, 5 years, 2 houses, and one new baby later, we still have it in our main bathroom.

    Reply

  50. Sophie says

    Wow, the room’s really coming together – love it! Can’t stop hearing ‘bathroom armadillo’ a la Ross Geller’s ‘I’M THE HOLIDAY ARMADILLO!!’

    Reply

Stuff We Love

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *