Meet the Bath Cave: Our Cabin Guest Bathroom Renovation

Giddy up, I’ve officially kicked off a new renovation project: our guest bathroom! If you’ve been following me on Instagram, Tiktok or YouTube, you know that we’re already deep into the throes of this bathroom makeover. But I want to go even deeper with you on this project and share even more info about my design plan, why we’re making certain choices and give you more of a peek into the entire project. This is a long one, so grab a coffee and a snack!

All About The Bath Cave: Our Cabin Guest Bathroom Makeover

The Guest Bath Before:

Then in 2021, I teamed up with Walmart and Better Homes & Gardens to transform the guest bathroom with a ‘skinny makeover.’ I didn’t have a ton of budget, so I focused mostly on cosmetic updates to make it look more my aesthetic. This is one of the first renovation projects we tackled in the cabin and, to this day, it’s still one of my favorites because it was a testament to what you can do with a bit of creative thinking even on a really tight budget.

The updates for the first round of guest bath updates were:

• A new toilet
• Installing beadboard (Ieftovers from our primary bedroom) + fresh paint
• Removing the tile and installing Chasing Paper peel & stick flooring — side note: I am SHOCKED by how well that tile held up for nearly 4 years! Highly recommend using it because it also came up very easily.
• New fixtures: lighting, artwork, shower curtain, etc

We also repurposed a lot of existing things like the pedestal sink and a white storage cabinet that you may recognize from the bathroom in my tiny bungalow (my first house). And if you’ve been here even longer, you know that the mirror is from my loft bathroom!

Then, in 2023 we added a washer and dryer to the space, making it a combo laundry room and guest bathroom. We made this change because eventually I want to turn the laundry closet (the laundry “room” that the cabin originally came with) into the primary bathroom’s shower so that there could be room to move the vanity into the bathroom and out of the primary bedroom—because don’t forget: the primary bathroom vanity is literally next to where we sleep.

The thing is… I hated having the laundry in the guest bathroom. As you can see in my video below, the space was just way too tight and the dryer door nearly touched the edge of the sink. The machines were really low and, ahem, in my old age I now prefer top loading vs front loading. So currently we are back to using the laundry closet. But fear not, I already have a plan for where they will go so I can still use the closet space for the primary shower. There is ALWAYS A PLAN!

Key Updates for the Guest Bathroom:

Before I dive into the aesthetics of the project, let’s talk about our list of needs for this room:

Linen & Toiletry Storage

Even though our house is nearly 2000 sqft, our closet storage is lacking. And given that we are forever battling mice getting into literally everything, we need more closed storage. I would do wild things in exchange for a proper linen closet.

More Open Space

The bathroom has always felt really cramped and confined, especially the bath tub and shower. Because it’s a fiberglass insert, there’s a ton of wasted space. Every time I’ve showered in there, my elbows hit the wall and that just is not the experience I want guests to have when they visit us!

Removing the Bath Tub

On a similar note, we are doing something controversial: we’re removing the bath tub and only doing a glass shower enclosure! While the tub was convenient for washing the dogs, it also really limited our options for the project in general. I also had some major issues sourcing a tub that would fit in the limited amount of space we have that wasn’t insanely expensive or custom.

The Smell

This bathroom has always smelled weird. ALWAYS. From the mummified mice in the walls that we know are there to potential openness to the crawlspace, there are a lot of mistakes we need to fix in order to resolve this problem.

DIY

I guess I should also mention that we are doing this entire bathroom renovation OURSELVES. It’s nearly impossible to find contractors that will come all the way out here, and quite frankly, I know we can handle this project. It’s true we’ve never fully renovated a bathroom together, but I’m not worried. We’re scrappy, have all the tools we need and can figure out most things thanks to YouTube.

Why is it called The Bath Cave?

You know me, I like to name every project that we do with something quirky. This name came about because there was literally once a bath trapped in the bathroom—but it’s also just a really dark, chilly space. The tiny window is north facing so it doesn’t get much natural light and I have a suspicion that it needs better insulation so that it isn’t as cold all the time.

The Guest Bathroom Makeover Design Plan:

And now, the fun part! These two images are my primary source of inspiration. Here’s what I’m pulling from each as inspiration for my guest bath design:

What I Like:

• The black beadboard: we’re updating the current beadboard, but will be painting it a fresh shade of black or black-grey
• Wallpaper: I want to incorporate more print and pattern into our cabin in general, so I’m starting with this project. I want something botanical and folkloric like in this image, but lighter in color so that there’s more contrast.
• Round mirror
• Statement sink: I wish I had budget for a stone sink like this! While that’s definitely a pipe dream, I can still achieve a similar look with a console sink that has interesting details.

As we were planning this project, I realized that the tile shape needed to be basic for a few reasons including ease of installation and budget. Simply put, squares are easier to install and cost way less than a fancy shape. The inspiration image covers all the bases for me because it utilizes squares in a way that looks like a plaid because of the color tones used. And I happen to be extremely obsessed with plaid, so it’s a win-win on all levels!

Guest Bathroom Moodboard

As you can see, I’m going for DRAMA with the black beadboard, but opting for more contrast with a lighter toned wallpaper. The print of the wallpaper is very Scandi-cabin without feeling super cliché. The finishes will be polished chrome and polished nickel, plus neutral textiles to soften things. The scalloped mirror adds visual interest and charm, too.

I want the color palette to feel soothing and natural—and quintessential cabin vibes. It feels like a departure from the more colorful rooms in our home, but to me that means that it feels more sophisticated and ‘grown up.’ When I was thinking of the rooms in our house that I love the most, the changes I made to the primary bedroom came to mind first. There’s power in layered neutrals and there’s always opportunity to add intentional pops of color in the future.

Shop the moodboard:

And if you’re in the mood to binge The Bath Cave project in video form, here you go! I definitely recommend checking out the full video series if you’re not familiar with the project. It will explain even more, plus show you the nitty gritty of the project.

So that is everything (so far) about our DIY guest bathroom makeover project! I’ve been sharing weekly updates on Instagram, Tiktok or YouTube so be sure to follow me on the platform of your choosing to stay in the know. Plus, leave a comment telling me what you think of this project!