My father's bathroom has long been a source of design dismay (probably just for me). This was largely due to its discolored walls, lack of art, and large strip of bright blue painter's tape on the ceiling. One day, after almost peeing my pants running upstairs to my bathroom,  I decided to stop avoiding the downstairs bathroom, and figure out a way to redecorate it in an affordable, yet beautiful manner.

The main design issue in this small bathroom was whether to paint or wallpaper. Since I work outside the home, and have two small kids, I don't have a lot of time to flip through design blogs or magazines. So, I worked on designing it at night, when the kids were sleeping. I remember the picture of a bright, tropical mural hitting my screen, full of birds, monkeys, and peacocks--I may have even shreaked with delight and run downstairs to tell my husband. There on my screen, was a stunning wallpaper mural from Anthropologie (Garden Chinoiserie Mural). It was so detailed and colorful, that I wondered if it would be too much for such a small space. In the end, it actually makes the bathroom appear larger, is more calming, and feels like being on vacation at a boutique hotel. 

I knew the bathroom needed a gorgeous, round mirror, that wouldn't compete with the detail of the wallpaper. Easy, right? There are thousands of round mirrors out there to choose from, and the price range is all over the place. Even though I had a tight budget, I wanted basic quality and beauty--something that would hold up for a few years. In West Elm's Round Wall Mirror, there was a modern elegance that blended beautifully with the jungle scene behind it.  

Finally, the light over the bathroom sink needed to be replaced. The previous light was the classic three hanging sconces, looking very 90's. Again, I didn't want the light to compete with the wallpaper or mirror. On Etsy, I found a designer--MODCREATIONStudio--who creates modern, stunning light fixtures. The Mid-Century Modern Brass Vanity light fit over the round mirror easily, without interrupting the curve of the mirror, and almost looking like a tree branch arising from the wallpaper. 

In the end, this project was exceptionally satisfying, both to my creative soul, and to the whole family--all of whom now use this bathroom! Sometimes, I even lock myself in, just to pretend I'm at a spa in Paris.