DIY How to Renovate a Powder Room

Preparation

• 1

  Set a budget and visit home improvement stores. Even a simple renovation can easily cost hundreds to thousands of dollars, so it's important to get an idea of what things will cost early on. Define your priorities, so you get the bathroom you want while maintaining your budget. For example, perhaps you want a new tile floor, but the vanities and sinks are in good condition. Splurge on the tile and repaint or restain the vanities.

• 2

  Prepare the bathroom for the renovation. Remove everything that isn't staying, such as flooring, fixtures and hardware. Use a steamer to help remove wallpaper quickly and remove outlet and light-switch covers. Store the covers in a plastic bag for safekeeping.

• 3

  Repair any holes in the wall with wall putty and sand smooth when dry. Wash the walls with a cloth or sponge and a mixture of 1/4 cup trisodium phosphate and 1 gallon warm water. Remove baseboards carefully with a pry bar if you are replacing the floor. Sequence the boards by writing numbers on the back to simplify reinstallation.

Painting

• 4

  Select a paint shade for your bathroom renovation. Warm, bright colors add a punch of color when used sparingly but make walls appear closer, which can make the bathroom seem small if used on every wall. Select a latex semi-gloss paint for durability.

• 5

  Cover the sink and vanity with a tarp. Paint the trim around the windows and door as well as the door itself. For better results, always apply a primer first. This is also the time to paint baseboards if you wish. A fresh coat of paint does wonders for old, worn baseboards but replace them if they are severely scratched or damaged. Allow the paint to dry for several hours or overnight.

• 6

  Paint the ceiling using a long extension roller and slow, steady strokes. Allow the paint to dry and go over it again from the opposite direction with a second coat of paint. Buy paint labeled specifically for ceilings.

• 7

  Mask off the trim with blue painter's tape, rubbing your finger along the edge of the tape to secure it. Use a small, angled brush to paint a 4-inch swath of paint around the doors and trim. This process, known as cutting in, will allow you to quickly use a roller to paint the rest of the walls.

• 8

  Paint the walls, starting at the top and moving downward. The traditional approach is to load your roller with paint, skimming off the excess, then paint a large "W" on the wall to transfer the bulk of the paint to the wall. Slowly roll the brush over the wall, filling in the spaces in the W. Reload the roller when necessary. Avoid leaving edges of dry paint on the wall; instead feather the paint out gradually. Allow the paint to dry overnight. Remove painter's tape while the paint is still wet.

Flooring

• 9

  Examine the subfloor. If it is level and undamaged, you may not need to repair it. If it has minor holes or is unlevel, mix and pour a leveling compound according to package directions and spread the compound over the floor. Allow the compound to dry for several hours or overnight, based on package directions.

• 10

  Lay the new floor. Vinyl floor tiles are simple to install. Find the middle of the room by measuring both the width and length in two separate places. Snap a chalk line on the marks to divide the room into four quadrants. Sweep the subfloor thoroughly to remove dust and debris.

• 11

  Select one of the quadrants and lay the tile, placing the first tile in the center of the room. Some tiles have a peel-off backing with an adhesive underneath. Simply pull off the paper and affix the tile in place, pressing down firmly on all sides. Measure and cut tiles with a utility knife to fit in corners and under baseboards. Wait 24 hours before walking on the floor to allow the adhesive to dry completely.

Vanity

• 12

  Remove the vanity and countertop if you haven't already done so. Unscrew the bolts securing the vanity to the wall. Unscrew the faucets and pipes from the wall underneath. Gently remove the countertop with a hammer and pry bar.

• 13

  Slide the new vanity and sink into place and fasten it to the wall with screws. Install the faucet fixtures, according to the package directions.

• 14

  Install mirrors, lights and fixtures for the finishing touches.