REVEAL: $100 Small Bathroom Makeover!!! (Tons of ideas for inexpensive upgrades)

This DIY project was FEATURED on Rachael RAY!!! Watch the segment!

So I made over my bathroom...on a $100 budget!

You seriously have NO idea how excited I am to finally be able to show off my brand spankin' new powder room!  I couldn't be happier with how it came out especially given all the "firsts" I faced - wallpaper, beadboard, trim, building...  What makes me even happier is that I was able to come in under my $100 budget.  It's hard to believe looking at the before and after pictures that this could be done for less than one hundred buckos, but I assure you it was!

Bathroom Wall Art: Old Picture Frame to Chalkboard

So on Sunday I was at my mom's having a birthday dinner and she gave me a bag of old picture frames.  No, that wasn't my gift, but it could have been.  I was happy to take them off her hands.  Four of them are matching frames which I have yet to upcycle, but the fourth was this large gold frame with a mat. 

How to cut chair rail trim with a miter box saw (Photos and Video)

Okay, so before I explain all this to you, let me just tell you that I learned how to cut trim with a miter box saw the hard way - by screwing it up.   I quickly learned that not only do you have to pay attention to the angle of the cut, which is determined by the corner, you also have to be careful about the way you position the piece of wood in the saw.


Since my recent $100  $84.41 bathroom makeover was my first go at it and I screwed it up, I had to live with my mistake and fix it as best as I could so I didn't blow my budget.

But now I'm here to tell you how to use a miter box saw correctly so you don't screw it up and end up with this...

15 Minute Window Valance (and DIY coordinating accessories)

You guessed it...it's another addition to the $100 bathroom makeover.   This was actually an edit that I made after being unhappy with the original stenciled drop cloth valance I made.  The drop cloth curtain didn't cost me anything because I already had the drop cloth, but this guy only cost me $4.25 (the cost of half a yard of this gorgeous HGTV/Waverly fabric between a sale and coupon).  I'm certainly glad I splurged because this little piece of fabric makes the bathroom for me!

Unfortunately, I didn't take many any pictures as I made the new valance because I was kind of just wingin' it, but since I've had a few requests for the tutorial I'll try to explain how I did it as best as I can using a few graphics. 

The curtain rod (aka dowel) was already hanging over the window so the easiest way for me to measure how wide I needed my valance was to actually mark right on the rod the inside points were the rod holders hit. My window measurement came to 27". 

A half a yard is 18 inches and the fabric comes standard 54" wide on a roll, not a bolt.  Let the graphics parade begin...

2IY: The Best DIY of August (and a sneak peek of what's working in September)

August was a busy month for us here at 2IY.   Aside from the ongoing $100 bathroom makeover which included the pallet wood hanging bathroom shelf and a Pottery Barn inspired rope-wrapped dollar store trash can we also managed to fit in a few other fun DIY projects.   Here's a quick recap of some of our favorite from the past month.

Melissa's personalized wood pallet sign makes a huge statement in her dining room and for very little cost.   The best part of that project was making the homemade chalk paint which proved a huge success for this project and the painted nightstand-turned-hall table makeover.   

Dollar store trash can makeover

What do you do when you're working on a $100 bathroom makeover and you want a dollar store trash can that doesn't look like a dollar store trash can? You buy a $1 trashcan and you cover it in leftover rope...at least that's what I did.

Small Bathroom Storage: DIY Pallet Board hanging shelf

And here's another sneak peek into how my $100 powder room makeover is going.  The great thing about this guy is he cost me next to nothing!  I used all pallet wood and I had the screws and stain on hand.  I did have to purchase the rope and the hook at the top, but you can actually make this without either.  (My little secret is they're just for decoration, they're not actually keeping the shelf on the wall.)

The lovely ladies over at Shanty 2 Chic inspired me to make this shelf.  They built a similar one for that odd wasted space over the toilet.   The only difference is mine is pallet wood (free) and they paid for their boards (better quality).  I believe she said she still made it for about $10...which is still quite the steal.

DIY glass bottle or mason jar soap dispenser

Another project from the $100 bathroom makeover file...this one is a cute little soap dispenser made from a mason jar.   I actually liked the way it turned out so much I made a second one - but instead of using a mason jar (I didn't have any more), I used a glass food jar that otherwise would have gone to recycling.

DIY light switch covers: Update and coordinate with scrapbook paper

Another little peak into my $100 bathroom makeover.  This update to the light switch covers didn't cost me a dime, but it makes a big impact.  I love how they add a pop of navy and coordinate with my new blue and white bathroom. 

Here's how I did it.  First I removed the light switch plates and cleaned and dried them really well.  Then I found some coordinating scrapbook paper in my stash (wrapping paper would work, too). 

DIY mason jar light fixture (on the cheap)

I can't wait another minute to show you my new bathroom light.  To say I am excited would be a vast understatement.

I told you last week how I was planning a challenge to myself to redo the powder room for $100.  Well...my husband is out of town and my kids spent the weekend at the beach with the grandparents and so...I had 36 hours to transform this teeny tiny space and I have made some major headway!   I'm not ready to make the big reveal yet, but I can't wait any longer to show you my mason jar light.  I made this baby for $3.87...and that my friends, is how you keep a $100 budget!

We had this this hideous brown tri-globe light fixture and I just about hated it as much as I hated the yellow paint.  But a whole new light fixture wasn't in the plans on my shoestring budget.  Since I have been wanting a mason jar light I thought the bathroom would be the perfect spot for it.