Looking for inspiration and ideas for a summer bathroom refresh? Here are 5 simple tips to refresh your bathroom for the change of seasons.
Disclosure: this post is sponsored by Micro Cotton® Towels.
This is our downstairs bathroom. I know it looks calm and peaceful, now.
But, truth?
It’s seen a lot of changes recently.
Once they closed down the colleges and sent people home, our son came home to spend the rest of the semester.
He had tests and Zoom calls and meetings and study sessions and he needed his own space. So, to give him a little privacy and help him on his way to a (hopefully) 4.0 semester, we converted the office into a guest bedroom and fitted out this bathroom just for him.
I asked him to make a list of all the things that he needed and then I rearranged everything for him in the bathroom.
If you are like me and need a few ideas to help your bathroom live a little larger?
Here are my best ideas for a simple summer bathroom refresh.
Simple Summer Bathroom Refresh
1. Organize the drawers
There’s a central vanity in the bathroom with four drawers on one side and a central drawer in the middle.
The challenge that we faced is that this bathroom is used by everyone during the day. It’s not exclusively his. I knew if I organized the drawers for him, then he would have a place to keep his stuff during the day.
I cleaned out the drawers, added liners and made sure there was a drawer for everything.
I also stocked the bathroom with extra shampoo and conditioner and hand soap and lotion.
(total aside: finding hand soap was like climbing Mount Everest—but I will leave that story for another time.)
2. New towels and linens
Nothing says welcome home like new towels. I love these Wamsutta® Ultra Soft Micro Cotton® Bath Towels and I have them stacked in the bathroom on a stool inside the shower area. I wanted towels that were sturdy and strong and soft all at the same time and these towels checked all the boxes. Here’s just a few of my favorite things about them.
- They come in in 50 different colors (and of course I chose white—please act surprised.)
- These towels are produced in an eco-friendly facility that gets 90% of its power from green energy.
- Wamsutta® Ultra Soft Micro Cotton® Bath Towels have an amazing Color Lock Technology that prevents the color from fading in the wash and the way the towels are processed reduces stress on the fibers to prevent pilling.
- They are SO soft and plush and the absorbency is incredible.
Here’s a close-up of the fibers in the towels and washcloths, so you can see the absorbency of the fibers.
The cotton used for the towels is picked from farms all over the world.
And I know I mentioned this before…but they are SO soft.
3. Added hooks
The bathroom is actually divided into two different areas.
There’s the front part with the vanity and the mirror and the drawers. When we remodeled it, we added on the shower area in the back.
No one really used it.
Until now.
I didn’t want towels draped all over the floor, so we added these hooks in the space to have a place where the towels could air dry.
I go through and scoop them up, wash and dry them and then fold them and place them back on the stool.
4. Shaving station
I organized that middle drawer to create a shaving station for my son.
He can store his razors and shaving supplies out of sight when not in use.
I wanted him to have a place to store everything so it wasn’t sitting out on the counter because the bathroom is used by everyone.
5. Cleaning supplies
I know this sounds silly, but there are a LOT of people in this house right now.
And part of having your (almost) own bathroom is keeping it clean.
The cabinet is stocked with cleaning supplies to help keep the bathroom sparkling and fresh.
Truthfully?
He’s been amazing at keeping his room and the bathroom clean.
Just between us, I’m so happy he’s home.
I’m so happy he has his own space.
I’m so happy that he’s happy.
And one day?
His future wife is going to be so happy, too.
Because that son of mine?
He learned how to keep a bathroom clean.
Disclosure: this post was written in collaboration with Micro Cotton® Towels.
All opinions are my own.
Please see my disclosure page for more information.
Thanks Mom :)
You know I'd change a million bathrooms just for you. :) I love you more. mom
Just saw the first comment :0) Well, Denton should do a video because my boys are sharing their Jack and Jack bathroom and they have yet to toss an empty toilet paper roll. They line them up; I think it is their way to watch their mom descend into madness. I told them they were old enough to know the cleaning fairy is their mom! Maybe some hooks instead of a towel bar will help them in their journey to hang up a towel. Those towel bars can be tough to navigate. Their future wives will either thank me or curse me! Stay tuned! ,
PS Maybe if I add flowers. I love that bathroom tile. Is it Jeffrey Court? Happy Thursday friend! laura
Denton's comment is the BEST thing about this post!
So fun! And it’s been great having Denton a part of the Collective College group at church! Teach them well now and for sure his one-day wife will thank you. I’m sure the bathroom cleaning skills won’t be the only thing she’s thankful for. How ‘bout your wonderful family?? ❤️
I love how you problem solve/adjust for returning cubs. We do the same here! It's fun to make them feel welcomed back.
I love how you problem solve/adjust for returning cubs. We do the same here! It's fun to make them feel welcomed back.
Love that your son actually commented, How sweet! And I love the hot pink florals in that gorgeous white bathroom. I need to know where you got that gorgeous mirror!
Denton seems to approve, so you must have done a great job! It looks lovely.
I have always said that mothers that pick up behind their sons are not doing their future wives any favors. Your future daughters-in-laws will love you. You are great!!!🥰
Great ideas! Do you have a source for the typewriter key wall art?
What is that paint color and where did you get the botanical So? I am in love with that gorgeous bathrooms!
Yes I love the bathroom wall color too !!! What color is it ?? It’s beautiful !!!
How does he like the Murphy Bed mattress? And, I love having my college kids home with me in the tiny house...laughter seems to make the space seem larger~ or it's the constantly running washer and dryer that drowns out any complaints...HA. I've loved this bathroom since the first story you shared about it. :)
Love your decorating ideas. I've learned so much. Thanks again.
Love your tips and Denton sounds like a great son!
Isn’t it amazing what we do for our children. My oldest living in Brooklyn NY came home for a few months until the virus slows down. We rearranged the guest room & guest bathroom for her. I also moved many breakable away, because she ha to cats. They have been such a joy these two little guys. Kristin has been a God sent she does all the shopping & takes care of the deliveries and mail. Tomorrow is my first outing alone. Going to get my flowers & herbs. And, now I get the mail and the deliveries. It’s been quite the experience this new life we are all leading. ♥️
Funny, I'm in the middle of a bathroom refresh myself!! Great tips!!! xoxo
I have one question. With your son using this bathroom, does it still look like this on a daily basis?! LOL... my son's would not! Beautiful
What a welcoming, fresh space! Don’t tell Denton but it’s so beautiful in there.😉 Can I say how much I LOVE your vintage tile in there!?!? It makes my heart go pitter patter every time I see it. My son is home too from his job in NY and has been since mid March. I am so glad to have him home! Our dining room is now his office and it sees more use now then it ever did as a dining room. Thanks for posting!
If I ever update my bathroom, I am SO installing hooks instead of towel bars. My family is good about hanging up their towels but do they fold them in thirds and neatly place them on the towel bars?? No. No, they do not. Do I still love them? Yes. Yes I do. Karianne, in one of your pictures, reflected in a mirror I see a gold framed picture hanging from a gold chain. I'm curious about it because it looks similar to frames I recently purchased. Would love to see a close up of the picture. You have great taste ... and not just because we have similar frames ..... haha.
Now this is nearly a perfect story - except for the part where YOU wash, dry and fold and put back those amazing towels, right? LOL - one step at a time I guess, haha. (Teasing you, not judging, I promise!) :- p I only use Wamsutta towels - they last longer than any I have ever owned prior to finding them years ago. This is a new kind for me - I think?- so may have to check them out. Hope you are all staying home, staying safe and healthy. Hugs.
Amazing that our young men actually heard us about cleanliness, cooking, etc. When my kids were in high school and would complain about a meal, i said ‘fine’! Make a menu, ill buy the groceries and supervise you cooking. They learned to cook, cleanup and not complain. Dating curfew ... complain about the time to come home? I’d back off 30 minutes. MOM?! You want another 30 minutes off! They took my first ‘offer’. The four are awesome professional adults. And yes my hair is gray. They have thanked me for ‘being tough’. 🥰 Barbara G
Hi! Could you share the paint color? I love it!
Amen and Amen!
Such a great bathroom! It's wonderful that you organized it for him, and that he loves it! :) It must be so wonderful to have them all home. 💗 Take care and stay well!
He is so lucky to have you as his mom and to heaven almost private bathroom. It looks amazing, the flowers perk everything up so nicely.
That should say have an almost private bathroom, not heaven. Although an almost private bathroom is heaven.
You are so lucky to have Denton home. Gotta love those sons🥰. I love this bathroom...tile reminds me of the old Victorian I grew up in.
Love that Denton is home with you, and I wouldn't expect anything less from him! Great comment too, Denton.
KariAnne, I make my own hand soap using Clean Mama's recipe, It is simply castile soap (1 to 2 Tablespoons) and water in a foaming soap container. I usually add some essential oil drops. I never run out of hand soap now. A large bottle of castile soap goes a very long way. Have an amazing day!
Do you have a source for the typewrite art on the wall? I love it!