Categories: Tile Design Ideas

17 Inspiring Before and After Bathroom Renovations

A bathroom remodel can help create a relaxing getaway for your master bath or an impressive guest bathroom for your friends and family to admire. Bathroom remodels are also one of the best ways to increase the resale value of your home — a key consideration for homeowners who plan to sell at some point down the road.

So, it’s no surprise that bathrooms are the most commonly remodeled room of the house! We’ve scoured Instagram for the most impressive bathroom renovation projects — including before and after images — for your remodeling inspiration.

Expanded Shower and Enclosed Toilet

This master bathroom was a previous addition to the home that resulted in some odd architectural angles. A remodel took this bathroom from drab and dreary to fresh and modern. Using white tiles for the shower and walls adds much-needed brightness to the space (not to mention all-around water resistance), while the choice of patterned tiles for the floor makes a stylish statement.

Outdated to Outstanding

Everything about this bathroom was in need of repair or replacement and this renovation rose to the challenge. The new sink, paint, mirror, and artwork update the space but what transforms this room is the black hexagon tile feature wall in the shower.

Total Transformation

This project proves that there’s no limit to what a bathroom renovation can accomplish. The shower, toilet, and sink made the bathroom functional and the design choices were equally important. For a small, windowless bathroom like this, white marble-look tile was a great choice to add brightness and interest without overpowering.

Modern Makeover

This before image isn’t the worst we’ve seen, but once we saw the after image, the improvement is undeniable. The square vessel sink plus the combination of dimensional tile and patterned geometric tile make this contemporary space on-trend.

Underwhelming to Awe-Inspiring

The original bathroom lacked the wow factor that every master bath deserves. A renovation turned the shower-tub combo into a walk-in shower with sleek chevron tile and classic white subway tile. While the original cabinet stayed, the counter was extended over the toilet to create a larger vanity (clever hack). The massive mirror also makes the entire space feel larger.

Drab to Fab

This bathroom was impressive in the 1940s when it was designed, but after eight decades, it was time for an upgrade. The renovation included classic white subway tile for the shower, walls, and surrounding the beautiful clawfoot tub. The result brings the bathroom into the 21st century while still maintaining some vintage flair.

(Note: When you find that it’s time to replace your tile, remember that ceramic tile typically meets the requirements for clean fill and does not contribute to the growing problem associated with plastic products in landfills.)

Blah Bedroom to Beautiful Bathroom

As @thehousejudge puts it, “Sometimes bedrooms are meant to be bathrooms!” This home’s master bath was way too small, so the designers converted an adjacent bedroom into a huge master bathroom and walk-in closet.

Some of our favorite aspects of the remodeled space include the freestanding tub highlighted by a glossy three-dimensional tile feature wall, the arabesque shower floor tile, and stone-look tile throughout — but we could go on and on!

Humdrum Hallway Bath to Magnificent Master

This bathroom was originally a guest bathroom located off a hallway. The conversion required changing the layout of the vanity to make room for a new shower. Note the unique location of the mirror over the window and the dazzling black mosaic tile feature wall that ties into the shower design.

Washed Out to Dramatic Contrasts

This renovation kept the original shower and wall tile — which was still in great shape — and juxtaposed the white tile with black walls. The white-black contrast pairs perfectly with the new black and white patterned tile flooring.

One of the many benefits of ceramic tile is its durable and long-lasting nature, allowing you to update your bathroom without always having to do a full demolition (saving you money that you can put toward other improvements)!

True Blue

This blue tile looks dated when surrounded by the original fixtures, but is instantly modernized with a few small updates — further proof that ceramic tile is a smart investment.

Wet Room Expansion

Believe it or not, that’s the original 1935 gray bathtub in the before AND after photos! The herringbone tile — also included in the shower at the other end of the bathroom — transforms the space and you’d never guess that the tub is nearly 85 years old.

Scary to Sanctuary

This master bath wasn’t mastering anything, so the design team opted for a complete makeover. The most significant change was the addition of a wet room complete with a soaking tub and rain shower panel that required absorbing the closet space on the other side of the bathtub. The new space uses charming penny round tile to lead the eye across the floor toward the tub. Always-in-vogue subway tile serves as a quiet backdrop for these new features and the unique patterned tile floor.

Herringbone Haven

Scary to Sanctuary

“Mirror, Mirror…” — look closely in the mirror’s reflection and you’ll see the patterned tile from the floor also used on the shower feature wall. This designer’s smart combination of two tiles — simple subway and a decorative pattern — unifies the entire project by using the tiles on multiple surfaces. Kudos also for repurposing the toilet and original 1948 sink; we tile nerds love an economical remodel.

So-So to Stylish

If your bathroom is making a poor impression, be inspired by this remodel that updated with a stylish white mosaic herringbone wall tile and a bold black and white patterned tile in the shower.

Guest Bath to Walk-in Shower

It’s hard to tell because of the dramatic transformation, but this is the same bathroom (hint: the window is in the same place). The renovation took what was originally a guest bathroom and turned it into a large walk-in shower with dual rain shower panels and a soaking tub. The designers chose three distinctly different tiles for a stunning result — black and white patterned tile, penny round tile, and subway tile — working together to stage THAT TUB!

[Related: Bewitching Black Bathroom Tile]

From Disaster to Modern Master

All-white bathrooms can be beautiful when they’re done well, but this originally white bathroom wasn’t pulling it off. A stylish renovation maintained a neutral palette while adding visual interest. Notice how the floor tiles continue up the wall of the shower. The large tiles were spiced up with a mosaic tile accent stripe, all calling attention to this bathroom’s main attraction — a walk-in rain shower.

“The Making of a Master”

For this before and after to be clear, first orient yourself to the exterior door, which stayed in the same position. This wow-factor layout change to create a new master bathroom features the same heritage gray color in both a rectangular tile grid and a three-dimensional tile design.

Let’s Get Renovating!

Whether you are renovating your bathroom for style, or function, or BOTH, these before and after favorites will give you much to think about. For more inspiration, visit our Design Gallery and our Bathroom Tile, Master Bathroom, and Small Bathroom Renovation Pinterest boards. And, for information on why ceramic tile is the best material choice for bathrooms, visit our Bathroom application page.

Happy renovating!

Anthony