See how this White Dove bathroom went from dark and rustic to bright and elevated with one simple change.
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We have a small powder room tucked at the far end of our living room. It’s a slightly odd location, but honestly, it’s convenient. You can take a quick break and still see the TV above the fireplace, which I won’t pretend doesn’t come in handy.
When we moved in, the entire house was painted gray. This bathroom was no exception. The cool gray didn’t coordinate with the faux travertine tile floors at all. It felt very early-2000s builder grade, which makes sense for when our house was built.
But the real design moment? The multi-tone stained wood plank wall behind the toilet. It was dark and rustic. And it was not my vibe.
Here’s how I transformed this powder room using nothing but paint.
The Before: Dark and Rustic
The rustic, multi-stained wood plank trend is everywhere. Pinterest. Zillow. Model homes. The previous owners leaned into it hard.
They ran the planking across our living room wall, wrapped it around the fireplace, and extended it into this adjacent powder room.
Thankfully, in here it only lived behind the toilet. But paired with the gray walls and faux travertine tile, it made the space feel heavy and dated.
How We Transformed the Living Room First
We had an entire wall in our living room decked out in these multi-stained wood planks, paired with gray built-in cabinets and a rock tile fireplace surround. To me, it was quite the eyesore. In fact, even though I committed to not making any major updates until we had lived in our house for one full year, I got a hall pass on this one. I simply could not look at that wall every single day.
We painted the planks and the built-ins and ripped out the rock tile in favor of a gorgeous Carrara marble surround. To say this transformed our living room is an understatement. It completely changed the feel of our home. You can read all about it in my Gorgeous Marble Fireplace Surround in a Coastal Living Room post.
The previous owners had taken that rustic planking and extended it into the adjacent powder room. Thankfully, it was confined to the wall behind the toilet and didn’t climb up the entire space. They also installed two rustic brown floating shelves above the toilet, which I don’t totally hate, even if they aren’t really my style.
Almost two years after upgrading the living room wall and fireplace, I was finally ready to tackle this powder room.
Painting the Wood Planks White Dove
Gone are the days when I wanted every room in our house to be a different color. Then I went all in on Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray for about four years. And now? I am fully obsessed with Benjamin Moore White Dove. Aside from our front formal living room, where I went dramatic navy, our entire house is White Dove. The bathrooms were the last spaces to get the memo.
To paint the wood planks, the first thing we did was caulk between the horizontal boards. That one step alone made a huge difference. It gives the wood a much more unified, seamless look instead of the choppy rustic vibe it was throwing off.
Next, I used an angled brush with Sherwin Williams Emerald Urethane Enamel in a satin finish. SW is hands down my favorite paint. I color match Benjamin Moore about 90% of the time instead of buying BM paint because I just feel like it covers better.
These planks were like a sponge. They soaked up so much paint that I ended up doing three coats total. Definitely tape off anything you don’t want painted. In tight areas like bathrooms, it’s very easy to go a little buck wild with the brush.
The walls were much easier. We used SW Cashmere in satin finish. Since this bathroom doesn’t have a shower, we didn’t need mildew-resistant paint. I handle the trim cutting in and my husband comes in and rolls. That’s our system for painting quickly.
We only needed two coats on the walls. We used SW Cashmere in a satin finish. Since this bathroom doesn’t have a shower, we didn’t need mildew-resistant paint.
The White Dove Bathroom After
We absolutely should have painted this bathroom sooner because it made such a huge difference. It instantly felt brighter, airier, and honestly more spacious. I felt the shift the second those dark planks were covered.
This White Dove bathroom feels much more in line with my coastal style, even though it’s still very neutral.
I kept styling simple — just a couple decor pieces on the shelves and a clutter-free sink with a hand soap. A white Turkish towel is the perfect finishing touch against the softer white walls.
How I’d Elevate This White Dove Bathroom Even Further
Shop the Look: Bathroom Vanity \\ Mirror \\ Sconce \\ Towel Ring \\ Hand Towel \\ Hand Soap \\ Faucet \\ Faux Plant \\ Floor Tile
I consider this paint update a very light-touch refresh. With just a few additional upgrades, this bathroom could look a million times better (in my opinion).
First, I would swap the pedestal sink for a light oak vanity. I’m just not really a pedestal sink person. I like being able to store extra toilet paper and cleaning supplies under each sink, and a vanity instantly makes a space feel more substantial and intentional.
Rather than traditional vanity lighting above the mirror, I would swap in sconces. Sconces immediately read more high-end and custom to me. They soften the light and make even a small powder room feel more elevated.
A scalloped antique silver mirror would bring in visual interest and a subtle vintage touch without being busy. I love mixing in a little character, especially in a small space like this.
For the floor, I would replace the existing tile with a soft beige hexagon porcelain tile. It’s the perfect neutral — light and airy, but not so white that it feels sterile. The subtle shape adds texture without overwhelming the room.
Below is a mock up of how good this would look (swoon!).
Final Thoughts
If you’re debating painting your bathroom Benjamin Moore White Dove, do it. This one simple change completely shifted the mood of this space from dark and dated to bright and elevated. Paint really makes a big impact on your design and it’s one of the easiest upgrades you can do.
White Dove Bathroom FAQ
Yes. Benjamin Moore White Dove is a soft white that works beautifully in bathrooms because it feels bright without being stark. It reflects light well and creates a clean, elevated look without feeling cold.
In my experience, no. White Dove has a warm undertone, but it doesn’t read yellow. In this bathroom, even with artificial light, it feels soft and creamy rather than beige.
For bathroom walls, I recommend an eggshell or satin finish for durability and easy cleaning. For trim or wood planks, a satin or semi-gloss enamel gives a smooth, wipeable finish. If your bathroom has a shower or tub, opt for a mildew-resistant paint. I like Sherwin Williams Emerald Latex in a satin finish.
Yes, but prep matters. We caulked between the planks to create a more seamless look and applied three coats of paint. Dark stained wood absorbs paint quickly, so expect to use more than one coat.
Absolutely. This White Dove bathroom feels noticeably brighter and more spacious than the darker version. Soft whites help small spaces feel open without going sterile.
White Dove has soft warm undertones, which help it feel cozy and inviting instead of stark or cool.
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