Take a peek inside our coastal bathroom renovation! I’m sharing the layout tweaks, tile choices, and fixture updates that completely changed the feel of the room.
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I dreamed about renovating our primary bathroom for almost a solid year before we finally took the plunge. Of all the rooms in the house, this was the one that was functioning the least efficiently for my husband and I. Plus, I was definitely not loving the design style.
I’ve done my fair share of designing spaces and even made some bathroom renovations (like new tile, vanities, and mirrors and lighting). But, I’ve never completely gutted a bathroom before, so this was a super exciting project!
Even though we did not DIY this bathroom renovation, I was the design visionary. Below, I will take you through how I planned our coastal bathroom renovation as well as some sneak peaks of the finished space!
Layout Tweaks That Made a Difference
Nailing down the layout of your bathroom renovation is really the first step in the process. Because our primary bathroom isn’t huge, we were pretty locked into the existing footprint. That said, there were definitely some tweaks I made that helped this space not only look better but function a whole lot better!
First was creating more space in our bathroom vanity. Even though it’s a double vanity, it’s only 67″ wide and the storage was pretty limited. I had the idea to create a vertical center tower on the vanity to add a whole other layer of bathroom storage. I worked with our contractor to draw up exactly what we wanted with a fully custom vanity. Like where has this been all my life?? I absolutely love it! Not only is it a real show stopper in this bathroom but it is oh-so functional.
Another thing I tweaked was the shower space. If I knocked my elbows on the back wall one more time trying to bathe, I literally think I was going to lose my mind. I decided to nix our built-in bathtub and swap it for a freestanding soaking tub. This gave us three extra inches of space in the shower which might sound trivial but it’s made a huge difference!
I considered losing the tub altogether and extending the shower into the window and adding more storage to the side, but my husband was not a fan of that idea. What can I say? The man loves his baths (with bath bombs by the way!). LOL
BEFORE:
Tile Plan: Classic but Coastal
Ahhh the tile. I must have switched my tile plan half a dozen times (and driven our contractor mad in the process!). I knew I wanted a classic white subway tile on the walls and I wanted to extend it along the back wall under the window for a cohesive look (and to keep water from splashing on the walls).
But I originally wanted a 2×2 hexagon marble tile for the floors. Virtually every bathroom inspiration pic I found on Pinterest featured marble tile. I found a style that was absolutely gorgeous and I thought it was a done deal. But then I went down a rabbit hole on Reddit threads about marble and regrets some home owners had after they installed it. Long story short, I got cold feet.
I know marble is stunning but that practical side of me took over and said NO WOMAN! So, I found a classic white 2×2 hexagon porcelain tile that I am absolutely obsessed with. I went with bright white grout for a clean, seamless finish.
Fixtures & Finishes That Pull It Together
One of the biggest decisions I debated on was the color of our vanity. A classic white vanity will stand the test of time. But I really wanted to do something more bold to really bring out that coastal vibe. Also, because the floor and wall tile was white (and the wall color is BM White Dove!), I was worried it would be a little too white.
I ultimately chose to go navy with Sherwin-Williams Cyberspace, and it turned out beautifully. I watched a YouTube video of the best navy cabinet paint, and Cyberspace was a designer favorite, and I now know why! It’s a dark charcoal gray/navy hue that is so sophisticated and stunning. It really elevates the look of this bathroom. We chose a beautiful quartz countertop which has the look of marble but is much hardier and easier to maintain.
For fixtures and cabinet hardware, I went with polished nickel for a classic coastal aesthetic. Our last house had a lot of gold and bronze finishes, but I’m keeping this house more timeless. Polished nickel has the same warmth as gold but is a bit more traditional.
To bring in an organic element, I went with rattan oval mirrors. I love how the oval shape matches the soaking tub right next to the vanity.
Bathroom Storage That Blends Style and Function
Our bathroom vanity has double door lower cabinets under each sink. In the middle, there two large drawers perfect for storing taller items and one top drawer that I keep my skin care in. We also added a center tower that sits on top of vanity and offers four shelves for additional hidden storage.
Since our actual counter space is pretty limited, having all of this storage allows us to organize our toiletries and keep them nicely tucked away. I am already brainstorming tower storage ideas for our guest bathroom vanity!
Mood Board Inspiration vs. Final Look
Roman Shade \\ Towel Ring \\ Toilet Paper Holder \\ Shower Head \\ Handheld Shower Head \\ Vanity Light \\ Rattan Mirror \\ Tub Faucet \\ Freestanding Tub \\ Wall Subway Tile \\ Floor Tile \\ Vanity Faucet \\ Knobs
I am all about mood boarding my designs before putting them into action. Build a mood board in Canva. They have a free version and it’s super easy to use. This allows you to see all the pieces together so you can visualize the entire room. Swap things in and out until you have the perfect design.
I shared this mood board with our contractor and we worked through all the details together. He understood what problems we were solving for and cold make recommendations. It was actually his idea to do oval mirrors over the vanity Vs. rectangle (which I had originally picked out). It’s great when you can collaborate with someone who has a lot of experience renovating spaces.
Coming Soon: The Full Reveal
Soon I will be posting the full coastal bathroom renovation reveal. I am so obsessed with how it turned out. I’m even planning to shoot a YouTube video with all the details to help other coastal bathroom renovators get inspired. I’ve already teased the navy bathroom vanity with tower storage, but look out for the full reveal soon!
I hope this post gave you some good renovation priorities for your bathroom remodel. Happy renovating!
FAQ Ideas for Coastal Bathroom Renovation Ideas
Not always! We kept our existing footprint but added small tweaks—like a soaking tub, extended shower wall, and a storage tower—that made a big impact.
Stick to a soft, neutral foundation (white walls, light tile) and add contrast with accents like a navy vanity or polished nickel fixtures. It keeps the space bright without feeling beachy or theme-y.
Yes—polished nickel is warmer than chrome and feels elevated without being too formal. It pairs beautifully with whites, blues, and natural textures.
Choose a mix of hidden and display storage. Our vanity drawers hold daily essentials, while open baskets and a tower cabinet add storage that still looks styled.
Focus on what you’ll use every day: storage, fixtures, and durable tile. Those choices set the foundation, and the styling can come later.
This post is about a coastal bathroom renovation.
