Small Bathroom Makeover: Floor Tile

February 19, 2018
IN: bathroom, bathroom makeover, before and after, floor tile, room makeover, small bathroom, tile

As you might already know I’m currently in the midst of giving my teenage son’s small bathroom a little makeover. I know a lot of home design bloggers wait until a makeover project is completely done before they share any pictures of the changes they’ve made, but I like bringing you all along for the ride. There is so much to be gained from seeing the process of how things progress from where you started to the bright, shiny, happy after photos. I hope you enjoy seeing the unstyled, still kind of messy-and-dirty progress photos as much as I like sharing them with you! The reality is room makeovers don’t happen overnight, they’re often riddled with snafus and design plans don’t always pan out they way we hoped they would.

But sometimes things do go according to plan! And the result is even better than what you imagined. Case in point…….

The Herringbone Floor Tile Plan

As you may recall when I shared the full makeover plan for this bathroom, I mentioned that I was planning to have the builder basic tile replaced. Since I was hiring out for this job it was important to me to keep the cost of materials low, so I planned to have these 12 x 24 inch charcoal porcelain tiles cut down to 6 x 12’s and laid in a herringbone pattern.

At $2.30 a square foot for a bathroom that measures roughly 18 sq. ft. even with needing additional materials to create a herringbone pattern, the cost of the tile plus grout was under $65. Small bathroom’s definitely have their bonuses! 😉

I’m so pleased with the way this floor turned out! And I really think it makes this small bathroom look larger.

Why I Hired Out

My tile guy charged me $650, which I think is fair for where I live. I’ve worked with him before (he laid our laundry room tile as well), and he does a great job. Sure I could have saved that money by doing this myself but

I’ve never done a floor before and learning on the job would mean
that this project would take me so much longer than the 8 hours in on day it took my tile guy.

The phase of life I’m in right now requires me to be really intentional about the way I spend my time. A project like this that I’ve never tackled before on my own would have probably taken me a week…..maybe longer? Freeing up my time to work on other things ( that I actually know how to do ;)) was worth the money I paid to have this floor done. And even having paid for the labor, for about $715 I got a brand new much more custom looking tile floor. So I feel like it’s a win!

Before and After: New Floor Tile

I can not believe what a dramatic difference this one change made in here!

I’m so feeling inspired to move on to the next phase……..wall tile! That’s a project I’ll be doing myself. Hoping for smooth sailing. Wish me luck!

* This makeover project is being sponsored by Lowe’s Home Improvement.

SaveSave

you might also love

Well, it is not something very special and I have to say I find this insane. Paying so much for such a small surface is not justified by the result. It is better, yes and you have beautiful taste but 715 dollars for a kid’s bathroom? This is like throwing money away. For a kid to walk on it about 30min max per day? Surely your son would learn more and take a better example if you offered this money to a charity of his choice. As for a tile guy who charged 650 for a day’s work, it means he earns about 14,300 per month…Is this logical?

The floor looks great! I have some walls that need tiling but I’m not brave enough to do it myself, I’m waiting for my hubby to help!

It looks great!!! I’m redoing my bathroom about the size of yours, but doing board & batten and refresh with paint. My floors are tiled but only about 10 years old and not really bad enough to justify the $ at this time. I’m also working on replacing my counter tops and sink (soapstone and farmhouse style sink. So there is where my $ is going now. Thanks for posting and sharing. It looks beautiful. Can’t wait for the final look!

Oh Elizabeth, I promise you if I can do it, you can too! It’s really not as hard as you might think! Seriously! And if you use a tile like subway or something that is square or rectangular all of the cuts you’ll likely need to make will be so simple. Using a wet saw is pretty straightg forward. YOU CAN DO IT!

Thanks Barbara! I refreshed the other bathroom upstairs with paint and new hardware last year and it turned out great! That bathroom is larger than this one so when/if I get ready to replace the tile it’s going to be more of an expense. Maybe by the time I get ready to replace those floors I’ll be ready to learn how to do it myself!

Hi Christina, I find it insane that you feel qualified to judge me for the way I choose to spend my own money. You’re absolutely welcome to dislike the design or to think that this doesn’t “look very special”. We all have different design tastes. But to say that you think it’s insane? That feels like you’ve crossed a line. Why are you the authority on how someone should or shouldn’t spend money in their home? Why does offering money to a charity need to be an either or situation? Why can’t I pay to have this bathroom retiled AND offer money to charity? I guess I have a hard time understanding the logic here. You’re saying it would have been better for me to not employ a small business owner (who is by the way working to save money to buy his first home) and instead give that money (money that has helped this man feed his employees and their families) to a charity?

My son has no idea what I paid to have this work done. Because he’s 13 so he doesn’t need to know. But also while this is the bathroom he uses daily this is also the bathroom our guests often use when we entertain. His bedroom that is attached this room is essentially a second master because of it’s size, so the goal here is to make this small bathroom feel a bit more like an on-suite, so that if/when we sell this house this entire space will feel more custom and special like a mother-in-law’s quarters or nice guest room suite.

As for the tile guy, it was a two man job, he’s a small business owner, and his rates are very fair for the area in which we live. I shared the information as a reference because I think it’s helpful for homeowners to have an idea of what a job like this might cost. If we still lived in KY this job would absolutely have cost much less, but here in the Charleston area of South Carolina contractors charge more. I feel grateful for the skills I’ve learned because I save money regularly doing things myself – wallpapering, painting, wall moulding, replacing light fixtures, installing dimmers, wall tile…..all of those times where I’ve not had to hire anyone to fix a broken faucet or lay pavers in my backyard to create a patio……those times make it easier for me to afford and to justify paying a contractor to lay some tile for me.

If you think making changes like this in your home isn’t worthwhile, then don’t YOU make them. But telling someone else that they’re insane or that what they’re doing is insane simply because it’s not what YOU would do is hardly justification to spread this kind of vitriol.

Carmel…your floor looks fabulous! I had this same tile installed in my laundry room and pantry in a running brick pattern, and I plan to have it installed in the sunroom in the same pattern. I love it so much, I’m installing it in my daughters’ Jack and Jill bathroom in the herringbone pattern…just as you did!

On a side note:
It never ceases to amaze me the type of comments people take the time to make. It seems there are a lot very unhappy people in this world who try to spread their doom and gloom. Your response was polite and spot on….in the end, you do you. 🙂

Carmel, last fall we remodeled our very small bathroom off our bedroom. We kept our same shower, but purchased a new toilet, sink, cabinet, light fixture, and hardware. My husband is my handy man, thank goodness. We did purchase floor tile and paid for its installation. I wanted the tile set diagonally and this takes precise cutting. I fell in love with tile floors set on the diagonal when my daughter and son-in-law had their house built in Florida. I’m sure your room will look perfect following all of your past remodels.

I am sorry if I have offended you. But you shared the cost and information in order to receive feedback. It is of course your right to do anything you please but when you post, you make your action public. I never comment. The only reason I did this time is because of the WAY this post was written, as though this was not a splurge but a reasonable cost. It is not reasonable but something that made you and your family happy and I truly hope you enjoy it.

The fact that you respond so insensitively to a blog just makes me shake my head. How do you feel justified in judging someone so harshly? I am sure you are perfect and all the ways in which you choose to spend money are terrific (like the computer you are making these rude comments from!)

Wow, take a chill pill! Or simply don’t respond or visit the blog. Did you not learn, “if you have nothing nice to say, then say nothing at all”?

Carmel, it looks great! Since it is your money, it is your choice how to spend it!

I think it looks lovely and does make it seem larger. For Christina who thinks it cost too much, I would say we paid over $1000 in San Francisco to have marble tile laid in a smaller bathroom. I think price for a contractor is very much impacted by location – as it must be for them to afford to live and work in the area.

The floor turned out great, and it’s major design bang for the buck! Love how you customized more affordable large-scale tiles to create the herringbone pattern. Thank you for your transparency in the budgetary deets, which you did not have to share and I am horrified that someone could be so judgmental with where YOU choose to spend YOUR $. Time is money… Can’t wait to see the walls done, which btw, I would’ve hired out too because I am quite lacking in the handy DIY dept. Ha! 🙂

Christina,

For comparison…I had this exact tile installed by a professional in Central Florida. The room looks to be about twice the size of Carmel’s bathroom.

The tile setter had to remove the existing wood flooring before installing the tile, the cost was $1000.00. Our install did not include the additional time and effort to cut each tile into 4 pieces or to install the tile in a herringbone pattern. I don’t believe the installation costs Carmel paid to be a “splurge,” but an average cost…at least for current pricing in my area of the country.

Thanks Carol! I’m hoping to get started on the walls this week! I shared the budgetary info because I think it’s helpful for people to have a basis for what renovations might cost. It definitely varies based on where you live, but I think that information is helpful for people to A. hire their own contractors or B. decide whether something would be better to hire out or try to do themselves.

I’m really excited to see how this bathroom turns out! Two of our bathrooms are about the same size as this one, and you’ve really provided some great inspiration!

I love your new floor! It really makes the room look bigger. Can’t wait to see the finished design.

I think the floors look great! I love the herringbone pattern. I am a long time reader, but have never commented. I am quite shocked at the rude comment you received. I recently read another rude comment on the Dimples and Tangles blog. Someone was annoyed that Jennifer had replaced the pendants in her kitchen again. I choose to read home decorating/diy blogs in the small amount of free time that I have because I enjoy them and get inspiration. Why on earth would you read this type of blog if you don’t see the point of spending time and/or money on projects in your home? There is something out there for just about every interest. We would all be best served to find what we love and inspires us. The lack of civility is sad and uncalled for! Please keep sharing, because many of us enjoy your blog and find inspiration.

Maybe at 5:32 am you could do something better with YOUR time? I’m sure there is a homeless kitchen in your area that needs people to serve breakfast,,, not posting/placing judgement on a blogger who wants to beautify her home!

Carmel– I really appreciate you sharing how must you paid to have the tile installed. As you said, it helps people like me set realistic expectations for costs. Thanks for keeping it real:)

Love the floor, Carmel!

Question- I have the same tile you had previously. Did you have your contractor take that out before installing the new tile?

I think it looks great, and I am proud of you for holding your own.

Yes, they did the demo and removal as well as install. That’s another reason I hired out. Demo is a dirty messy job. It probably would have taken me a full day just to do it.

Thanks Carrie!

Thanks Diana! Glad to hear it’s inspiring you!

Thanks very much Kelly! I’m glad you took the time to comment today! 🙂

I am so impressed at how much just that changed the look of the bathroom. Can’t wait to see the finished project!!! You go girl!

You have amazing taste! Love the floor and love that you are a strong, positive role model for moms everywhere!

I love the look of your new bathroom floor. I personally do not feel that is too much to pay for installation. I love the way that you decorate and your home looks so inviting. Thank you for sharing with us

Carmel – – Long time reader, first time to comment. I too enjoy reading blogs for decorating and DIY inspiration and you are so nice to let us into your world – thank you! I like to think that those who comment don’t mean to offend, but am one of those who loves that you share pricing and sources. It helps many of us decide what tasks/jobs are something we can really tackle on our own! PS – I have spent a lot of money on potential DIY projects that either I never completed or found out it has been too big a job for me to complete.

Thank you so much for this post. My husband and I are looking to remodel a small bathroom in our house and this is great inspiration. My husband can be particular about different ideas I have, but when I showed him the floor he said, “that looks so nice”. Also, we don’t live in an expensive area and we both thought that was a reasonable price. I’m really looking forward to the rest of your ideas.

I’m not in for the cost,whether he charged way too much or less. You’re sensible enough as mom and money money maker to do what’s best for your house and your son. So I commend your response to those who felt otherwise.

I couldn’t help but stare in awe at the final tile design. The remodeling was awesome. It captured exactly what you had in mind; making the small bathroom look quite bigger’. It did that so well.

I’m looking forward to the rest of your design. You’re amazing.

I just found your blog and was astonished at some of the comments. You don’t need another person to say this but, you have every right to spend your money the way you see fit and your time is worth a lot of money. Plus you had a pro do it and they were in and out of your life in a day. That’s money well spent in my opinion. #TeamHireAPro

Carmel,

This looks lovely and is a very smart use of simple tile for a great effect. Since you have been so gracious as to share the process you went through with us, I have another question i was hoping you could answer. Did the cost/process of hiring out the installation include removing the toilet and reinstalling it? I have a small bathroom of a similar size I’d very much like to retile, but the logistics of getting the toilet removed and put back (not to mention what a plumber would charge to do that) keeps flummoxing me when I try to plan it out.

Hi Sarah. Yes, the tile installation included both removal and reinstalling the commode. I’m not sure if every tile contractor would include that in his price, so it’s probably best to ask when getting an estimate as hiring a plumber for this would need to be factored in if not.

The Herringbone Floor Tile Plan

Why I Hired Out

Before and After: New Floor Tile

* This makeover project is being sponsored by Lowe’s Home Improvement.

Share this

you might also love

Be the first to know!

Want to be a Fifth House Insider?

Get the latest updates, exclusive content and behind the scenes photos delivered to your inbox weekly!

Privacy Policy