Calvin, there are lots of things you can do to upgrade your bathroom. What would help all the good folks here is if you can post a larger, more encompassing photo of your bathroom as it exists now. Then--this is the fun part--browse through Houzz or Pinterest, etc. and post a few photos of what inspires you, what you like, what could realistically be done in your bathroom. We all started wanting to upgrade, and most of us have been helped by others here who have been there, done that. It wouldn't hurt to include a ballpark amount of your budget.

Ditto, what Linelle said!

i will say that from the one picture you posted, it appears as though you have enough room to pull that vanity out of the corner.

Or install a larger vanity.

a larger vanity, sconces, get rid of the textured walls.

Ditto on replacing that too-small, jammed-in-the-corner vanity. You could either move it and/or make it wider, as suggested, or you could go with a classier and more accessible corner vanity:

Corner bathroom vanity

Corner vanity images

I can see the TP dispenser on the left edge of the image. Does the toilet face the vanity or does the toilet tank back up to the same wall as the vanity?

sloyder, where I live (SF Bay Area) knock-down texture is super common in all but older or custom homes. If I were doing a new house, I think I'd get rid of it, but I don't think I'd make it a priority on an upgrade. In fact, I didn't when I had my entire guest bath redone. Love it or not, it goes with the rest of the house.

The first thing that I would do is to remove or drywall over that wall texture. That will make your bathroom feel much newer, fresher. The next thing would be to upgrade to a larger, white or cream vanity, then paint. Your bathroom will feel much better after these things are finished, and then it will be easy to pick out mirror/medicine cabinet, light, etc. Good luck, your bathroom will be great!

I agree with Mayflowers. Calvin, assuming you won't be retexturing your walls (and I don't blame you for this particular project), a lighter paint color and flatter finish will help minimize it. I used one step up from flat (satin? eggshell?) in my bathroom and it helps me overlook the texture. This photo is taken in natural light, but a good vanity fixture with well-diffused lighting will also help.

I live in the Midwest. I had no idea about the texture of walls out west. What is the purpose of this?

I think texture is easier to slap together. It's a more forgiving surface. It shows less flaws.

Texturing is a decorative finish whose traditional purpose has been to finish walls more quickly and save money. The sheetrock does not have to be finished to as high a quality level as smooth wall since the bumpy texturing that is sprayed on hides finish defects that one can't allow in smooth walls. Some people like the appearance and some prefer a smooth finish.

A lot of ceilings in my area are textured like that, but never the walls. Now though, most buyers want smooth ceilings. That's a high end feature or upgrade that people pay more for.

Just ant to point out that knockdown texture is not the thing as popcorn.

Sorry for hijacking your post Calvin. A nice calming, light color using a satin finish, along with a larger preferably white or cream vanity would look terrific in your bathroom. Use a mirror that is the same width as the vanity, and that will also help to cover up some of the wall texture. Several large pictures on the wall will also help to hide the wall texture. Using a theme that you like, sailing for ex will help you to find pictures, towels, etc for your bathroom, and tie it all together. Don't forget to paint the ceiling white, an easy way to brighten things up. Good luck!

Sorry, Calvin. Sometimes these threads take excursions. But, overall, I think you have gotten a lot of good advice.

(1) Larger vanity would be good but not sure how much larger you can go. That looks like it is about a 30-31 in. Might be able to get a 36 in there.

A good source (and helpful on $$) is to check out local architectural salvage companies. We have one here that would have a large vanity with top to replace that for under $75. )

(2) Put in a medicine cabinet that is more normal size. 30" vanity then a 24 -30" med cabinet. Get a one with wood framing so you can go to #4.

(3) Give the wall interest by running a small 'chair' rail around the room. Regular chair rail would be too big for such a small space - go with smaller moulding like http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ornamental-Mouldings-1159-6-3-8-in-x-1-1-4-in-x-72-in-White-Hardwood-Embossed-Bead-Trim-Moulding-1159-6WHW/202838487?quantity=1 or this http://www.homedepot.com/p/Alexandria-Moulding-WM-163-11-16-in-x-1-3-8-in-x-96-in-Poplar-Wood-Primed-Finger-Jointed-Base-Cap-Moulding-0W163-97096C/205958672?quantity=1

Now add crown moulding around the top -- pulls the eye up and makes the space seem bigger. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Alexandria-Moulding-WM-163-11-16-in-x-1-3-8-in-x-96-in-Poplar-Wood-Primed-Finger-Jointed-Base-Cap-Moulding-0W163-97096C/205958672?quantity=1

(4) Paint

Go to 3 colors

* Upper wall (light)

* Lower wall (med)

* Crown moulding. chair rail, door trim, vanity and medicine cabinet (darker than lower wall)

(Note To paint over a pre-finished vanity, prime it with Zinsser 1-2-3 - sticks to anything.)

(5) Vanity --- those doors are pretty boring. Might try adding

(a) some pretty door pulls

(b) decorative wood appliques (just some wood glue and tiny brads will put them on) http://www.homedepot.com/s/birch%2520applique?NCNI-5 (type in "birch applique" to find them.

(6) Don't see room for sconces --- might try a pretty light where the bulb comes out over the medicine cabinet.

(7) That wrapping-around backsplash on the vanity makes it look even smaller. Could try

* Finding a replacement that didn't have that backsplash

* Get some plywood or OCB board to make a new top and cover it with laminate and install a new drop-in sink

(and oh yeah lose that dispenser thingy on the wall)

(8) Put a nice painting or print over the toilet.

Depends how much money you want to spend. Our guest bath in our old house looked similar to yours. We installed tile floors, painted the walls (we had textured also), added a stand alone cabinet that set by the vanity, changed the countertop with a remnant granite piece, added hardware to the vanity, added a framed mirror & changed the shower curtain. We spent around $1100 doing that.

I'm not sure you need a vanity at all - a pedestal sink might work better depending on the size and layout of the room and the location of the door. Can you post a sketch showing dimensions? Is this a guest bathroom for overnight guests or a powder room for guests who aren't staying overnight?

First, set a budget. Next, figure out what you don't like, and define exactly what you want to accomplish, e.g., improve lighting, more storage, or what have you. Then get ideas, make a plan, execute. Good luck.

He stated in his first post he wants to upgrade his vanity, light, and mirror. He didn't say he wanted to do it as cheaply as possible, as it seems some are assuming.

Besides the additional info about the toilet and vanity sharing a wall, you haven't given any further feedback of what you want to do. Bigger vanity? Buy components separately or find a vanity/counter/sink package? Ideas to give it some personality?

Calvin, if the light fixture shown in your picture is the only one, I would add a ceiling fixture, and change the existing light to something more contemporary. I would buy a new mirror that has a nice, interesting frame, preferably oval. I would paint the existing vanity (if you like the style) white or some pale color and then replace the top with an interesting quartz and change the sink and faucet.

Diane

I still think that having a small vanity suck in the corner like that -- unless it's an angled, corner vanity -- is less than optimal from an aesthetic standpoint. It looks like there is room for a freestanding vanity if you are staying with a rectangular, linear arrangement, and that would make the bathroom more attractive. I know vanities are stuck in corners all the time, but that doesn't necessarily make it a good choice.

Hi Calvin! I think you've gotten some great suggestions here! If you could post a couple more pictures of the whole bathroom, that would really help us give better advice. Also, if you can tell us, is this a 1/2 bath (toilet/sink only) or a full bath (also has tub and/or shower)? That would be really helpful information. You only asked for help on vanity, lighting, and mirror. It would also be very helpful if you could share with us what your budget is for this project. It's a bit difficult to give specific advice when we're "blind."

Have a great Thursday! :-)

Hello Calvin,

I can see that your guest bathroom would be a small room so the mirrors and the equipment should adjust to its size. Make sure you choose a frameless mirror in order to take full advantage of the mirror in terms of size. A great article about whether to choose frameless or framed mirrors can be found here.

Here are some bathroom mirror ideas :

Boo Mirror with Coat Hook - 18 Euro

Frameless Bathroom Oval Mirror - 85 USD

That's as far as my <<expertise>> goes. :)

Calvin, we can come up with a thousand different looks for you, but that would make no sense. If you can look though Houzz or even an internet shopping site like Build.com or Wayfair or AllModern or any site that sells vanities, and link a few to this thread to show what style you like, then we can better help you.

Give a budget for how much you want to spend.

More photos of the room have also been requested. Folks want to help you, but you need to give them something more to go on.

Do you like wooden? Painted? Modern floating vanities? Traditional vanities with paneled doors? metal drawer pulls? Glass knobs? Whimsical and humorous touches? Touches of nature? High tech metal and glass?