Scavenger Chic

Bathroom Makeover, Thrift Store Style

• By Joan
• January 26, 2023
• 7 Comments

Bathroom Makeover, Thrift Store Style

The last couple of weeks I’ve been sharing parts of my bathroom makeover starting with the closet shelves and last weeks 20 ideas for upcycled towel holders.

Today I’m replacing the towel bar with a trio of shelves  and  shopping the thrift stores for all my staging.

The shelves themselves will be made from this  super old reclaimed wood that I found in the dump pile at my local architectural salvage yard.

I cut the shelves to size, they are about 26 inches long by 7 1/2 inches wide.  That narrower piece above is already 8 inches but when a shelf bracket (see below) says it’s an 8inch bracket it really is only 7 1/2 inches.  Just like a 2×4 is only 1 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches.  So confusing, so I did have to cut down the 8 inch pieces of wood to fit in the 8 inch bracket. 🙄 

Of course the old wood had to be sanded to get rid of the majority of splinters and I used clear wax to give a smoother, slicker finish to the wood.

The most expensive part of todays makeover were the shelf brackets.  These 6 brackets are from Amazon.   These are the same brackets I used on my board and batten wall, which also happens to be in my basement.

After hubby tore down the towel rack  (accidentally? on purpose?), I thought it was a great opportunity to replace the rack with a set of shelves.  Since this is only a half bath, a smaller towel holder was all that was needed, and that was placed on the wall to the left of the door.

I could have shopped my house for objects to place on my shelves but where’s the fun in that?  I was looking forward to a day of thrifting.

First up, this beautiful teal blue vase. The squattier vase right behind my purchase was also a contender but he was twice as expensive.

It had a couple of scratches but at $2.49 I couldn’t pass him up.

Compare my find of $2.50 to this $34.00 vase on Etsy.

Next we have this hanging battery operated clock.

The clock had 2 prices on it, 2.99 for the stand and 2.49 for the clock.  I don’t know if that was a mistake, but since I really only wanted the clock, I left the stand behind.

The closest clock I could find online was this $16 clock offered at Poshmark. I thought Poshmark only sold vintage clothing but apparently they sell Home Decor as well.

The thrift store had 2 of these blue boxes for sale.

 

At only $2.49 the wooden box quickly went in the cart.  Initially I thought I would have to paint the box since I wasn’t doing a nautical scene.  Scrapped that idea, the box went on the top shelf where you can’t see the top and it pairs well with the blue vase.

The closest I could find to my narrow blue box with this storage organization box from Walmart.  With the dovetailed corners and larger size I would expect to pay more for this box, just not $45 more.  I’m happy with my purchase.

 

These little wooden storage boxes were super popular about 20 years ago.  It’s not vintage, but it is super handy to hold any odds and ends you might have in the bathroom.  I’m thinking bandaids, qtips…  It was only $2.49.

 

I was getting too many knick knacks so I headed over to the picture aisle. I needed something taller.  That little white framed leaf would have a good contrast with the dark walls.

How many of you would have picked up the bird in the tutu instead?

My leaf picture was only $1.49.  Initially I was thinking that I might have to paint the mat, but when I placed it on the shelf  it worked just fine.

This silver plate lotus bowl  was only 99 cents.

The closest thing I could find online was another Poshmark item.  This one was offered at $13, though I do think I would need to get my tarnish remover out to make mine shine as brightly as this one.

At my first thrift store, with tax, my total was only $13.19.  It did help that 4 of the 6 items were half price.  I do love a sale.

My shelves were filling up nicely though I still wanted something to hold toilet paper and a faux plant.  On to the next thrift store!

Between the two thrift stores I made a quick stop at Lowes.  They had a wicker basket trashcan with a plastic liner.  Now I had something else I needed to look for,  I already had a white plastic trashcan all I needed was the basket part, just like that basket on the top shelf.

My most expensive find of the day at $7.49, but my white ugly trash can is hidden perfectly.

While the Lowes trashcan was about $24, I couldn’t resist showing you this Pottery Barn Seagrass handcrafted waste basket for $69.  Now my $7.50  investment looks like a pretty good deal.

I really wanted a faux plant in my little bathroom because there are no windows. And  I thought I had no hopes of actually finding said plant at a thrift store, it was just something I added to the list as a, just in the off chance, but just look what is sitting on that top shelf, 2 faux plants.  I only got the one succulent  pot, but now I regret not getting the fern to the right as well.

This pot was  $5.49, but if I had found this same plant at a Homegoods or Target I would have expected to pay around $15 – $20.

This planter at Amazon is no longer $17.99, it now retails for $22.99.  Now I’m even happier with my purchase.

I had looked in the basket and bin section of the store, but in the metal section I finally found my toilet paper holder. It’s hiding down there in the corner.

Better yet, if I no longer need it as a toilet paper holder it would make a great bread or fruit basket.

The closest I could find online was one more Poshmark find, originally offered at $25 and marked down to $8.  Even with the markdown, it couldn’t beat my $3.50 price tag.

 

Second thrift store haul was just the wicker basket, wire bread basket and the faux succulent pot but I did so much better than I thought I would.  Total cost with tax at store #2, $17.47.

 

I picked up one more item, this large oval mirror with a bevel edge for only 12.99 several months ago with the intention of adding a unique frame. I do love a good mirror makeover. 

I am so glad I never got to that project because now it looks great hanging above the sink.  Any added frame would have made the mirror too large for the space.

Compare my $12.99 mirror to this brand new mirror from Amazon for $71.95. and that’s at 40% off.

My ugly plastic trash can is now hidden inside this beautiful woven basket.

While I was at the thrift store, I was afraid I was purchasing too much and that I would have to edit. It all fit!

The closet shelf makeover looks even better with the rest of the room completed.

On the other side of the room you’ll find my very own, one of a kind, belt towel holder.  Make sure you check out last weeks post for 20 upcycled towel holder ideas.

 

 

I did so well in my day of shopping and I had so much fun but I failed to find one item.  It was actually the only thing that I knew I wanted to find…a large canvas on which I could paint a large sized picture for the wall across from the porcelain throne.  I even have a picture in mind, a copycat of this painting found in Pottery Barn. Alas, a $560 price tag is totally out of the question, especially if you’re a scavenger, so the hunt continues.  Of course it never fails, when I’m not looking for a canvas I’ll find one everywhere.  But hey, I’ve got time, so maybe you’ll be seeing a part 4 to my bathroom makeover in the not too distant future.

Until next time, stay inspired.

 

Three shelves over the toilet copies the same idea as my son’s bathroom makeover from February 2021.