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Melissa and Wyatt Shipman updated their basement half-bath for $203.76, just over their $200 budget, according to Apartment Therapy. They kept the existing vanity, countertop, toilet and sink, using paint, peel-and-stick flooring, ceiling work and new accessories to change the room’s appearance.
Melissa and Wyatt Shipman refreshed their overlooked basement half-bath for $203.76, using paint, peel-and-stick floor tiles and changes to the existing vanity instead of replacing major fixtures. Apartment Therapy reported the makeover after the couple said increased use of their basement made the dated room a higher priority.
The bathroom dated to the early 1990s and had tan vinyl flooring, an oak vanity, dim lighting and blue fixtures. Melissa said the couple had put off the work because they rarely used the room and did not want to spend heavily on a space that felt difficult to update. Wyatt’s work-from-home routine and the couple’s young children being home more often led to greater use of the basement.
Working with a target budget of $200, the Shipmans removed the popcorn ceiling and painted the walls white, using paint left over from other projects. They could not afford to replace the floor, so they installed gray, white and black peel-and-stick tiles. Melissa told Apartment Therapy that the small room made installation possible within a few hours, though she found the work challenging.
The couple kept the oak vanity but sanded down its decorative edges and painted it black with leftover paint. They also added a black faucet, a new mirror, updated lighting and framed art they already owned. The existing countertop and blue toilet remained, according to the report. The final cost was $203.76, slightly above the couple’s stated budget.
A Lower-Cost Alternative to Replacement
The project shows how this couple changed the look of a small bathroom without replacing its main fixtures or countertop. The existing vanity and toilet stayed, while the new floor covering, paint, lighting and hardware changed the room’s overall appearance. That distinction matters for readers weighing a full renovation against a limited cosmetic refresh.
The result is specific to the Shipmans’ room and budget; it is not evidence that the same work will cost $203.76 elsewhere. Their use of leftover paint and decor they already owned helped hold down expenses, and the source does not provide a general cost breakdown for materials or labor. The report also describes a small half-bath, not a full bathroom with a shower or tub.
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Why the Basement Room Changed
The Shipmans had lived in their home for nine years and had completed DIY work elsewhere, according to Apartment Therapy. Melissa said they had ignored the basement bathroom because it was seldom used and she could not see how to update it while keeping the blue toilet. The room’s early-1990s finishes had become a visible reminder of a project they had postponed.
Use of the basement increased when Wyatt began working from home, and the couple’s young children were also home more often. The makeover was therefore a response to a change in how the household used the space, as well as a design update. The report does not state when the renovation itself took place or provide measurements for the room.
“I was basically ignoring this room because we never really used it, and I didn’t want to spend the money to upgrade a space that felt impossible.”
— Melissa Shipman, speaking to Apartment Therapy
Costs and Project Details Not Reported
Apartment Therapy reported the final total as $203.76 but did not include an itemized list of expenses, product brands or amounts spent on each part of the project. The report also does not specify the date of the work, the bathroom’s dimensions, or whether the couple did every task themselves.
The account does not describe the condition of the subfloor, the expected lifespan of the peel-and-stick tiles, or how well they might hold up to moisture and regular cleaning. It also gives no information about permits or changes to plumbing or electrical systems. The reported makeover appears to have focused on finishes and accessories, but the available details do not establish the exact scope of every task.
No Further Renovation Plans Reported
The source does not report a planned second phase, a replacement of the blue toilet or sink, or further work on the bathroom. Melissa said she liked the brighter walls, updated lighting, scraped ceiling and graphic floor, and wished they had done the project sooner. No follow-up plans or longer-term performance updates were included in the report.
Key Questions
How much did the bathroom makeover cost?
Apartment Therapy reported a final cost of $203.76, slightly above the couple’s $200 target. The article did not provide an itemized cost breakdown.
What did Melissa and Wyatt change?
They removed the popcorn ceiling, painted the walls white, installed peel-and-stick floor tiles, painted and reshaped the existing vanity, and added a faucet, mirror, lighting and framed art.
Did they replace the toilet, sink or countertop?
No. The report says the existing countertop and blue toilet remained. It does not describe replacing the sink; the main fixtures were not part of the reported update.
Why did they decide to renovate the bathroom?
The basement saw more use after Wyatt began working from home and the couple’s children were home more often. That made a room they had rarely used a higher priority.
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