One of the best things about DIY home projects is that rooms offer a blank canvas to express your creativity. Practical matters like budget, skill level and time are important, but when you set out to redo a space you can also experiment and try something unique. That’s exactly what Alex and Carla did in their newly completed mini bathroom, producing a result that feels personal, inventive and entirely original.
We discovered the charming blog Hammers and High Heels while browsing and immediately followed their renovation updates. The couple is restoring a 1924 Dutch Colonial in Minneapolis, and their project list includes room-by-room makeovers that balance vintage character with modern touches. Their tiny guest bath, once plain and dated, became an ideal spot to try a bold idea without a huge investment.
The makeover began with a fresh coat of paint and a simple sink replacement, but one spark of inspiration changed the direction of the room: chalkboard paint. After seeing examples online, Carla decided to test the concept in this small space. The top half of the walls was painted with chalkboard paint, creating a matte, erasable surface that invites messages, drawings and easily updated accents.
To keep the overall look balanced, the lower half of the room was painted a soft light blue and separated by crisp white trim. That contrast turns the chalkboard surface into a striking focal point while the pale blue and white maintain an airy, clean feel. The design mixes function and whimsy — the chalkboard area is practical for notes, lists or doodles, while the painted lower section ensures the bathroom remains fresh and bright.
Small decorative details complete the transformation. An Ikea frame and a few carefully chosen accessories add personality without cluttering the compact space. Because the chalkboard paint covers only the upper portion, the bathroom avoids feeling dark or heavy; instead, it feels playful and tailored to the homeowners’ style.
This project highlights several advantages to experimenting in smaller rooms: lower material costs, quicker turnaround and the freedom to try daring finishes that might feel overwhelming in larger areas. Chalkboard paint is especially well suited to small bathrooms, powder rooms and laundry spaces where it can provide a changeable surface for reminders, seasonal messages or creative expressions.
If you’re considering a similar approach, here are a few practical tips based on this project’s outcome:
- Limit the chalkboard paint to a portion of the wall to prevent the room from feeling too dark. Using it above a lighter painted lower wall with white trim creates contrast and maintains brightness.
- Choose high-quality chalkboard paint and apply it evenly for the smoothest writing surface. Multiple thin coats generally yield better results than a single heavy coat.
- Consider using liquid chalk markers or dustless chalk if you want a cleaner writing experience. Test your chosen medium to ensure it erases easily from the paint you selected.
- Add simple, inexpensive accessories — a framed print, shelf or small hooks — to personalize the space without overwhelming it.
- Keep functionality in mind: a chalkboard wall is great for notes and lists but also for rotating decorative art and seasonal messages.
This mini bathroom shows how a focused, creative choice can transform a small room into an engaging, useful space. The mix of chalkboard paint, soft blue paint and white trim proves that bold ideas don’t have to be permanent or expensive — they can be playful experiments that add character to your home.
Have a DIY makeover of your own? We’d love to see it. Share your project photos and details by sending them to [email protected]. In the meantime, what do you think about using chalkboard paint in a bathroom — clever and fun, or too unconventional? Photo courtesy of Hammers and High Heels