For the first time in years, we have a baby in the house again. This time, though, the baby is a two-month-old puppy. If you follow me on Instagram, you may have already seen a few glimpses of her. I promise I will give her a proper introduction here on the blog soon.
In the short amount of time it took me to write those first few sentences, she attacked my hair, chewed on a table leg, had an accident on the living room rug, and tried to lick an electrical outlet. So yes, home improvement projects have slowed down a little with an eight-pound fluffy troublemaker running the schedule.
Thankfully, the final project in Olivia’s bathroom makeover took less than 45 minutes from start to finish. And that includes working around mischievous puppy interruptions.
Do you remember this bathroom floor? It had the kind of brown, tired-looking grout that had clearly seen better days. I felt completely stuck on what to do with it.
Part of me wanted to paint the entire tile floor. I also considered using a stencil, installing vinyl plank flooring over the top, or simply scrubbing it until my arms gave out and calling it done.
After asking for opinions in the last bathroom update post, most of you suggested cleaning the tile, adding a rug, and moving on. Honestly, I usually need someone to talk me down from overcomplicating things because I rarely leave anything alone.
The goal for this bathroom makeover has always been to create a big visual change with as little money, time, and effort as possible. Eventually, this room will be gutted, hopefully in a couple of years, once we finish a few larger home projects.
Still, that grout bothered me every single time I walked in. I could not ignore it.
So, for about $15, I gave the bathroom floor grout a fresh, clean look.
Supplies Used: (Some affiliate links are provided below for convenience.)
- Old toothbrush
- Totally Awesome All Purpose Cleaner or your preferred grout cleaner
- Dry towel or clean rags
- Grout Pen
That may be the shortest supply list this blog has ever had, which is exactly why this quick grout refresh is such a simple bathroom update.
First, I sprayed all of the grout lines with the all-purpose cleaner and let it sit for about five minutes. Giving the cleaner a few minutes to soak in helped loosen the built-up dirt and grime. Then I scrubbed the grout lines with an old toothbrush. That cleaner really did live up to its name for this project.
After scrubbing, I wiped everything dry with a towel and gave the grout time to dry completely before moving on to the next step.
I am not sure where I first heard about grout pens, but since our primary bathroom, kitchen, and breakfast nook all have this same brownish grout, Olivia’s bathroom seemed like the perfect place to test one.
I have to say, using a grout pen is surprisingly satisfying. I bought three pens just to be safe in case one ran out, but I only needed one to cover the entire bathroom floor. The company that makes this grout pen has no idea who I am; I am simply sharing it because it worked well for this small bathroom floor refresh and may help someone else who needs a quick, budget-friendly update.
Once the grout was completely dry, I traced over each grout line with the pen. That was it. No complicated tools, no big mess, and no major renovation required.
It was so easy. The brighter grout instantly made the tile look cleaner, and the entire floor felt fresher. Even though I did not replace or paint the tile itself, the difference was noticeable right away.
Soon, I will add a bath rug, so the floor will not be the main focus of the room anyway. But now, when I do see it, I feel much better about how clean and refreshed it looks.
Now the biggest task left on the bathroom makeover list is decorating, which is always the fun part.
So far, I have hung one shelf and started playing around with styling. It is slowly coming together. I am still thinking about adding artwork, a new shower curtain, a window shade, and a few finishing touches to make the space feel complete.
Here are all of the projects and sources that have gone into this bathroom so far, along with the remaining to-do list:
Paint walls Magnolia Home WeekendPaint trim Benjamin Moore Simply WhitePaint doors Benjamin Moore Wrought IronPaint sink and tub/shower with Rustoleum Tub & Tile Refinishing Kit- Refresh light fixture
Paint vanity cabinetPaint tile / grout- Hang wall decor (halfway finished)
- Decorate with final accessories and finishing touches
If you want more ideas for updating floors on a budget, you can also check out these past posts:
- DIY Moroccan Vinyl Tile Floor
- Faux Marble Tile Floor
- 18 Favorite Peel and Stick Vinyl Tiles
- The Best Tile for a Small Budget
- What to Know Before Buying Jute Rugs
Do you have any other quick floor refresh ideas that make a big difference without a major renovation? Or are you dealing with puppy chaos at your house too? Send coffee and chew toys.
If you want to save this budget grout refresh tutorial for later, you can pin it here:
