One of my personal projects was remodeling both of my bathrooms. I took on most of the work myself to save money—and because I genuinely enjoy learning new skills and seeing a project come together. I tracked expenses, purchased materials carefully, and handled nearly all the labor.

The Story Behind the Remodels

Both bathrooms came with their own personalities—and their own surprises.

The first bathroom taught me the basics: removing fixtures, prepping walls, handling water damage on the baseboards by the shower, and repairing minor drywall issues. A few measurements were off at first, but thankfully those were easy fixes. By the end, I felt confident and ready for bathroom number two.

The second, I went into thinking “I’ve got this. I’ve done this before! It will be easier than the first!” I learned quickly that my confidence was misdirected. The moment I pulled out the vanity, I found some uninvited guests: mice. And let’s just say they weren’t the cleanest tenants.

To make things worse, the builder had literally cut a corner behind the vanity to make it fit. I discovered a hole in the drywall—hidden like a bad plot twist in a home renovation show.

So instead of a simple swap-out, I found myself:

• Removing “mouse-enhanced” vinyl flooring
• Learning to patch drywall via YouTube
• Resealing gaps and replacing trim
• Expanding my scope, timeline, and stress levels

Despite the unexpected detours, both bathrooms turned out beautifully. The experience was a great reminder that even small projects can carry big lessons—and the ability to adapt on the fly is just as important in home DIY as it is in project management.

Below is the before-and-after of the main bathroom remodel: