If you’ve been looking into bathroom remodels, you know how expensive they are. Remodelling your bathroom is probably amongst the most expensive home renovation jobs. Why? Plumbing, bathroom finishes, labour – all of this adds to the remodelling bill.
But, don’t worry, a budget-friendly bathroom makeover is possible. Plus, you won’t have to gut your whole bathroom to make it new and functional.
Let’s see how you can do a bathroom makeover on a budget.
1. A good clean and a fresh coat of paint
In 90 per cent of situations, there is nothing wrong with the bathroom, all it needs is some deep cleaning. So, before having an anxiety attack thinking about all the money you’ll need to throw into a bathroom remodel, do some cleaning.
Over time, mildew, water, steam, soap buildup, dust, and other gunk start piling up and this all can lead to the development of bacteria, fungus, and unpleasant odours in your bathroom. Due to all this, your bathroom looks awful and you think that it needs a makeover.
When in truth, all your bathroom needs is a deep clean. From wiping down the shower, bathtub, skinks, faucets to even scrubbing your tile grout.
And you can go a step further and give your bathroom a fresh coat of paint to make it look fresh and new. And that’s one of the least expensive ways to upgrade your bathroom.
2. Bathroom flooring
When it comes to the best and least expensive options for your bathroom flooring, you have several options. Without a doubt, tiles are the best option for bathroom floors. They are durable, easy to maintain, and waterproof. The only downside is the price and professional installation that only add to the cost. Unless you know how to tile, then go for tiles!
Another very popular and cost-effective flooring option is vinyl. Vinyl tiles are the least expensive flooring options you can find, plus they are easy to maintain (there are no grout lines!), water-resistant, and easy to replace if need be. No to mention that you can install these tiles yourself.
3. Paint the tiles
Replacing tiles is a huge job that will cost you not just money but time as well. If you want to keep your bathroom makeover budget-friendly, skipping this step will be the wisest. However, you don’t have to give up your dream of having different colour tiles – all you have to do is paint the tiles.
For just a fraction of the price, you can have a completely different bathroom in just a couple of hours. You can play around and experiment with colours until you get exactly the look you wanted.
4. Upgrade your bathroom vanity
A bathroom vanity can be a great centrepiece of your bathroom, but only if it’s in a good shape. If you think that it’s time to do something about your current bathroom vanity, you should know that you have options.
The easiest and probably the most expensive option is to buy a completely new vanity for your bathroom. Vanities come in many shapes and forms, from freestanding vanity units to wall-mounted ones, so you won’t have problems finding something you like.
The second option would be upcycling your current bathroom vanity. If it’s in a good condition, you can give your vanity a fresh coat of paint, swap the hardware, and if need be change the countertop. You can create a brand new bathroom vanity with just a couple of stylish changes.
The last option is to do some thrifting. Look for vanities on the Facebook marketplace, thrift shops, or flea markets, you may find something that fits your needs and wishes and then refinish it the way you want, install the sinks, and voila, a completely new vanity. This option is best for DIYers.
5. Update plumbing fixtures
You wouldn’t believe what a difference changing the plumbing fixtures can do for a bathroom. You don’t need to change your vanity or sink, all you need to do is replace the old faucet with a new one.
Modern-looking faucets come in many different finishes so you’ll be able to choose between chrome, brushed nickel, brass, or any other finish you like. When changing your sink faucet, go ahead and change the shower and bathtub faucets as well. You can even opt to install a rainfall showerhead for added luxury.
6. Replace the old toilet
Switching out the toilet may seem like a professional’s job, but it doesn’t have to be. Once you buy a new toilet, the most difficult part will be physically switching the new and old one.
Since you’re changing the toilet, make sure you invest in something that will pay off in the long term. One such item is a low-flow toilet. These toilets are eco-friendly since they use less water. This means that you’ll be killing two birds with one stone – protecting your environment and reducing the bills.
The installation of a new toilet won’t be a problem since all you have to do is hook it up on a couple of waterlines. No need to give a good chunk of money to plumbers when this is something you can do yourself.
7. Change the lighting fixtures
Just like changing the plumbing fixtures can make a world of difference, so can changing the lighting fixtures. Proper lighting can affect the feel of the whole space. So, if your bathroom looked dark and dingy, it’s time to change that with new lighting fixtures.
Layering lighting can be a great way to add more light to your bathroom. Install a general light in the bathroom and then add task lights (these should be brighter than general lights) – next or above the mirror, in the shower, above the bathtub, or wherever you deem fit.
Another benefit of modern lighting fixtures is the ability to use LED bulbs with them. LED bulbs are much brighter than incandescent ones, and they use less energy.
8. Storage options
Clutter is the worst part of any room, even the bathroom. Over time, clutter builds up and in most cases, this is due to the lack of storage solutions.
With the lack of storage space, your countertops and shower are probably overflowing with unnecessary things, and that visually creates mess and clutter in the bathroom.
To deal with this issue, you should look for affordable storage solutions such as shelves, hooks, drawer and cabinet organizers, shower organizers, and similar practical solutions that don’t take up too much space.
As you can see, a bathroom makeover doesn’t need to break your budget. With a couple of clever and DIY-friendly solutions, you can have a completely transformed bathroom.
