Sometimes your bathroom needs an upgrade. But a bathroom renovation can cost quite a hefty amount. Here are some ways you can improve your bathroom without the price tag of a full renovation, but still have similarly satisfying results. With a few smart updates and some creative styling, you can give your bathroom a fresh, modern look while saving both time and money.
When your bathroom becomes old and unattractive, it can be a real pain to deal with. Many homeowners choose to gut their bathroom and start from scratch. However, this can cause many problems, including a lot of noise and dust, long hours spent with your contractor, and a lot of money. Instead of going through all of this pain and expense to give your bathroom a full makeover, are there not some things that you can do to give it a fresh new look without going to extreme measures?
Spare yourself the mess and hassle of a full bathroom demolition and renovation. If you want a different look for your bathroom, there are many simple ways to achieve it without tearing the whole place apart.
Going the whole hog of a full bathroom demolition and rebuild can be a very expensive, very messy affair that takes weeks to complete and requires you to be at home all the time to deal with arriving contractors. It’s all too much for most people to cope with these days. But don’t let that put you off! Why suffer through all that disruption and expense when you can give your bathroom a brand new look with some carefully chosen changes, with clever styling and with a clear vision of what you are trying to achieve? We show you how!
Start with the Anchor Points: Fixtures and Hardware
First, swap out the metal finishes in the room for the highest visual return on your investment. New faucets, cabinet knobs, towel bars, and even shower heads can all be made of metal, but that doesn’t mean they all have to look the same. Replacing old fixtures with ones made of the same metal but with a different finish can make for a highly stylish bathroom. For example, pairing a matte black bathroom faucet with other black fixtures, such as cabinet knobs and bathroom hardware, will create a sleek, modern space. On the other hand, choosing a variety of finishes in the same metal, such as brushed brass, polished nickel, and matte black, will create a space with a lot of style and character. Either way, as long as you are choosing fixtures made of metal, the visual return on your investment will be high.
Have you ever noticed how much an old, leaking faucet ruins the look of an entire vanity?
Replacing it is remarkably straightforward. You don’t need advanced plumbing knowledge, just a basic wrench, some plumber’s tape, and a little patience. Upgrading to a modern matte black, brushed brass, or classic polished nickel finish instantly modernizes the area.
Of course, it’s possible that your bathroom fixtures just aren’t within your budget. Discount bathroom faucets can be a great option if you want to improve your bathroom by updating the fixtures but don’t have a lot of money for home improvement products. Because discount bathroom faucets can be purchased for a low price, you will be able to update your bathroom to include the best products available. This is one of the secrets of budget-friendly DIY: finding ways to complete your home while keeping costs down. And by pairing your discount bathroom faucets with matching cabinet hardware for your vanity doors and drawers, you can create a look for your bathroom that’s modern, sophisticated, and high-end. It makes a world of difference.
Rethink Your Color Palette and Lighting
Never underestimate the power of paint. Paint is arguably the most cost-effective design tool at our disposal. A fresh coat or two on your bathroom walls will, within hours, completely “clean” the space. There are very few situations in which a simple change of paint does not pay massive dividends. And of all the ways to utilize paint in a space that has no natural light, such as a bathroom, perhaps the most common is to “lighten” up the walls. So, for example, painting the walls a light white, soft cream, or gentle green can instantly make your small space appear larger, brighter, and cleaner.
But when your bathroom has no windows, it can be hard to choose the right paint color.
Bathrooms typically don’t have large windows, so painting your walls a light color such as white, cream, or a soft green such as sage can help bounce the light throughout the space. Dark and moody colors, such as navy and charcoal, can make a small bathroom, such as a powder room, look like a dramatic “jewel box.”
And then there is the lighting in your bathroom. Most builder bathrooms come equipped with overhead light bars with exposed bulbs, but they are so harsh and look so outdated. Replacing a fixture with a warmer, more diffused light will make a huge difference in the feel of your bathroom. Look for bulbs with a warm white tone (around 2700K to 3000K) to avoid the cold, harsh blue light found in most typical light bulbs. These types of bulbs will give your bathroom a warm and inviting ambiance and make you feel more relaxed and calm when gazing at your reflection in the mirror.
Paint the Vanity Instead of Replacing It
While you may think that completely replacing the bathroom vanity is the only option to give your bathroom a makeover, the cost of replacing a new vanity, countertops, and sink can be very expensive.
The cabinet is solid wood, so there is no need to waste money and time replacing it. Just because the finish is outdated does not mean you have to replace the whole thing. You can paint the existing vanity to give it a new personality.
Instead of spending money to replace your bathroom vanity, remember that the cabinet is just the outer shell. If the inner frame is still sound, give the outside a facelift. Paint the cabinet to give it a new personality. First, make sure to properly clean and prepare the surface to paint. This includes removing any soap scum and oils, lightly sanding to give the paint something to grip, and applying a strong bonding primer. Use a durable cabinet enamel paint. Choose a color that contrasts with the paint on the walls to make a strong statement. A deep forest green vanity with brass hardware, for example, would look incredible with a creamy white or even light gray painted wall.
Upgrade the Mirror Setup
The typical builder’s mirror is a frameless sheet of glass glued directly to the wall. It serves a purpose but can be quite characterless.
You have two simple paths to fix this:
- Frame the existing glass. Build or buy a simple frame to fit over the edges of your mirror to hide chipped or rough edges or add some interesting texture.
- Replace it with a framed mirror in an unusual geometric shape. This will break up the straight lines of the walls, floors, countertops, and sink.
Address the Tile Without Tearing It Out
To update your bathroom flooring or wall surrounds without the mess, expense, and disruption of replacing tile, consider covering up the old tile using waterproof and flexible adhesive-backed tiles or panels that can be cut to size with a utility knife and adhere instantly to clean, dry, and smooth surfaces. These are known as peel-and-stick tiles.
What if the tile itself isn’t the problem, but the dingy lines running between them?
Start by deep-cleaning the grout lines to remove dirt and restore the grout’s appearance. Grout lines can look dirty even after the tile has been cleaned, but with the right products and some tough scrubbing with a stiff brush, you can get them looking like new again. In severe cases where the grout has become permanently discolored, grout colorant pens can also be used to make the grout look freshly laid.
Temporary vinyl self-adhesive floor tiles are another option. These water-resistant tiles come in stone, wood, and many other designs. They install in minutes, protect the floor underneath, and can be removed whenever needed.
Focus on Textures and Soft Goods
Now it’s time to look at the textures and soft goods you can bring into the space. Most bathrooms are primarily made up of hard surfaces like tile and glass. By incorporating a variety of soft goods, you can bring warmth and personality to the room.
Towels, bath mats, shower curtains, and rugs all make a big difference. Choose plush cotton or waffle weave towels and small woven runner-style rugs. Pick a single color palette or style and update all of your bathroom textiles to create a fresh, cohesive look.
Try swapping out your shower curtain for a floor-length linen or heavy textured cotton curtain. Hang it high, close to the ceiling, to make the room appear taller while also disguising an older tub or shower.
Curate the Final Details
While bathroom essentials need to be within easy reach, there is nothing more beautiful than an uncluttered countertop.
Glass apothecary jars filled with cotton balls and swabs, matching soap and shampoo dispensers, and neatly organized toiletries can instantly make your bathroom feel more elegant. Add a few well-chosen plants, such as pothos, ferns, or snake plants, which thrive in humid, low-light environments. Finish the space with framed artwork, photographs, and a scented candle or two to make the room feel warm and inviting.
Sometimes, less really is more.
Updating your bathroom doesn’t have to be expensive or involve a team of contractors. Paint, fixtures, lighting, and a selection of beautiful textiles are simple elements that can help create the bathroom of your dreams.
