HOW TO RENOVATE A BATHROOM ON A BUDGET
Nov 13, 2023
If you’re unhappy with the current state of your bathroom, there are countless ways to update it. Unfortunately, the bathroom is also one of the most complex and expensive areas in a home to renovate.
The cost of a bathroom renovation varies significantly, with an average cost of $11,918. The good news is that there are plenty of ways you can cut down on costs and transform the space without breaking the bank. I’m sharing practical, creative, and budget-friendly home improvement tips on how to renovate a bathroom.
HOW TO RENOVATE A BATHROOM ON A BUDGET
DO AS MUCH AS YOU CAN WITH PAINT.
You’d be remiss to underestimate the power of paint when it comes to redoing a room in your home.
A fresh coat of paint on the walls can instantly transform your bathroom. If you have a darker color on your bathroom walls right now, you can refresh the space and make the room look larger by painting the walls a lighter, neutral color, or even white.
In addition to the walls, you can remodel other parts of your bathroom with paint. You can refinish the countertops with a countertop paint kit. Or you can refinish your vanity with good-quality cabinet paint.
REPLACE ALL THE HARDWARE.
Old hardware can really date your bathroom. Spending a little on some new drawer pulls, faucets, towel bars, and hooks can give your space a whole new look!
This is one of the most cost-effective ways to update a bathroom because even with just a hundred dollars, you can replace everything in your bathroom and ditch the outdated gold cheap hardware and bring in something modern and fresh.
PURCHASE A NEW SHOWER CURTAIN.
Shower curtains can make a big statement in your bathroom. If yours hasn’t been replaced in a while, it may be giving off an old-fashioned feel rather than the stylish, luxury statement you’re looking for. Get a new shower curtain and liner to transform the feel of your bathroom.
REFRESH YOUR GROUT.
Over the years, grout gets dirty and discolored. You may not even realize your grout was once white!
Refreshing that grout will make your bathroom look cleaner and more modern. You can clean it with elbow grease and a good grout cleaner, or you can recolor it altogether with a grout colorant and applicator.
ADD A NEW MIRROR OR TWO.
Mirrors make rooms look bigger, and the right mirror can even elevate the style and functionality of your bathroom. If you have an old mirror with dated trim, buy a new one that fits the aesthetic you’re going for.
In fact, consider buying a couple of mirrors to make the bathroom feel more spacious and refined. You can apply the same idea to your medicine cabinet without breaking the bank.
INSTALL NEW LIGHT FIXTURES.
If your bathroom doesn’t have a ton of natural lighting, consider swapping your current light fixtures for new ones.
Simple light fixtures aren’t as expensive as you might think, and updating your current lighting set-up can have a big impact on your bathroom’s aesthetic. To really transform your washroom, turn in the 1960s globe strip lights for a few modern sconces and trade that flush-mount overhead light for a moody chandelier. It’ll make a big difference!
UPDATE YOUR TILE WITH INEXPENSIVE ALTERNATIVES.
Tile is likely one of the most present fixtures in your bathroom. If it’s in rough shape or outdated, it’ll bring down the whole room. However, updating flooring is probably not something you consider cost-effective!
Luckily, replacing it with vinyl flooring, using tile stickers, or even painting your bathroom floors can give you the look you want without the high price tag.
REVAMP YOUR STORAGE AND ORGANIZATION.
Bulky cabinets, plastic containers, and dirty caddies can all make your bathroom look cramped, and out of style. Consider ditching big furniture for vertical storage or open shelving to modernize and open up your space. Additionally, update things like your waste bin, toilet paper holder, and storage caddy with glass, acrylic, or metal options that’ll look more refined than the plastic alternatives.
MODERNIZE YOUR ACCESSORIES.
Bathrooms hold a lot more than just fixtures and shelving. They also have things like storage containers, soap dispensers, hand towels, mats, candle holders, and more that clutter the space. Even with a bathroom remodel, these items could still date your space. So, give them an upgrade too.Find new towels and elevated accessories that'll reinforce your new look!
10 BUDGET BATHROOM RENOVATION IDEAS
STAIN OAK CABINETS AND ADD NEW HARDWARE.
Yellow oak is in a lot of older homes across the U.S., but it has no place in any of them. It immediately makes a room or home feel out of style. If your bathroom has oak trim or cabinetry, sand it down, and stain it a new color. After you add some new hardware too, your space will look totally refreshed!
GO BOLD WITH PATTERNED PEEL-AND-STICK TILES.
More and more bathroom remodelers are turning to peel-and-stick tiles for an easy and budget-friendly bathroom update. Peel-and-stick tiles come in lots of varieties, but using a patterned sticker will make your bathroom look trendy and vibrant. Don’t shy away from a bold, geometric patterned floor as long as you balance it with more minimal elements throughout the rest of the room.
CREATE A CUSTOM LINER AND PANEL TO REVAMP YOUR BATHTUB AND SHOWER.
A shower and/or bathtub take up so much room in your bathroom, that any discoloration or dated features look out of place. However, on a budget, replacing the bathtub is usually not in the cards.
Luckily, there are companies that will scan your tub and shower to get the exact dimensions, and then they’ll produce a liner that’ll fit right over your existing tub. It’ll look brand new when really it’s just wearing a new skin. Add a modern bathtub panel and your tub will feel like a major upgrade!
CREATE A MODERN CONTRAST WITH WHITE WALLS AND DARK-COLORED CABINETS.
Colored cabinets are coming back in style. For a trendy and budget-friendly bathroom remodel, paint your cabinets a dramatic dark color like navy or plum, and paint your walls bright white. The contrast and balance will make your bathroom feel upscale and chic.
ADD FRESH OR FAUX PLANTS.
A lot of the textures in your bathroom are redundant. There are lots of hard, shiny surfaces that can make the room feel sterile and cold. Adding accessories can help create texture balance and give your bathroom a more aesthetic and cozy feel.
Fresh or faux plants are one of the best ways to accomplish this. Feel free to add multiple, and if you have empty floor space you’re not sure what to do with, a large potted plant will perfectly fill the gap.
MAKE AN ACCENT WALL WITH INEXPENSIVE WALLPAPER.
Wallpapering a whole room can get expensive, but one small bathroom wall? That can be doable on a budget!
If you want to give your bathroom some personality, consider applying wallpaper to one side of the room as an accent wall. You can then add wall art and other accessories that complement the wallpaper design and draw the whole room together.
TRY OPEN SHELVING FOR SMALL SPACES.
Make a small room feel much bigger and more modern with open shelving. Open shelving with neatly folded towels, small accent pieces, and organized toiletries is beautiful, elevated, and budget-friendly.
USE A DRESSER OR CABINET TO COVER A PEDESTAL SINK.
An old pedestal sink can be an eyesore. You can revamp it cheaply by cutting a dresser or cabinet to fit around the sink. This takes some carpentry know-how, so you may need to hire it out. However, that’s still likely less expensive than a whole new sink and the plumber that goes with it.
Plus, a beautiful antique dresser or a refurbished floor cabinet can add unmatched style and personality to your bathroom.
TRANSFORM TILE AND COUNTERTOPS WITH A COAT OF PAINT.
As I mentioned above, painting can go a long way, and you really don’t need any training or skills to do a painting project!
Make sure you get the appropriate paint, clean your surfaces very well, and let a few coats of paint transform your bathroom.
PUT TOILETRIES IN GLASS/ACRYLIC CONTAINERS.
Toiletries strewn about the bathroom in their original container and boxes can feel cluttered and it does nothing for the design of the room. I suggest making your toiletries into features by putting them inside glass or acrylic containers. It’ll make your space feel bigger, cleaner, and more modern!
REMODELING YOUR BUDGET DOESN’T HAVE TO BREAK THE BANK!
Bathroom renovations can be some of the most overwhelming. It seems like every project has a high price tag! However, with these affordable bathroom remodel ideas and DIY projects, you can transform your space at a fraction of the cost. If this post was helpful to you, I have even more budget-friendly interior design content on the Cure Design blog. Browse current posts and remember to come back weekly for more home renovation tips and tricks!
