8 surprisingly simple bathroom renovation ideas

Does your bathroom need a serious makeover? 

Bathroom renovation costs can often go through the roof because of the fittings, materials and labor involved. But there’s good news too: a bathroom makeover needn’t cost the earth if you’re smart about it. Check out these bathroom ideas on a budget, you may be surprised at how much money you’ll save.

1. Go sparingly on tile

Tiling your whole bathroom can be super expensive, but you can still feature tile in your bathroom redesign, just shop around for the least expensive tiles or watch out for sales! You can also use tiles sparingly and get a great effect for your bathroom renovation. Here are some ways to do that:

• Focus on one high-impact area such as the floor or a feature wall
• Tile one horizontal strip along the wall and paint the rest
• Use mosaic tiles as an accent strip or frame within white tile
• Use white subway tile as a decorative element.

2. Paint rather than tile

If tiles aren’t your thing and you don’t have a lot to spend, repainting is the cheapest way to give your bathroom a fresh new look incorporating on-trend colors for 2019. Though it won’t cost a lot to buy paint to redo a bathroom, even if it’s a small room, you’ll need to set aside a couple of weekends. Bathrooms can be fiddly to paint and require patience and lots of painter’s tape for going round mirrors, sinks, switchplates and windows. Plus make sure you’re using a paint best suited to potentially damp areas.

3. Update and streamline fixtures

Your bathroom renovation will look more pulled together and updated if you swap out mismatched fixtures and accessories for ones that are coordinated in color and finish. These can include: 

• Vanity handles and pulls
• Towel racks
• Soap dispensers
• Light fittings
• Shelving brackets

4. Replace sealer and clean grout

Grimy sealer and grout make your bathroom look unsightly but can easily and cheaply be replaced and cleaned. Small details like this can make a big difference, and can give the impression you’ve invested a lot in a shower or bath remodel. Find out the best technique for sealing a shower or bathtub. You don’t have to use expensive tile cleaner either, check out this eco-friendly method using baking soda and vinegar.

5. Add quality lighting 

A single light bulb dangling from the ceiling isn’t going to do your bathroom’s ambience any favors, or its functionality.Bathrooms need a few different types of lighting fixtures For the best results, use a combination of overhead, task and ambient lighting. If you have a tall ceiling, a chandelier or eye-catching pendant light can add elegance to an otherwise dull bathroom. There are lots of stores selling good cheap lighting if you’re on a budget. 

6. Go green with your toilet 

If your old toilet drives you crazy with its lazy flushing, leaking, cracked bowl or is just decades old, then replace it with a new eco-friendly one with superior style and performance. A low-flow toilet not only helps you save money on your water bill, it doesn’t cost much more than a traditional one. You will need a plumber for this task, but it will only take around one to two hours in labour costs.

7. Add personality with vintage

Often a bathroom has quality fixtures and is a perfectly functional space but lacks personality. By adding unique vintage accents from secondhand stores, garage sales or online etsy finds, you can inject character and interest into your bathroom makeover. Every time you use something old instead of buying new for your bathroom renovation on a budget you reduce your carbon footprint.

8. Refinish your bath

Replacing your bath isn’t going to be the cheapest exercise, unless you scour the salvage yards for an used one in good condition. It’s also a messy job involving on-site demolition of the old one with a sledgehammer. If it’s just stained and chipped, a more affordable option is to get your bath professionally refinished. You don’t have to get white either, consider getting a coloured coating to match your new colour scheme!

There are plenty more bathroom renovation ideas out there but these should get you thinking about how you achieve a bathroom makeover without breaking the bank.

Story by: Angela Pearse, Zumper