Updating the bathroom is often high on homeowners’ to-do lists. However, if a major remodel isn’t feasible, these projects can be postponed. Fortunately, there are cost-effective ways to refresh your bathroom without extensive renovations. From a fresh coat of paint to updated lighting, here’s how to transform your space.
Repainting the Bathroom Walls
Swap Out Fixtures: Changing your lighting fixture is another way to enhance your bathroom. It can be shiny and new or a second hand find thrifted from a store. The beauty of a light fixture is that it can also help dictate the design direction of your bathroom.
Install Paneling: Whether it’s wainscoting, shiplap, or beadboard, installing a half-paneled wall in your bathroom instantly elevates the space. You can choose to leave it white or paint it black or a different shade that complements the rest of the room.
Forgo a Theme: While you may dream of a farmhouse bathroom or modern black and white design, it benefits your budget to simply make the space as cohesive—or eclectic, if that’s your style—as possible. You can also add elements of your chosen theme as a soft nod, without having to change the entire room. A whitewashed mirror and galvanized tissue box read farmhouse, while gold-rimmed bath accessories add vintage charm.
Introduce Extra Storage: If toiletries are overflowing from the medicine cabinet and toilet paper is stacked out in the open, adding some stylish storage to the bathroom will enhance the space. In a spacious bathroom, consider a freestanding cabinet that can stash toilet paper, hair styling tools, and clean towels. In a tiny bathroom, let a slim rolling storage cart hold spare bottles of shampoo and bars of soap. Once everything has a storage spot, you can keep the counters clear. Stylish fabric or wicker baskets are great storage solutions to hide bath products out in the open if you’re pressed for space.
Refresh the Grout: You don’t need to retile the entire room to give old tile a new look. In fact, even giving the grout a good scrub can dramatically improve its appearance. Another option is to change the color of the grout. If you want to change light grout to dark gray for a more modern look, consider grout colorant. The colorant is brushed onto the grout lines to change their color, and then the excess is wiped off the tile using a sponge or cloth. This process is tedious and time-consuming, but if you DIY the job, you can upgrade your bathroom for less than $50.
Apply Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper: If your bathroom has a fan and decent airflow, it is possible to install peel-and-stick wallpaper and keep it looking good. Select a removable wallpaper that’s labeled ‘moisture-resistant,’ then adhere it to one accent wall (or all the walls) of the bathroom. Have tile on the lower portion of the walls? You’re in luck—this project will require half the amount of wallpaper.
Add a Backsplash: If you’re handy and don’t mind a challenge, you can lay tile as a backsplash. If you like the look of tile and lack the experience, try peel and stick wall tiles instead, which come in a variety of colors and patterns.
Refresh the Vanity: Another way to introduce color is to update your existing bathroom vanity with a coat of paint. Depending on the material, you can sand down the finish, and paint it with furniture paint. To take it up a notch, try a stencil or fun design aesthetic.
Be sure to choose an appropriate sealant to prevent damage from water.
Incorporate Color. Inviting a pop of color into your bathroom is a fun way to experiment with different shades. Towels, colored baskets, candles, and soaps are simple ways to work with what you have without splurging. Hang a Mirror. A mirror is not only a key part of your bathroom décor (it doubles as a functional and aesthetic piece), but it can also add dimension to the space. From frameless to metallics, the options are many. Add Some Décor. The trick to turning a bathroom from a washroom to a retreat is making it a place you want to spend time in, and timeless décor can help with that. Opt for some fresh flowers (or faux) in a vase to soften the space. Candles and wall art are also low cost, yet homey additions. Focus on the Window. Updating or removing a window treatment can also change the look and feel of a bathroom. If you need to give the appearance of a larger space, opt for blinds or keep the window bare (if privacy allows). If you want to make your space more intimate or add a design element somewhere else, curtains or a patterned window covering can help. Update the Floor. It may not be your first thought, but updating the very bottom of your bathroom is also a way to breathe new life into a room. If it’s not in your budget for new tile or wood, peel and stick floor tiles are a very popular choice, and have become more durable over the years. On a smaller scale, a rug instead of a bath mat makes a bathroom more of a retreat than a washroom. Hang Artwork. Paintings, prints, and photographs are great ways to give a bathroom some personality, and are noncommittal improvements that can be easily changed. Utilize Wall Space. On the other hand, if you prefer a more functional space, make use of your walls by adding hooks and shelves to hold robes, towels, soap, cotton swabs, etc. Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmit
