Home quarantine gives us the time and privilege to focus on projects we couldn’t do while busy working outside the home—like redesigning and redecorating.
Ready to redecorate and redesign your bathroom? A common misconception is that compromises on quality and luxury must be made to keep the bank balance above zero. While you might not be able to afford that deluxe spa you so desperately desire for those Sunday night soaks, there is good news.
You don’t need mega-bucks to transform your bathroom into a relaxing, cool space! Below are plenty of suggestions for renovating and redesigning on a budget.
Inexpensive bathroom remodelling ideas
- Limit your tile
Tiles get expensive, especially when laying tile requires you hire a contractor. To save money, limit the amount of tile. Focus on high-impact areas like the floor (instead of the floor and inside the shower stall walls). Alternatively, tile one horizontal strip along the wall, and paint the rest.
If you have your heart set on tile that is artistic and expensive, use this design as an accent alongside a cheaper tile option. Not only will the artistic tiles be more noticeable, you’ll save a ton of money only using the pricier choice here and there.
- Save on counter tops
Right now, one of the biggest trends in bathrooms is to use old dressers as sink pedestals. Luckily this budget renovation is one that DIYers can pull off with style.
These “dresser sinks” often sell for thousands of dollars in retail stores. You can easily make your own with a budget dresser, some patience, and the right tools.
It’s a three-step cutting process. Simply cut out the top of the dresser to accommodate a sink insert, cut into or remove interior drawers as necessary, and cut holes in the back for plumbing. Voila!
- Consider painting
If you don’t have a lot to spend, repainting will be the cheapest, perhaps most effective way to give your bathroom a new look.
A word of warning, though: it’s going to take more time than you think. Why? Because while your bathroom may be the smallest room in the house, you’ll have to paint slowly and gently around the window, tub or shower, sink, mirror, toilet, switch plates, wall corners, and the floor. This takes time and patience—and a good supply of painter’s tape—so make sure you keep this in mind when planning your renovation.
Something else to consider, is moisture. Mould and mildew develop easily in a bathroom, and humidity and temperature change often; investing in high quality paint with a satin finish is a great idea. You may also want to go over the ceiling with a special bathroom paint designed to help resist the growth of mould.
- Update your fixtures
Next, focus on the little details. For a relatively small investment you can update light fixtures, sink faucets, towel racks, and drawer pulls. These items may seem insignificant, but updating them makes a big difference to your bathroom’s look.
- Go green with upgrades
When updating your bathroom, don’t forget to redesign with the environment in mind. Low-flow toilets, sinks, and shower heads not only help you conserve water, but also save you money. Plus, water-saving shower heads and faucets often cost the same, if not less than traditional ones. You won’t have to spend money to save money here.