But what if you could change part of your bathroom for a fraction of the cost of a full remodel? What if a quick Do-It-Yourself project might actually make you — surprise — fall in love with your bathroom again?It’s possible, we promise, even without a big bathroom remodel budget.
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Here are our best bathroom ideas — from budget DIY to bigger projects — at four cost-effective tiers.
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Bathroom Remodel Ideas on a Budget
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How to Change Your Bathroom for $100
Writer Elizabeth Djinis is a contributor to The Penny Hoarder, often writing about selling goods online through social platforms. Her work has appeared in Teen Vogue, Smithsonian Magazine and the Tampa Bay Times.
Those figures include everything from upgrading the faucet, toilet and vanity to installing new tile and a new bathtub.
- Dated bathrooms tend to have a dated sink faucet (and dated fixtures). We’ve been there. But a well-made faucet that actually works and matches your new towel racks can really up your quality of life. Try this fun Amazon option.
- Fluorescent bathroom lights might make you dread looking in the mirror. But warm bulbs with a warm fixture that resemble natural light? That’s enough to make you smile in the morning while you’re brushing your teeth. Find a range of choices at Lowe’s or Home Depot.
- If you want to see your reflection even more clearly, try a new mirror. Etsy has some handmade, eclectic offerings. Walking into your bathroom just got a lot more interesting.
- What’s the first thing you look at in the morning? If it’s not your mirror, it just might be your shower curtain. Here’s an idea: switch it out for a new one. We like this fruity design from Urban Outfitters — at $39, it’s low cost. Or get them for a third of that price but all of the cute on the virtual clearance racks at Bed Bath & Beyond.
How to Change Your Bathroom for $500
Those figures include everything from upgrading the faucet, toilet and vanity to installing new tile and a new bathtub.
- Having trouble flushing that toilet? Getting a new one can be a relative ease. Home Depot has options as low as $100 and you shouldn’t have to shell out much more for install. You won’t miss your old plumbing fixtures.
- Sick of cleaning the grime off of those shower doors? That’s where we come in — get a new shower door. A sleek model in a color that matches your new towel bars and plumbing fixtures can be a great idea. We love a modern sliding barn shower door. Bring some rustic farmhouse inspiration right into your own home.
- There’s a reason they call it peel-and-stick wallpaper. Your bathroom walls will never look the same. Decorating a powder room with wallpaper is an easy way to get a beautiful bathroom on a budget. We like this fun tropical option from Chasing Paper.
- Painting tile is no easy feat, but it can really transform the look of your bathroom flooring and bathroom walls without a full bathroom renovation. This helpful primer from This Old House will show you how to get the job done — and do a great job.
How to Change Your Bathroom for $750
Those figures include everything from upgrading the faucet, toilet and vanity to installing new tile and a new bathtub.
- Like a toilet, a tub is a plumbing fixture that is perhaps more inexpensive than one might imagine. You can purchase a new tub from a chain like Home Depot for as little as $255 (or less). Taking out and putting in a new tub will cost more, but it will likely be worth it, especially if your home has an original tub.
- We can’t say new hardware enough. This is a small touch that can really highlight your cabinet doors and vanity cabinet. Just like with towel bars, try a fun color like gold or antique brass. Find lots of options on Amazon. Although hardware may seem inexpensive in isolation, matching your hardware across the board is the best bet, so be prepared for the expense to add up.
- This is a personal preference, but how about a sconce on either side of your mirror rather than an above-the-mirror light fixture? This will offer more natural light and additional light fixtures by your bathroom vanity. In a small bathroom, this can really up the ante, and in a powder room, this can take your space from a functional bathroom to resembling a high-end remodel.
- So you’ve heard of solid hardwood floors. But what about solid hardwood ceilings? One DIYer did it — and we think their hard work really paid off. Perhaps now we’ll all consider alternate uses for wooden floors.
How to Change Your Bathroom for $1,000
Those figures include everything from upgrading the faucet, toilet and vanity to installing new tile and a new bathtub.
- If you want to change your color scheme without investing in an entire design, changing out all of your plumbing fixtures is the way to go. First, you can experiment with a fun color. Second, you might actually reduce your water bill by getting more efficient fixtures. Big box stores offer many of the name plumbing brands — think Moen, Kohler and Delta. If you go with a more vibrant color, anything other than a standard like matte black, stick to the same brand across faucet and shower trim. Each brand has a slightly different shade, and the difference is generally noticeable.
- For $1,000 you probably won’t get you to retile your entire bathroom, but why not add expensive tile on one wall for a little accent? We love these ideas from Tile Outlets of America. Try porcelain bricks, stone or intriguing ledgers that work their way up the wall.
- You’ve probably stared at that old tile floor and hated it. But what if you could replace just the flooring for a fraction of the price of bathroom remodeling? It’s not impossible to do it yourself — just check out these videos. Wood laminate floors are a cost-effective idea that give you the look of hardwood flooring without the expense.
- And for our last idea: if you can’t get a new vanity or you love your cabinetry, why not a new countertop? Perhaps there’s a marble piece you’ve been eyeing or a vibrant stone. Now is the time. To get the cheapest price, buying a slab of stone wholesale from a quarry or a supplier is the easiest option.
We get it — you’re sick of your bathroom. When you moved in, you promised yourself you’d do something about it. But the money, the time and the hassle all became obstacles that started to pile up.
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