Generally speaking, having an attractive, up-to-date bathroom is one of the most desirable features in all of contemporary home design. But whether you’re just moving into a new home, looking to move out of an old one, or just unable or unwilling to put in a lot of time and money to a major bathroom remodel, an extensive or involved renovation isn’t always in the cards. That said, if you have a free weekend, a few days, and a willingness to get hands on with your home improvement, there are a few ways to dramatically improve the appearance of your bathroom without any expensive, long-term construction.
Paint
Repainting is really the go-to easy fix for changing the look and feel of just about any room in your home, and this is no less true in the bathroom. Especially if you’re moving into a home with a very dated bathroom, putting a new coat of paint on the walls can make a huge difference for almost no money, especially if you do the work yourself. But painting doesn’t have to be limited to the walls: if your bathroom cabinets are done in a dated color or wood finish, and especially if they aren’t in the greatest shape, sanding them down and painting them can make your whole bathroom look like new without the cost or hassle of replacing your bathroom vanity entirely.
Hardware
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Swapping out your bathroom hardware is a simple, easy followup to painting. If you paint the walls, you’ll be removing your towel bars, toilet paper holder, and other bathroom accessories anyway, so take the opportunity to replace them with slightly more stylish pieces. Same goes for your bathroom vanity: you’ll have to remove the hardware to paint, and replacing it when the doors are done is a great way to complete the transformation and keep the hardware coordinated throughout your bathroom.
Plumbing Fixtures
Replacing your plumbing can have a similar effect. Now, I’m not saying you should rip out your pipes – I mean you should think about replacing your faucet, tub spout, and shower head. This can make a surprisingly big difference in the overall appearance of your bathroom, especially if your current fixtures are visibly old, corroded, or just plain cheap. What’s nice about this project is that it scales well to your budget. You can find a really nice looking set of faucets without breaking the bank, or you can choose to splurge on some really nice, high end fixtures to get a still pretty budget friendly luxury feature. Shower heads, tub spouts, and bathroom faucets are all pretty straightforward to replace, too, which makes this a great project to do yourself to save on contractor fees.
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Mirror
Replacing your bathroom mirror is an amazingly easy way to alter the look of your bathroom. Mirrors with decorative frames – of the ilk you’d find in a living room or bedroom – are great for giving a bathroom a unique, designer flair and are light enough to install quickly and easily. The only time you might not want to consider this option is if you have a large, frameless mirror, as these can be quite a bit more difficult to remove. Replacing a large mirror with a smaller one can make a bathroom seem a bit smaller, but swapping from a frameless to a framed mirror can add personality and polish to the space that can help make up for the loss of reflective surfaces.
Tile Flooring
Upgrading to tile flooring is one of the best ways to boost the appearance and value of your bathroom. Stone tile is great for high end bathrooms, but if you’re on a budget, don’t sweat it – upgrading from a cheap vinyl to a decent ceramic or porcelain tile will make a world of difference. Plus, faux stone and wood print tiles are all the rage these days, meaning it’s possible to get that great, high end look without having to pay a premium. Installing the tile yourself is a great way to save money, but don’t attempt it if you don’t have the skill set. Well laid tile is worth what you pay for it, especially if you opt for unusually shaped wood print tile or a mosaic tile that comes in multiple sizes.
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What are some of your favorite quick, easy ways to improve the look and feel of your bathroom without a full renovation? Let me know in the comments!
