However, there are ways to significantly improve the look and function of your bathroom without spending a large amount of money. Here are five tips for doing a brilliant bathroom renovation on a modest budget.
1. Re-tile with restraint. If the tiles used in the bathroom floor and on the walls of the bathtub area need to be replaced, approach the project cautiously. High quality tiles are costly, as is professional installation. If at all possible, do the installation yourself. There are plenty of videos on YouTube that provide detailed instructions. Also, use low-cost tiles for most of the area, saving the expensive tiles for use as accents (singles or rows).
2. Instead of replacing your chipped and/or stained bathtub, install a new acrylic liner. This has emerged as a viable option in recent years, as the quality of the heavy gauge acrylic liners on the market has improved. The liner is installed directly on top of your existing tub, instantly covering up all the flaws and creating a clean, fresh surface. While these liners are not cheap, this project can be completed for a fraction of the cost of purchasing and installing a new bathtub.
3. Focus on minor fixtures. Replacing ugly or damaged light fixtures, towel racks, and drawer pulls with stylish contemporary items can improve the overall look of your bathroom for a relatively small cost. Find top quality fixtures that look great and will stay that way for many years.
4. Purchase a granite countertop with imperfections. Granite countertops are currently very popular, but they are also very expensive - especially if the counter area in your bathroom is large. One way to save money is to hunt for a granite slab that has imperfections. Remember that the imperfections may be a non-issue of they're located in areas that will be cut out for the basin or dispensers. You can also reduce the overall cost of a granite slab by choosing a color that is not in high demand.
5. Apply a new coat of paint. This basic improvement is often overlooked when the room in question is the bathroom. Here, just as with any other part of the house, painting is a great way to quickly and inexpensively improve the appearance of the room. Choose a high quality paint with a satin finish, and be very careful when painting around the many fixtures.
You don't need to set aside a huge amount of money to renovate your bathroom. A modest budget, if spent on targeted improvements, can result in a stylish new look. Be sure to do extensive research before deciding what to replace or update, and where possible do the actual renovation work yourself.
