7 Bathroom Design & Remodeling Ideas on a Budget Friendly

by Gloria Wharton Content Writer

So, you're ready to redecorate and redesign your bathroom, but throwing $20K at a luxurious spa retreat is light years away from what you can afford to spend. Here's great news: You don't need mega-bucks to transform your bath into a relaxed, cool space. There are many ways to redesign and renovate on a budget.

According to Remodeling Magazine's Cost vs. Value Report, an average bathroom remodeling costs about $10.5K, while an upscale remodeling will cost you a whopping $26K. However, if you do the work yourself and get creative, This Old House estimates that you can do remodeling for $1K to $3K or even less, depending on how much you want to change.

Furthermore, upgrading, or adding a bathroom to your home is a home improvement project that adds value. In other words, you recoup an important portion of the cost when you sell your home, up to 100%.

Determine how much you can afford to make to determine the extent of the changes you can make. If your budget is at the bottom end, i.e. $1K or less, you want to stick to cosmetic changes, such as new fixtures or a new sink and paint. If you want to spend more, you can focus on lavish changes, such as adding tile, a window, or a larger shower. Again, everything depends on your budget.

So, what can you do to save money on remodeling or rebuilding your bathroom?

Inexpensive Bathroom Remodeling Ideas

1. Limit Your Tile

Tile gets expensive, particularly if you hire a contractor to lay everything for you. To save money, limit the number of tiles and focus on high impact areas such as the floor instead of the floor and inside the walls of the shower cubicle. Alternatively, you can tile a horizontal stripe along the wall and paint the rest.

If you have your heart set on artistically and expensively designed tiles, use them as an accent next to a cheaper tile. Not only will the artistic tiles become more eye-catching, but you also save a lot of money by just using a few here and there.

2. Save on Counter Tops

A popular trend is splashing on granite countertops. Because the bathroom counter is so small, the investment is often relatively small compared to what you spend on kitchen countertops, for example.

So how can you save it here? First, look at the color. Neutral colors such as tan, brown, and light beige are very famous, which means they are more expensive. To save money, you should consider a wider range of colors and choose the price.

Another way to save on granite countertops is to buy a top with imperfections. The more sensible the imperfection, the cheaper price. Remember that your sink takes up a lot of surface space, so if the imperfection is where the sink or tap is, you won't see it anyway!

Right now, one of the biggest trends in the bathroom is also one that budget do-it-yourselfers can drop off in style. The trend is to use old dressers as kitchen sink bases. They quietly cut out the top of the dresser to accommodate a sink insert, cut or remove drawers inside if required, and cut holes in the back for plumbing. These "dresser sinks" can retail for thousands of dollars, but you can simply make your own with a cheap budget dresser, some patience, and the right tools.

3. Paint

If you don't have to spend more, repainting is an affordable and perhaps most effective way to give your bath a nice look.

But here's a warning: It will take more time than you think. Why? Your bathroom may be the small room in the home, but you will have to paint smoothly and slowly around the window, the tub or shower, the sink, the toilet, the mirror, the switchplates, the wall ceilings, and the floor. This requires time and patience and a good supply of paint tape, so you should keep this in mind when planning your renovation.

Another thing to remember is the moisture. As mold and mildew develop simply in the bath, and temperature and humidity change frequently, it is a good sense to invest in quality paint with a satin finish. You may also want to go over the ceiling with a special bathroom color that counteracts mold.

4. Update Fixtures

Next, take a look at the little details. You can improve fixtures, towel rails, sink fixtures, and drawers for a relatively little investment. These items may seem unimportant, but upgrading them can make a huge change to your bathroom look. The items may be high priced, but you can find ways to duplicate the look for less.

Remember that you don't always have to buy towel rails from a home improvement store or IKEA. My friend used old plumbing for his towel rack and that gave a very cool look to his bathroom, industrial feel. And since he rescued them from an old house that was about to be demolished, they were free!

5. Freshen Caulk and Grout

Another often overlooked but important detail is grout and caulk. If this gets dirty, it becomes unsightly. By simply cleaning the grout and adding straight, clean lines of lime to the tub and sink, you can add shine for a few dollars. Grout and caulk are both inexpensive, so this is a very cheap way to freshen up your bathroom.

6. Redo, Don’t Buy New

Replacing your old bath or shower is going to cost you a pretty penny. Instead, leave it professionally relined, which is much cheaper.

However, do not try this with sinks and showers, as it is more expensive to repaint than replace them. Renovating these fixtures is very expensive because very few people choose to do so unless they have old and contractors offering this service often charge an extra price.

The good news? You can repair them yourself if they are made of porcelain, cast iron, or fiberglass. That means it will take time and some investment. A basic DIY refinishing kit will cost you between $100 and $150, but you also need additional tools such as sanders, spray guns, face masks, brushes, etc.

7. Go Green with Upgrades

When upgrading your bathroom, don't forget to keep an eye on the environment. Low-flow toilets, sinks, and showerheads not only help you save water but also save money. Also, water-saving showerheads and taps often cost the same, if not less, than traditional ones, so you don't have to spend money to save money.

Buying or reusing used materials is also good for the environment. In addition to searching websites like Etsy for upcycled upgrades, look for ideas, and make them yourself. For example, it is relatively easy to turn canning jars into soap dispensers.

You can also use old lights, old pieces of wood from the barn for shelves, or an old mirror above the sink. Every time you use something old instead of something new, you'll probably save money and reduce your consumption.

Don't forget to give things back: Any items you take with you from your bath can be donated to your local favor or a Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

Last Word I recently thought about renovating my bathroom. My home was built in the 19's and I have a little bathroom. Thanks to an unfortunate choice of color, the walls look like they were sprayed with Pepto Bismal. In other words, it does take some work and repainting is top of my list.

After all, I would love to polish a few old woods or metal to create shelves above the toilet and next to the sink.

What about you? Do you have any money-saving ideas to redesign or redecorate a bathroom?