10 Ways To Remodel Your Bathroom On The Cheap

Bang for the buck…

A bathroom remodel is one of the best improvements you can make to your home. Not only do you get a great new space, but you also typically recoup a large portion of your investment when you sell your home down the road.  That being said, no matter what your motivations for your bathroom remodel, here are a few of my tips for remodeling your bathroom on a budget.

Reface instead of replace

While a new custom built vanity may not be in the cards, refacing your existing vanity might be a viable, less expensive option. Choose a remodeling company that overlay’s your existing cabinetry with solid wood, not one that uses thin veneers or worse yet, contact paper. We always replace the cabinet doors and the drawer boxes, too. From the outside, nobody will ever know you didn’t spring for expensive, custom built bathroom cabinetry.

Paint the town

A fresh coat of paint can do wonders for your bathroom. Painting a room is an inexpensive, easy DIY project that can be completed easily in a weekend.

I’m a vanity now

Want the look of a furniture piece vanity, but can’t swing the custom built price that comes along with it? Consider repurposing an old dresser or buffet cabinet. Not only will you be gaining a cool piece of cabinetry, you’ll also be doing the “green” thing by giving that old dresser a new life and keeping it out of the landfill!

Smoke and mirrors

Another great item to remodel that won’t break the bank are custom mirror frames. These can be as simple as framing a mirror with casing that matches the rest of your room. It’s simple, fast and it adds a polished, refined look to your space.

Countertop dilemmas

With all the talk about quartz and granite, it’s easy to overlook other viable options for countertops. Gone are the days when laminate countertops looked dull and boring. Both of the major laminate countertop manufacturers, Formica and Wilsonart, have incredibly realistic looking countertop materials available. For a dressed up appearance, consider adding solid wood edges and detailed moldings to the edge of your laminate countertop.
If you prefer solid stone, there are a few ways to save some cash there, too. First, check your countertop supplier for remnants. This is a trick new home builders use all the time and it can save you some serious cash. Second, consider using 2cm solid stone countertops instead of the 3cm standard. For a bathroom vanity, the thinner and less expensive 2cm stone might be adequate.

Faucets of distinction

While everybody loves the look of the high end faucets available at their local supply house, consider less expensive product lines. Most manufacturers have several grades of faucets, and the right compromise between price and aesthetics is probably somewhere between builder’s grade and a faucet quilded in 24 carat gold! Always ask your plumbing supplier if they have a similar looking faucet in a less expensive line, it can save you a bundle!

Floor It

Replace that old linoleum floor with new linoleum, ceramic tile or for a greener, hip option, consider cork flooring. Cork is soft on the feet, resistant to moisture, easy to clean, and it’s a sustainable resource.

Linens and Things

New linens and decorator items are a great place to add some color and pizazz to your newly remodeled bathroom. Since they’re not nailed down, they’re easy to change out as colors and trends change, plus you can really make a statement with boldly colored accessories and linens.

Don’t get soaked

A new shower surround is an easy place to spend a fortune. While beautiful tile and granite surrounds and multiple shower sprays are super cool and very popular, they can soak up your whole budget before you even get out of the shower.

See the light

A simple project like replacing a light fixture can totally change the mood and look of your bathroom. Add dimmers to your new light fixtures to vary the intensity of your lighting. Replace that out-of-date or dull, builder’s grade light fixture and you won’t believe the difference!