Need tips on freshening up your bathroom? Whether you’re selling your home soon and all want to get more money for it or simply want your bathroom feel like a sanctuary that you can enjoy every day, it’s always worth the money to spruce up this part of the house. Here are some practical but super creative ways to give your bathroom a makeover.
Tidy it up
Sometimes all you need is a little organization and some Marie Kondo. Make your bathroom look and feel fresher by getting rid of products you no longer use, including bottles of shampoo that may have been sitting there for years. Organize your everyday toiletries on a nice tray. Install some hooks so you can hang loofahs, scrubbing brushes, and toilet tools. You can also have a built-in cabinet made to make the space below the sink more useful.
Make it Green
It’s amazing what adding a potted plant or two can do. Go for greenery that thrives in humid environments. Ferns and orchids are excellent choices. Such houseplants will not just make your bathroom design look better—they can also help clean the air in there.
Change up the Lighting
Do you often find yourself squinting to shave your face or apply your makeup? Then it might be time to invest in good cover lighting, or perhaps a backlit mirror. You can even try LED strips. There are so many options to choose from when it comes to bathroom lighting fixtures. Design experts recommend layering light so you can quickly adjust its intensity based on your activity.
Get a New Mirror
If your bathroom a small, installed ink, a large mirror—whether framed or rimless—can make it look so much bigger. If you have wall-mounted cabinets, why not switch should the doors to mirrored ones?
Update the Fixtures
Do you have tarnished and dated tapware, or perhaps cracked and chipped and basins and toilet bowls? You can update them for a relatively small investment. For as long as you’re not adding or rerouting pipes, you’re not really doing any major plumbing work—which means you don’t have to spend a lot of money on the project. You can also update the light fixtures, to drawer pulls, and towel racks while you’re at it. These details may seem insignificant, but they have a big effect on how your bathroom looks overall. Updating them can make a world of difference.
For inspiration, check out luxurious interior design magazines and web sites. The products featured there might be out of your price range, but don’t worry—you can always copy the look for less. And you don’t always have to buy generic hardware from home improvement stores. Flex your creativity by using unexpected items, like used old plumbing as towel racks.
Give it a Fresh Coat of Paint
There’s nothing worse than patches of mould and drab wall colours with dirty marks on them. Make your bathroom seem more luxurious simply by changing the paint. This is one of the cheapest and most practical renovations you can do by yourself.
That said, be sure you have enough time if you’re planning on the DIY route. It’s tricky to paint around the toilet, sink, shower or tub, the switch plates, etc. You have to go slowly and gently. Be prepared with lots of painter’s tape and patience.
You also have to consider moisture. Bathrooms are breeding grounds for mould and mildew. The temperature and humidity in the space change very often, so you’re going to need high-quality paints, preferably with satin finishes. Look for bathroom paint that is formulated to resist mould growth.
Add Some Personal Touches
You spend quite some time in your bathroom every day, so make it yours. Why not hang some wall art? Roll up your towels and put them nicely in a basket? Perhaps you can even use a bamboo ladder as a towel rack? Reed diffusers and scented candles can add some luxury to space, too. The goal is to give your bathroom a boutique hotel feel so you can enjoy the time you spend prepping and primping.
Clean the Grout
The caulk and grout are often overlooked but they’re very important details. When they get grimy and unsightly, it’s time to freshen them up. Clean the grout and add clean, straight lines of caulk around your sink and tub. You’ll be surprised how big of a difference this makes. It’s a practical and cheap way to make your bathroom feel like new.
Use Tiles Smartly
If you have to retile your bathroom, you can save a lot of money by focusing only on high-impact surfaces like the floor (instead of retiling the floor and the shower stalls). Another trick is to install a horizontal strip of tiles along the wall and just paint the rest. You can also mix up luxurious tiles with cheaper tiles.
Don’t have a big enough budget to retile? These days, you’ll find lots of paint products that you can use over existing tiles. This is a massive mood-changer and cost-saver.
Think about Sustainability
Redesign your bathroom while keeping your carbon footprint low by choosing environment-friendly fixtures. Go for low-flow toilets, shower heads, and sinks. They don’t just help conserve water but also help you save money in the long run.
You can also buy used or repurposed materials. Why not up cycle Mason jars into soap dispensers? You can even use vintage tin cans for storing bathroom necessities like combs and brushes, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and Q-tips. Instead of buying you lighting fixtures, to try to see if you can source used ones online.
