Ready to give your bathroom a face-lift? Whether you're updating the space in your rental unit or doing a tile-to-trimmings transformation in your home's private spa, you'll find bathroom remodeling ideas to suit your budget. Decorator Zoe Goldfine shows you how to start with a basic $150 bathroom makeover, and add splurges and style as your wallet allows.
The $150 Budget Bathroom Makeover
What you'll need to purchase:
- Paint
- Vanity hardware
- Towel and toilet paper storage
- Accessories
What you'll repurpose:
- Furniture
First take a look at the bones of the space. Molding, flooring and plumbing tend to be quite expensive to replace, so learn to live with them (yes, even that green deco bath tile!) and use them as the backdrop for your design. A bath with innate personality (think bright yellow wall tile) will be showcased best by the addition of subtle accessories. A basic bath, clad in perhaps a black and white pattern or a simple limestone, requires more eye-popping accoutrements, such as apple green or oxblood red walls. Are you a minimalist at heart? Go monochromatic and add interesting materials such as wood, rattan or bamboo to help warm the space.
Watch Video: Bathroom Clean Up
Paint, at $30 to $35 per gallon, is by far the quickest, easiest and cheapest way to revamp a space on a budget &8212; assuming, of course, that you do your own painting. Your wall color is the first thing everyone will notice. For a soft, quiet feel, think pastels like pale yellow and neutrals like chocolate brown. To make a big impact, try primary hues such as cobalt blue or saturated tones like fuchsia. No matter what color you choose, opt for an eggshell finish, which stands up against moisture and can be cleaned without staining.
Hardware and accessories are another great way to change the look of your bath without spending too much money. West Elm and Target offer a variety of "cheap chic" cabinet pulls and knob styles that run from $10 to $15 per four-piece set. For a more eclectic look, consider a trip to your local flea market. Flea markets are also a great source for interesting glass canisters, mint julep cups, and trays that can double as toothbrush holders and soap dispensers. Or skip the flea market trip and search your closets and cabinets for vases, glass jars and interesting stemware or mugs.
Towel bars and toilet paper holders can be as affordable as $20. But buy three or more and you'll blow nearly half your budget. Any easy alternative? Find a cute basket or funky box to hold your toilet paper rolls or plush towels. A small etagere or repurposed bedside table is also a good place to stack towels.
