5 Small Budget Bathroom Renovation Ideas

Feeling like your bathroom needs a makeover? Need to increase your storage space? Renovation projects can be very expensive. Plumbing, flooring installation and custom-made furniture are all projects that can easily become quite onerous.

However, there are ways to renew your bathroom without spending a fortune. These small-scale projects can have a big impact on the appearance and practical aspect of the room.

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5 bathroom renovation ideas for small budgets

Bathrooms are one of the busiest parts of the house, they are often one of the first parts of our house which require renovations. If you want to renew your bathroom but don't have a big budget, there are a few simple options out there.

1) Renovate the whole bathroom or go little by little?

The first question to ask when renovating a bathroom with a limited budget is whether you absolutely have to do the work for the whole bathroom or if you can stick to a few things.

If you determine that the entire room needs refurbishing, you could also go step by step, depending on the priorities! Of course, this would mean that the work could be spread out over a long period of time but if things are done gradually, this option will not cause too much inconvenience.

2) Building materials: choose entry-level products

Forget luxury items and other expensive accessories. In order to save money, you will need to make proper choices and bet on entry-level products. Cheaper prices don't always mean lower quality objects. Watch sales periods and take the time to shop around. Look for sales, visit discount stores and consider buying slightly used bathroom fixtures and plumbing which can be found in stores or on the Internet.

3) Decor: playing with colours and textures

Just because you have a small budget doesn't mean that you need to skimp out on decoration. Often, we tend to think that with a small budget, home decor will be the first thing that is sacrificed. Yet, with a little bit of creativity, your bathroom can end up looking as good as the ones you have seen on Pinterest or in home decor magazines.

Sometimes, a fresh coat of paint makes a big difference. Start by creating a "mood board", a sort of inspirational chart on which you can find examples of beautiful rooms, colours and patterns that could work well in your bathroom. Afterwards, head to various home decor stores and try to head off the beaten path. For example, stores that sell used items can be great resources for finding unique accessories.

4) Repaint tiled bathroom walls instead of replacing them

Older homes often feature tiled walls. Unless you have a big problem with humidity and mould, you don't need to remove the tiles in order to renovate them. When properly applied, paint can be used to cover tiles.  You can choose any colour you like, provided that you use a product that is suited for this type of surface.

Ask hardware store or paint store employees to guide you towards the sort kind of paint (waterproof and easy to wash). Please note: this technique is not recommended for floors. 

5) Opt for a vinyl floor

New floors don't have to be costly. While ceramic tiles are popular in bathrooms, vinyl flooring can be just as beautiful and comes at a much lower price. They are very easy to install and you're sure to find a design that you like.

This type of material carries many advantages: easy to clean; waterproof; resistant; wide choice of colours and designs. Vinyl can be used to imitate other looks: wood, metal, concrete, etc...

Of course, there are several other flooring materials that work well in bathrooms and are not too expensive. For more information, see The best types of flooring for your bathroom!

To see examples of bathroom renovation projects completed by RenoQuotes.com contractors, check out "10 examples of beautiful bathroom renovation projects". 

Looking for more information to help you plan your bathroom renovation project? Discover our RenoQuotes.com bathroom renovation guide

We also suggest that you check out our checklist for bathroom renovation projects, as this article contains a ton of information and comes with a document you can use to organize your project.