9 Ways to update your bathroom without going through a complete renovation
How to fall in love with your bathroom all over again — the small changes that have a big impact.
Is your bathroom looking tired and a little worn? You’ll be glad to know that you don’t have to do a complete overhaul just to see it relive the glory days. There are plenty of small, cost-effective and easy changes you can make to spruce up the overall look of your bathroom without breaking the bank.
Here are 10 simple ways to revive your bathroom on a budget.
1. Update your tapware and fixtures
Changing your tapware and fixtures is one of the easiest and cost effective ways to instantly give your bathroom a lift, especially if you’re still rocking those brown coloured vintage taps from the 80s.
New faucets and a modern stainless steel shower head can easily enhance the look and feel of your bathroom, giving it a more modern, cohesive and sophisticated finish.
2. Install additional storage
There is nothing more uninviting than stepping into a cluttered bathroom that has toiletries, hair products and other common bathroom essentials scattered all over the place.
Installing some simple floating shelves can provide adequate storage space to help clear up the space and make it more visually appealing. It can finally look like a place of relaxation and less like your kids playroom.
3. Add extra towel racks
Towels on the floor, towels hanging off door handles, and towels bunched up on the vanity. Do I need to say more?
In addition, wet towels that do not dry properly create the perfect breeding ground for mould. If you ever smell that wet damp smell coming from the bathroom it’s not a good sign. Install a couple of extra towel racks for added functionality and space. If you’re feeling a little luxurious, consider heated towel rails.
4. Apply a fresh coat of paint
Yes, we know this is not the easiest of tasks to complete but it’s much cheaper than renovating and is just as effective.
Applying a fresh lick of paint is the easiest way to revive a tired space and best bang for buck, although it will require a bit of elbow grease (if you intend to DIY).
Make sure to apply painter’s tape around fixtures and fittings prior to painting to help prevent any unwanted paint marks.
5. Replace your old shower curtain or screen
It’s time to give up the ye olde shower curtain and replace it with a glass shower screen.
Replacing your shower curtain with either a frameless or pivot shower screen is a quick, simple and relatively cheap upgrade that will instantly inject a breath of sophistication, luxury and modernism into your bathroom.
These days you can get away with a glass shower screen for as little as $379. Mouldy, dirty and slimy shower curtains be gone!
6. Upgrade the lighting
Step 1 to creating your ultimate relaxation sanctuary — replace the lightning. Your bathroom lighting is responsible for setting the mood, if it’s an eye-watering fluorescent blue, the only mood you’re stepping into is a health clinic.
Now that it’s winter, bathroom heater lights are perfect for chilly nights and mornings, as well as setting a beautiful warm tone with a more yellow lighting. These days you can get affordable LED bathroom lighting that is both energy efficient and ambient.
7. Pick out a new mirror
If your bathroom mirror is looking a little rusty on the edges or has suffered water damage, it might be time to replace it with a new one.
This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to head over to Subiaco and find the most stylish, handcrafted designer mirror that costs as much as my second hand Hyundai Getz.
There are plenty of affordable, sleek and functional mirror cabinets that not only reflect your beautiful face back at you, but also provide much needed storage.
Mirrors are also a great way to make a small bathroom appear bigger, brighter and more interesting, with some becoming the focal point of a bathroom.
8. Say goodbye to your old vanity
Your old vanity may have served you well over the last 10 years, but what was once an artistic masterpiece is now probably looking like an ornament from the 50s on display at a museum.
Without a doubt, installing a new bathroom vanity is the easiest, if not, the most effective way to fast track your bathroom to the 21st century.
You can change the entire look of your bathroom with just the vanity, and they are more customisable than ever. Choose from the size, colour, material, cabinetry, basin and more to complement your space with ease. Best of all, it can be installed over the weekend.
9. Consider resurfacing, re-grouting or replacing your tiles
One day I stepped into the bathroom and a tile literally exploded under my foot. What I mean is, it popped right out of the grout and created a chain reaction, with more tiles following suit. At this point I knew it was time to replace them.
Yes, replacing tiles is a little more on the expensive side, however, it can be just what your bathroom needs, should you choose to ignore the first 8 points mentioned in this article.
If you have a smaller size bathroom, opt for using larger tiles which can make a room feel bigger and more open. If you’re stumped for colours, always remember the 60-30-10 rule. 60% of the main colour, such as white tiles, 30% is the mid-range colour, like your floor tiles or vanity, and 10% is your flavour colour — think bold and bright — in the form of accessories or towels.
If retiling is not in the picture, you can always consider resurfacing, tile painting, giving the grout a good clean (you’ve probably forgotten the original colour), or installing an overlay directly on top.
Live With V Bathroom, Furniture That Feels Like Home
We understand renovating or building a functioning bathroom that’s not only stylish but seamlessly integrates with the rest of your home can be a stressful experience. Can a small bathroom have a double vanity? Will it match the rest of your home? Does it fit your budget?
V Bathroom is here to help. Not only do we supply a vast range of high quality bathroom products — wall hung vanities, toilet vanity, tapware, shaving cabinets, bathroom tallboys, shelves and more — we also assist in designing and styling your ideal bathroom.
For clarity and confidence in bathroom design that feels like home, contact V Bathroom today.
If you think you need a bit more, did you know we can actually facilitate a complete bathroom makeover?
For a full renovation, our team can help you realise your dream space in less than 3 weeks thanks to over 20 years of experience – so get in contact with us today.