Think Outside the Box for an Affordable Bathroom Remodel

No one is going to dispute that avocado colored wallpaper and orange linoleum tile floors from the 1970’s are less than desirable. If you ever wanted to have a home spa day in your own bathroom, you would have to leave the cucumber slices over your eyes the entire time because seeing your Partridge Family bathroom would never let you relax. If you’re tired of your bathroom, but not sure you can afford to remodel it, here are some tips to help you reconsider.

A bathroom remodel is one of the smartest things a homeowner can do for their house. Along with the kitchen, remodeling the bathroom is incredibly effective for increasing the value of the home and a well done one can even boost your selling price. These kinds of remodels tend to pay for themselves when the house is sold. If you have no intention of selling, then an affordable bathroom remodel is a nice treat for you and makes your home that much more pleasant for you and your family. Of course, you don’t want to skimp on the quality of the remodel, so be sure to hire the best contractor you can find for the job.

Consider Creative Options for Saving Money on Your Bathroom Remodel

Affordable bathroom remodeling is all about being willing to think outside the box. While the easiest option for a remodel would be to simply gut the room and start from scratch. However, it isn’t the most affordable option. You’ll want to consider doing a “surface” remodel in which you only replace or refurbish certain parts of your current bathroom. A surface remodel could include repainting the room, adding new light fixtures, refinishing the vanity, or adding new countertops or floors.

If you need some ideas for inexpensive fixtures for your new bathroom there are several TV shows dedicated to the subject and home improvement magazines are another resource you shouldn’t overlook. Many larger cities also have home improvement stores that specialize in used and refurbished construction items. If you have one in your area, be sure to see what they have in stock. You never know, you might find that claw foot tub you have always wanted at an amazing price.

You might also find that there are some inventive programs from your city that will help your remodeling budget bottom line. For example, if you are replacing your toilet with a newer, water saving model, you could receive a rebate from the city by recycling your old one and showing proof of purchase and installation of the newer model. You don’t need a lot of money to change parts of your bathroom you don’t like, however you will need to do your research to make sure you are making smart decisions. A bathroom contractor will also be able to use his experience to help you make your dream room a reality within your budget.

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5 Decorative Ideas For a Budget-friendly Bathroom Makeover

Updating the bathroom is one of the most popular home improvements for homeowners to undertake. After all, a bathroom makeover does have quite a bit of impact on a home’s value. However, even though the remodeling cost vs. value report for 2013 list bathroom remodels as one of the projects yielding the best returns on investment in 2013, renovating a bathroom can often be very expensive. Thankfully, it is not impossible to make it look like you spent $25,000 remodeling your bathroom when you really only spent a fraction of the cost.

Use Extended Light Fixtures

Old light fixtures can date a bathroom as well, and any improvement on the lighting in your bathroom will make a huge difference. If you have a medicine cabinet, you may want to install wall light fixtures with a long neck that place the lights above and in front of the mirror. If you have a large ornate mirror, you will want to side light it.

Consider sprucing up your vanity

Like with the light fixtures, vanities can end up looking dated as the years go by. While you can find a stylish bathroom vanity at practically any home improvement store; refurbishing your old vanity instead can save you a little extra money and still get rid of the dated look. Most vanities can easily be repainted and things like tilting the mirror or changing the fixtures or can have an enormous impact on the look and feel of your space without going over budget.

Don’t forget about your countertop

Not too long ago, things like granite countertops were pretty expensive perks to consider for the average home makeover project. Thankfully, you can now obtain granite tops for under $400 at most home improvement stores; some even come with an unattached, under-mount sink. In addition, less expensive varieties such as laminate still make the most sense when trying to remain within budget. This is especially true now that laminate countertops can now mimic the look of granite.

Add a splash of art

You may want to consider giving your bathroom and new touch of elegance and visual appeal with a splash of art for the bath. Just like it does in any other room of a home, art can complete the style and look of your bathroom makeover. With art in the bathroom, the general rule is it should be behind glass in order to avoid getting splashed but remember, humidity is an issue so you may want to ask the framer about hanging original art in a humid environment before doing so.

Bathroom tile can also be a potent design weapon when you want to create a unique look. Like with most mosaics, the almost limitless compilations of tile styles can inspire you to create a totally unique bathroom tile pattern that enhances the room’s ambiance through color, texture and pattern.

Plan for adequate storage

Finally, one of the things I find true of every home makeover is that storage is a problem in pretty much every room. With that being said, make sure you take time to visit stores like the Pottery Barn, the Container Store and Ikea for a huge selection of aesthetic and design friendly storage solutions.

About the author

Alex is a writer, husband, father and aspiring urban fantasy novelist. When he isn’t writing for HomeDaddys or completing chores from his “honey- do” list, he’s most likely spending quality time with his wife and kids or working on his novel.