Makeover on a Budget: 10 Tips to Style Up Your Bathroom
Here are easy ideas to take your bathroom from blah to wow without splurging
Want to give your bathroom a mini makeover but don’t want to spend much? Do you want new tiles but just don’t have the time or energy for such a renovation? Upgrade your bathroom space in other ways with these easy-to-do ideas that are kind to your pocket.
2. Declutter and accessorise the countertop
An organised and accessorised countertop gives your bathroom a spa-like vibe without making your wallet much lighter. Declutter and throw out your old soap cases or expired shampoos and makeup. Tuck away what’s not needed in drawers. Invest in pretty bathroom sets that include soap dispensers, soap cases or dishes and tumblers for toothbrushes. These can be made of coloured glass, ceramic or even break-resistant acrylic and fibreglass. Arrange these on a decorative tray with rolled-up hand towels, a vase of flowers or a potted plant. Add a couple of scented candles for aromatherapy.
Bathroom Storage: 9 Ways to Squeeze in More
An organised and accessorised countertop gives your bathroom a spa-like vibe without making your wallet much lighter. Declutter and throw out your old soap cases or expired shampoos and makeup. Tuck away what’s not needed in drawers. Invest in pretty bathroom sets that include soap dispensers, soap cases or dishes and tumblers for toothbrushes. These can be made of coloured glass, ceramic or even break-resistant acrylic and fibreglass. Arrange these on a decorative tray with rolled-up hand towels, a vase of flowers or a potted plant. Add a couple of scented candles for aromatherapy.
Bathroom Storage: 9 Ways to Squeeze in More
3. Change the faucets
Bathroom fixtures, particularly faucets, can transform the look of your bathroom from ‘old’ to ‘vintage magic’. They can also bring in a sophisticated allure to the washbasin and shower areas, if that’s what you are going for. Your choice of materials for taps and things can include affordable steel with brushed nickel, oil-rubbed bronze or antique brass polishes, among others, which will give a touch of class to the entire basin area. Dot the bathroom with complementing towel bars, handles, knobs and other stylised hardware to tie the ambience together.
Tip: Do check your local wholesale markets or antiques stores for great-looking pieces at a bargain price.
Bathroom fixtures, particularly faucets, can transform the look of your bathroom from ‘old’ to ‘vintage magic’. They can also bring in a sophisticated allure to the washbasin and shower areas, if that’s what you are going for. Your choice of materials for taps and things can include affordable steel with brushed nickel, oil-rubbed bronze or antique brass polishes, among others, which will give a touch of class to the entire basin area. Dot the bathroom with complementing towel bars, handles, knobs and other stylised hardware to tie the ambience together.
Tip: Do check your local wholesale markets or antiques stores for great-looking pieces at a bargain price.
4. Crown the washbasin with a wow mirror…
Maybe your bathroom has a frameless mirror, which can get a little boring. Try a classic wood moulding or a pretty metal frame, or perhaps something with a bit of shine around it. If nothing else, surround your mirror with small framed art prints or posters and see how the place gets transformed.
In this bathroom, Swapnil Bapat uses a mirror accentuated with a petal-inspired cement frame. You can also consider bringing in more focus to the area with a tasteful fixture or spotlight. It’s a simple way to give your bathroom a budget-friendly facelift.
Maybe your bathroom has a frameless mirror, which can get a little boring. Try a classic wood moulding or a pretty metal frame, or perhaps something with a bit of shine around it. If nothing else, surround your mirror with small framed art prints or posters and see how the place gets transformed.
In this bathroom, Swapnil Bapat uses a mirror accentuated with a petal-inspired cement frame. You can also consider bringing in more focus to the area with a tasteful fixture or spotlight. It’s a simple way to give your bathroom a budget-friendly facelift.
5. …Or bring it down
Very often, bathrooms have a standard mirror right above the vanity. Why not change this perspective and place one on the floor instead? You can simply repaint an old bedroom mirror’s frame, possibly in a contrasting hue (as shown). Keep it at a good distance from the basin and shower to prevent water marks. Khosla Associates use a full-length mirror here, which gives you a head-to-toe view and also creates the illusion of a bigger space. The yellow vanity gives the bathroom the feel of a dressing room. Give a fresh coat of paint to your old vanity to cut costs.
Very often, bathrooms have a standard mirror right above the vanity. Why not change this perspective and place one on the floor instead? You can simply repaint an old bedroom mirror’s frame, possibly in a contrasting hue (as shown). Keep it at a good distance from the basin and shower to prevent water marks. Khosla Associates use a full-length mirror here, which gives you a head-to-toe view and also creates the illusion of a bigger space. The yellow vanity gives the bathroom the feel of a dressing room. Give a fresh coat of paint to your old vanity to cut costs.
6. Bring in a statement prop
Adorn the bathroom with a statement prop that doubles as a functional accessory. Something like this rustic cane ladder is perfect to keep your fresh towels. If floor space permits, bring in a table to keep your toiletries, especially if your bathroom has a compact basin like this one. Style the table with a patterned wooden mat, a vase or a potpourri bowl.
Adorn the bathroom with a statement prop that doubles as a functional accessory. Something like this rustic cane ladder is perfect to keep your fresh towels. If floor space permits, bring in a table to keep your toiletries, especially if your bathroom has a compact basin like this one. Style the table with a patterned wooden mat, a vase or a potpourri bowl.
7. Hang a shower curtain
Shower curtains bring about a drastic change in bathrooms. They also work as an architectural element to separate areas. In this space, the shower curtain adds privacy to an open-plan bathroom and saves the rest of the floor from getting wet. You can go for a bold, block-printed curtain or vibrant patterns in stripes or abstract prints. Finish the look with a curtain rod or bracket that complements the look of the bathroom.
Tip: Choose shower curtains made of PEVA (polyethylene vinyl acetate) or EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate), as these are non-toxic and more eco-friendly. The older ‘vinyl’ – or PVC (polyvinyl chloride) – curtains contain plastic-softening compounds, including phthalates, which are volatile and toxic. That’s the horrid smell you get when you open anything made of PVC. So, if there is a choice, why not pick the safer option.
Shower curtains bring about a drastic change in bathrooms. They also work as an architectural element to separate areas. In this space, the shower curtain adds privacy to an open-plan bathroom and saves the rest of the floor from getting wet. You can go for a bold, block-printed curtain or vibrant patterns in stripes or abstract prints. Finish the look with a curtain rod or bracket that complements the look of the bathroom.
Tip: Choose shower curtains made of PEVA (polyethylene vinyl acetate) or EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate), as these are non-toxic and more eco-friendly. The older ‘vinyl’ – or PVC (polyvinyl chloride) – curtains contain plastic-softening compounds, including phthalates, which are volatile and toxic. That’s the horrid smell you get when you open anything made of PVC. So, if there is a choice, why not pick the safer option.
8. Introduce natural elements like plants
Let in a bit of freshness and greenery with potted plants and flowers. You can bring in region- specific plants that can grow in damp and poorly lit rooms (such as bathrooms). They are also a sensible way to minimise bathroom odour (think orchids). If space is a constraint, consider hanging a plant from the window or climbers on the edge – such as money plants. Plants exude a positive vibe and beautify the bathroom without much cost to you.
Let in a bit of freshness and greenery with potted plants and flowers. You can bring in region- specific plants that can grow in damp and poorly lit rooms (such as bathrooms). They are also a sensible way to minimise bathroom odour (think orchids). If space is a constraint, consider hanging a plant from the window or climbers on the edge – such as money plants. Plants exude a positive vibe and beautify the bathroom without much cost to you.
9. Celebrate the niches
Don’t let the precious space in bathroom niches go to waste. Here, the designer has fitted the rear walls of the niches with mirrors and then placed accessories in front. Add potpourri bowls, small sculptures, vases, etc. You can set up aromatic candles or store rolled-up hand towels, too.
Read about ways to beautify your bathroom niches
Don’t let the precious space in bathroom niches go to waste. Here, the designer has fitted the rear walls of the niches with mirrors and then placed accessories in front. Add potpourri bowls, small sculptures, vases, etc. You can set up aromatic candles or store rolled-up hand towels, too.
Read about ways to beautify your bathroom niches
10. Change the basin
A basin or sink can become the highlight of your bathroom. For example, a patterned ceramic basin, like the one in the image here, brings the earthy theme to your bathroom. The vibrant shades of the basin steal the show and offset the plain orange tiles. Look for finds and good deals in your local antiques or ceramics shops. Check if a local potter can customise or design one for you at a bargain rate. And while there, scout for accessories to decorate around this theme – like clay or ceramic vases, pots or even trays for your toiletries.
Read more:
Beautiful Inside-Outside Bathrooms We Love
Which Vanity is Right for Your Bathroom?
Tell us:
Which budget-friendly tip did you try to style up your bathroom? Share your pictures in the Comments section below.
A basin or sink can become the highlight of your bathroom. For example, a patterned ceramic basin, like the one in the image here, brings the earthy theme to your bathroom. The vibrant shades of the basin steal the show and offset the plain orange tiles. Look for finds and good deals in your local antiques or ceramics shops. Check if a local potter can customise or design one for you at a bargain rate. And while there, scout for accessories to decorate around this theme – like clay or ceramic vases, pots or even trays for your toiletries.
Read more:
Beautiful Inside-Outside Bathrooms We Love
Which Vanity is Right for Your Bathroom?
Tell us:
Which budget-friendly tip did you try to style up your bathroom? Share your pictures in the Comments section below.
Bathroom baskets, especially wicker ones, are economical, provide effective storage and bring in a rustic appeal to the space. They can double as laundry baskets or be used to store toiletries, brushes, accessories and the like. Take a hint from the image, where the space below the basin is stacked with baskets of different shapes and sizes. You can get some with lids to cover up things that are best not revealed – especially odour from the used-laundry basket.