The bathroom is often one of the last places to enjoy an infusion of cash for upgrades and improvements. It’s also a room in which your family will spend a lot of time.
People often put off bathroom upgrades because they’re expensive. Fortunately, there are small things you can do to improve your bathroom overall and make it appear more expensive than it is. Here are five inexpensive upgrades for your bathroom.
Seal Your Shower
Sealing your shower might seem like a frivolous task, but it will make a huge difference in the overall look of your bathroom and your resale value down the road. Shower sealing prevents water from getting into your grout, stopping the growth of mold and subsequent decay. If you already see signs of this decay, you can replace your grout as well.
New grout and a seal will make your shower look shiny and new with a minimal investment. It will go a long way to improving the resale value of your home by maintaining that area for longer.
Change the Lighting
It seems like even the nicest homes have bathroom lighting from the 1980s. Take a look at your local hardware store fore recently reduced light fixtures that would go well in your bathroom. Keep in mind, the trends of the past year that are deeply discounted trump the trends of a few decades ago.
If replacing your current fixtures isn’t in your budget, then look at ways to DIY upgrade your bathroom lighting. Paint your bright brass fixtures a lovely, rustic bronze. Cover a row of light bulbs with a faux sconce or swap old bulbs with beautiful Edison bulbs for an industrial look.
Give Your Vanity a Makeover
If you have a dated wooden vanity, show it some love. Rather than replacing the vanity with something new, refinish the one you currently have to make it look more modern or more rustic, depending on your style. Using milk paint, you can make your 20-year-old vanity look like a priceless antique. Alternatively, new stain and coverage for your countertops can make it look modern and chic.
While inexpensive, this task could necessitate closing your bathroom to foot traffic for a day or two. Try and plan the majority of this work to take place when your family is otherwise occupied, or this task could get stressful in a hurry.
Frame Your Mirror
Mirrors are often the focal point of the bathroom. They’re also important for reflecting light around an area that is often void of windows. Rather than investing in a new mirror – which is often expensive – frame or reframe the one you have currently. Most mirrors are adhered to their old or cheap frame with glue, making them easy to remove.
If you have a frameless mirror, build around it. Use treated pieces of old trim to create a rustic or modern frame around your mirror. Alternatively, put your creative skills to the test and create a stunning mosaic that doubles as a piece of art.
Match Your Accessories
One of the easiest ways to upgrade your bathroom on a budget is to match your accessories. Soap dispensers, toothbrush holders, garbage bins, towels, and your shower curtain can all share a common theme or color that will pull the room together. This adds cohesion and makes it appear as though some thought went into decorating your bathroom.
This idea works especially well for families who have a guest bathroom as well as a family bathroom. Save the nice, matching accessories for the guest bathroom while keeping the random assortment of beach towels and bath toys in your family bathroom.
With some creative thinking, frugal shopping, and time invested, you’ll be able to upgrade your bathroom without breaking the bank.
