How to Make Your Bathroom Look Like a Million Bucks

If you have a house, you have at least one bathroom, and the chance of having more than one is high. Whether a full bath or a half bath needs a renovation, there’s a lot of flexibility on how intense a renovation can be. You can change everything in the bathroom or add some decor, but what you need depends on your situation. Before you start, you should know that bathrooms are deceptively expensive to remodel if you aren’t careful. And if you’re considering moving around plumbing or electrical, your costs will immediately jump higher. Bathrooms can be expensive, but it’s also so important that your bathroom adds value to your life. So, what general guidelines should you follow if you’re trying to keep costs down?

First, only reconfigure the bathroom if it’s absolutely necessary for your approval of the space. Most of the costs associated with bathroom renovations come from moving or adding plumbing and electrical, so if you can avoid most of these costs, you’re already in a great place. Next, reuse what you can. If you have a hardly-passable shower or toilet, I recommend updating those things; otherwise, stick with what you have. While your shower may not be as fancy as your friends, cheaper updates can do more for less money. Now, let’s look at some of those more affordable updates.

Paint Your Walls

The first way you can update your bathroom is to repaint the room. This is one of the more expensive updates you can do; however, updating an old, out-of-trend color is a great way to make your bathroom pop. And since bathrooms are closed off from the rest of the house, you can implement a very different theme from the rest of the house, and it will still look amazing. Bright white and light blues and greys are commonly used in bathrooms because they help the room feel bigger. But if you’re renovating a larger bathroom, you have more freedom to use darker colors on an accent wall or all four walls. 

If you like darker or brighter colors but don’t want the whole bathroom overwhelmed with the color, consider having two-tone walls. Put the bold color on the bottom and a complementary neutral on top to help balance bold and inviting. Remember to check that your paint can withstand a bathroom environment when picking your perfect color. This means it must be easily wipeable, moisture resistant, and mildew-inhibiting. You may decide bathroom-specific paint is best, but it isn’t necessary!

Refinish Your Cabinets

If you have cabinets that look a little worse for the wear, consider restaining or repainting them. If you’ve chosen neutral walls, the cabinets are a great way to add color or depth to the room. And if you have nice wooden cabinets that look outdated, restaining them is a great option to help the cabinets contrast with your other decor and paint colors. While refinishing your cabinetry may sound like a large endeavor, it doesn’t have to take all that much time. There are several different options for making the refinishing process as easy as a walk in the park. 

Another option to upgrade your cabinetry is to update your hardware. This step is especially important if you use this renovation process to change your color scheme or design style. If you’re switching your cabinet hardware to a color different from your sink faucet, I would also recommend changing your sink faucet. While you may think it unnecessary, this simple adjustment will make the whole bathroom more cohesive. Design differences between faucets and hardware may seem minimal, but they are more prominent than you initially thought.

Install a New Mirror

Replacing your mirror is another simple swap you can make to bring your bathroom to a new level. If you have a dull, standard mirror, consider finding one with a fun frame or in a different shape. Circle mirrors are a great way to implement different shapes in an otherwise square bathroom (not to mention they’re totally in style). If you have gold or silver decor and accents elsewhere, your mirror frame is a great place to continue with those finishes. You won’t see a bathroom without a mirror, so use the opportunity to turn something functional and expected into something visually pleasing and worth talking about. Trust me: the right mirror may be the most important switch-out for your bathroom aspirations.

Hang Your Shower Curtain High

If you remember a few blog posts back, we talked about the effect hanging your window curtains higher has on a room, and the good news is that hanging a shower curtain high can have some of the same effects. While you’ll need to buy a tension rod and a longer shower curtain, this simple tweak will make your bathroom feel taller and more spacious. It’s also a great way to draw people’s eyes upward, which will help disguise anything you’d rather people not see (such as dirty baseboards or old flooring). With this tip, ensuring you have a long enough shower curtain is crucial. If you choose a shower curtain with bright colors or a loud pattern, it’s also important to make it the only focal point in the room. Too many focal points in such a small space is a sure way to turn your bathroom from a relaxing oasis to an overwhelming closet.

Swap Your Shower Faucet

Updating your shower faucet is another small change that can make a huge difference. Buying a new shower faucet may seem unnecessary when your current one works fine, but the value you’ll receive from this purchase is hard to beat. Upgrading pieces of your home with construction-standard parts will always make your house feel more like your home, and this is especially true in your bathroom. While the (probably) cheap, standard faucet you have works fine, you’ll enjoy using one that matches your style much more. An upgraded faucet will make your showers feel luxurious without having to put in a whole new shower. So, if you want a large boost of personal value in your bathroom, upgrading your shower faucet is the way to go.

Update Decor

The last tip for your bathroom is to update the decor. Hopefully, you already have a style and color scheme picked out, and it’s time to drive the point home with some carefully chosen decor. You generally want your bathroom to feel clutter-free and as open as possible, so try to avoid too much on the counters or shelving. I suggest hanging a piece of art (or two) on the walls and a few pieces of decor mixed in with functional decor on shelving and countertops. Utilize baskets and jars that work with your chosen style to store bathroom necessities while still making the space look well-decorated. Remember that open space helps smaller spaces look bigger, and this is especially applicable to bathrooms!

Conclusion

In conclusion, you can probably do more on your budget to upgrade your bathroom than you initially thought. While bathrooms are more expensive to remodel compared to other rooms, there are some less-expensive options you should consider. Elevating a room doesn’t have to happen overnight. In fact, taking one step at a time and enjoying a slow process will make the entire journey more enjoyable and fulfilling. While knocking out projects in a weekend has its place, don’t feel pressured to take that route. Do what’s best for you!