Sometimes, you’ve just got to feel sorry for the bathroom. For a place that spends so much time and effort on replenishing us each day, it’s very rare that the favour is reciprocated and the space gets its very own spruce up in return. Maybe it’s a lack of time, perhaps other rooms are more immediately demanding, but more often than not, it’s the financial obstacle which stands most stubbornly in the way.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. The bank doesn’t have to be broken to make a noticeable, tangible change for the better. Read on, for our 5 IDEAL bathroom improvements on a tight budget.
Aromatherapy
Without meaning to be coarse, we need to talk about smells. The bathroom is full of them, manmade, chemical and usually not all that pleasant. The most proactive step you can take to improve your bathroom is to wrestle back control of the room’s aroma.
Indeed, a few practical steps will keep things smelling fresh and clean, warding off mould and that damp, wet mildew smell. So first things first, make sure your bathroom is well ventilated. Remember to open your windows regularly and every bathroom should have an extractor fan. Equally, if your bathroom doesn’t have a window then consider a dehumidifier.
Also important is keeping towels clean and bins empty; common sense, but all too often neglected. Going a step further, by lighting a few scented candles, you’ll not only eliminate bad odours, but create that relaxing, luxurious ambience that all good bathrooms should have.
Read: Design ideas to make your bathroom a wellbeing sanctuary
Spit & Polish
While we certainly wouldn’t want to accuse anyone of having a dirty bathroom, we think there’s always room for giving the cleaning that extra little bit of elbow grease if you want sparkling results without having to invest in brand new features. Where your hard work will be most noticed is in your bathroom’s taps and handles; for a gentle scrub, use a microfibre cloth and plain water. If you want to go all out, add some vinegar to the mix.
It’s likely limescale will have built up on your shower screen too, giving the whole bathroom a murky feel which is easily prevented. Scrubbing too vigorously will cause scratches. Instead, use a vinegar solution followed by a gentle buff with baking soda. As these are all items you’ll likely have around the house already, the impact on your budget will be small, but the improvement to the look of your bathroom will be enormous.
Incorporating Decking Boards Into Your Bathroom Design
Using decking boards in a bathroom can create a spa-like feel while adding warmth and texture to the space. They’re often placed over shower floors or around soaking tubs to provide a non-slip, comfortable surface underfoot. For a modern and sustainable approach, recycled plastic decking boards are a practical choice, as they resist water damage, mold, and warping far better than traditional wood.
These boards can mimic the look of natural timber while offering easier maintenance, making them ideal for wet environments. By blending style, comfort, and functionality, decking boards can elevate your bathroom into a relaxing, resort-inspired retreat.
Make Mould Marks A Thing Of The Past
Mould; it’s not a good look in any room. But in no other room are you more likely to be sitting, facing outwards with little to do but examine the nooks and crannies of the space. Combine this with stark white lighting and plain walls, and if you’ve got a mold problem, it’s gonna be a noticeable one. The best way to prevent an outbreak is to seal the area around your bath and in between wall tiles, with flexible bath seals being the most reasonable option on the market.
Out With The Old Fashioned
There’s no room more likely to feel old-fashioned if not brought into step with the times than the bathroom. That dull green hue every grandparent’s lav used to be rendered in, the furry toilet seat cover, the textured, apricoty toilet paper, the carpet……..if any of these are still present in your bathroom, it’s time to change things abruptly. It’s all about greys, whites, metallics, clean lines, minimalist vibes these days. Throwing stuff away won’t cost you a dime, so be ruthless. The contemporary bathroom adopts a less is more approach.
On a similar note, a few simple additions in terms of towels and robes can add a more modern look to your bathroom. Whether hanging on the back of the bathroom door or neatly draped over a towel rack, your bathroom robes can elevate the look of your space, providing they fit the tone and feel of your home.
Hardware Heroes
Never underestimate the transformative power of new hardware. Those tired cabinet knobs, rusted towel rails, and that wobbly toilet seat that’s been annoying you for months? They’re all crying out for a quick and affordable upgrade. Swapping out old hardware for sleek, modern alternatives is one of the most cost-effective ways to give your bathroom an instant facelift.
Start with the cabinet and drawer pulls – matching brushed nickel or matte black hardware can instantly modernize dated vanities without the expense of replacing the entire unit. A new toilet seat (please, no more creaky hinges!) costs surprisingly little but makes a world of difference to both comfort and aesthetics.
And while you’re at it, consider replacing that plastic shower curtain with a fabric one, or better yet, install a simple curved shower rod to make your shower feel more spacious. Even switching out an old showerhead for a rainfall-style model can create that spa-like experience without the spa-like price tag. These small changes might seem insignificant on their own, but together they create a cohesive, updated look that belies their modest price tags.
Art Attack
It seems like the last place you’d bother with in terms of hanging art and placing a few tasteful sculptures and trinkets around, but this shouldn’t be the case. After all, there’s no other place in the house where we sit and stare blankly in front of us, wishing for distractions.
A carefully placed picture then, to ponder while punishing the porcelain, could be just the ticket. Try to think outside the thunderbox here, and give the standard nautical theme a swerve (are anchors and boats the best you can do?), and go for something a little more abstract.
Alternatively, consider some wallpaper; tropical fish wallpaper makes for a fabulous feature wall in a bathroom, or cover all the walls and pretend that you’re in an aquarium while you splish-splash-splosh around in the bath.
