Whether you’re planning to sell your home or not, it’s still worth considering the fact that the two most important rooms to consider decorating are kitchens and bathrooms. Decorating and renovating these rooms will have a higher chance of boosting the value of your home than any other room.
And whilst we wouldn’t want to make assumptions about the most private space in your home without visiting (or have we?), there are many reasons why your bathroom may need modernising.
Doing so can make the space more accessible and comfortable, whilst also significantly increasing the value of your property if you’re intending to sell up in the future. Even if you’re not planning to make a sale at all, redecorating these rooms can be a fantastic investment of your time and money.
As such, 2022 is the perfect time to give your bathroom a much-needed makeover.
But how, we hear you ask? Well, here’s a start…
Bathrooms On A Budget
Before we dive into the changes you should consider, firstly, a word (actually, quite a few words) on doing things affordably but professionally.
Because just because you’re trying to save money at the moment, doesn’t mean you have to abandon the idea of redecorating, in fact, there are plenty of ways you can redecorate on a budget.
Here are some 5 top tips for doing just that:
- Know your limits. Don’t spend more than you can afford, no matter how tempting it may be. Put a plan in place, so you know exactly what you need and don’t need to buy. This can also help you figure out how much time you will need to decorate.
- Use a budgeting app that can help keep track of your spending and warn you if it looks like you’ll go over budget.
- If you are looking for additional furnishings, such as cupboards and mirrors, consider buying the items second hand. This can save you a lot of money in the long run, and if you buy from a charity shop, you are contributing to a good cause! Keep an eye out on local online groups, such as Facebook Marketplace as you might find a hidden gem in your local areas.
- Remember that the most expensive item is not necessarily the best. However, some items, such as your bath and shower, are definitely worth the investment. You will be using them every single day, so it is worth sourcing quality items.
- Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. Figure out what you can do yourself and then…do it yourself! This can cut out some of the fees associated with hiring a decorator. You can also ask friends and family to help when necessary, especially if they have any experience in decorating.
So, with your thrifty hard hat firmly on your head, here are those 6 simple tips for decorating your bathroom on a budget.
Change The Colour Scheme
Whether you opt for tiles, paint or wallpaper, the colours you chose will affect the mood of the room you create. And therefore, changing the colour scheme in your bathroom is one of the most affordable ways to make a real difference to the way in which a room looks and feels.
Cooler tones, such as cream and pale blue, will help you create a relaxed and calming atmosphere, whilst autumnal shades such as brown and orange will make your bathroom a warm and inviting space.
Alternatively, don’t be afraid to add some bright splashes of colour, such as yellow or blue, to bring a smile to your face on a gloomy morning. Think carefully about the kind of atmosphere you want to create, and select your new colour scheme accordingly.
Deciding on which colours you’ll implement into your bathroom is very important as this will influence your choice of which fittings you choose too.
Of course, you can decide on your fittings first and then base your overall colour scheme on those, which is why we’ve not put this at the top of this article. Before settling on a colour scheme, however, have a look at the sorts of accessories you’ll be adding to your bathroom.
As the respected towels and bathmats suppliers Absolute Home Textiles UK tell us, you’ll want to match these more fluid elements to your walls, floors, and other furnishings, too, where possible. Spend some time on this as you want to ensure you get the right colour scheme for you.
You can also add some colour to your bathroom with some plants. Without greenery, you might find that your bathroom feels a little bit on the sterile side. Potted succulents make a safe option – but if the space allows for it you might go for something a little grander.
Consider New Storage Options
Sometimes, after a bathroom has been finished, it can seem like something is missing. Oftentimes, this is because storage has been forgotten about. This can leave some large open spaces in your bathroom that could be used.
It goes without saying that you need to keep your bathroom as clean as possible. Doing your business is hard enough with clutter all around you, let alone trying to relax in the tub or putting your face on when you don’t even have room to swing a cat.
Put simply, clutter does nothing but take up space and gather dust. It can even affect your mood, especially if you keep putting off cleaning, which, ironically, clutter hinders you from doing.
You can help declutter your bathroom by ensuring you have enough storage space for your belongings – be they beauty products or fresh towels. Remember, there should be a place for everything and everything should be in its place; the most surefire way to keep tidy, and Marie Kondo agrees.
Shelves are the perfect choice for bathroom storage, as they take up minimal space but also look great. You can store everything from towels and beauty products using these storage options, but they can also be used to display accessories such as plants and ornaments too.
If you are going for a rustic, traditional style in your bathroom, be sure to check out reclaimed wood shelves, which are perfect for a bedroom for storage and hanging space or in a pantry or bathroom for extra wall storage.
Read: 6 ideas for designing a bespoke bathroom
Install A Heated Towel Rack
For a sense of luxury on a budget, there’s nothing better than stepping out of the bath or shower and immediately wrapping yourself in a warm towel. Just as the embrace of cosy cotton can make you feel brand new, so can a heated towel rack make your bathroom feel like it’s been refreshed and updated.
Such a luxurious addition needn’t even cost you a fortune; the average cost in the UK for both the supply of the heated towel rack and its installation is around the £400 mark. What’s more, the whole process should take less than a day to complete.
Read: 6 reasons why you should get bathroom redesign or replacement
Underfloor Heating
Speaking of surprisingly affordable bathroom additions with cosy giving properties; underfloor heating will make cold winter mornings much easier to deal with, and the feeling under barefoot is one of reassurance and comfort, every single time.
Thankfully, it won’t break the bank either (the average cost of the parts and installation comes in at £800ish) and there are plenty of styles to chose from – including wooden floors, fashionable dark concrete, marble and tiling. Generally speaking, the installation will only take a couple of days, but you should expect your bathroom to be out of bounds during this period. Best set up an alternative arrangement or wear a nappy, hey!
Read: 5 simple tips to make your bathroom renovation a breeze
Give It Some Elbow Grease
We said changes on a budget, didn’t we? And this one only requires the purchase of some cleaning products to get the bathroom sparkling and feeling brand new…
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 enormous.
Make Use Of Mirrors And Light
Unfortunately, not all bathrooms will have access to natural light. Some do not possess any form of windows and will instead have to rely solely on ventilation to extract moisture from the room. However, this isn’t the end of the world.
You can redirect natural light into a bathroom using mirrors throughout your home. Mirrors inside a bathroom can also help make the place look brighter and larger. Alongside using mirrors, you should also be conscious of your choice in lighting too.
A bathroom will generally require bright lights as people will need to be able to see what they’re doing, whether they’re applying makeup in the mirror or washing their hair in the shower.
A gloomy bathroom can be unpleasant to be in, but at the same time, a bathroom that is too bright isn’t a relaxing experience either. LED lights are a great idea for a bathroom, especially smart lights, as their brightness and colour can be adjusted to create a much more pleasant atmosphere. Perfect for a relaxing bath after a hard day’s work. Bear in mind that extremely bright light as you’re brushing your teeth can make it more difficult to settle to sleep.
And with that, you have a brand new bathroom on a budget!