Budget-Friendly Bathroom Renovation Tips

Hey y’all! Way back in the summertime, I told you guys that I wanted to go room-by-room, showing you how we renovated our house. I didn’t finish that Home Improvement series so I’m picking it back up this year.

In some spaces of our house, we did major upgrades by knocking down & moving walls, running new plumbing lines, etc. We also did lots of budget-friendly upgrades and remodeling our bathrooms was one of them. 

Before:

Our master bedroom was previously a den + a laundry room, that had a toilet closet attached. The original master bedroom had a bathroom attached as well but neither spaces are that big so we turned the den into a master suite. We added a shower, a double vanity, removed the exterior door & created a different entrance into the bathroom. 

After:

So here’s some of the most helpful tips I can provide, for those of you that want to renovate your own bathrooms!

• Price materials + labor beforehand, set a budget & try your best to stick to it. In the construction/remodel world, that phrase is so much easier said than done but it is absolutely necessary to have an idea of what you’ll be spending, before starting a major project like this. Have tradesmen (plumber, electrician, tiler, etc.) give you estimates on the work you’d like done – many of which will do this for free. Also, do your research on the types of materials you’ll need. Once you have a ballpark range of what you’ll be spending, add 10% to the overall costs. That will give you a cushion in case there are any mishaps, which occur far often than you’d think. 
• Save $$$ by doing things yourself. Now this tip is directed at those who are currently DIY-ers. If I hadn’t been pregnant during the majority of our renovations, I would have helped Orlando lay our tile. It was his first time doing so, after taking a couple quick courses at our local Floor & Decor + watching YouTube tutorials. Once you get a rhythm going, it isn’t too tough of a project. Swapping out sink & lighting fixtures is pretty simple too. However, hiring a professional for tasks like electrical updates & plumbing repairs, is a must. 
• If you can, work with the layout you already have. Shifting plumbing lines can get very expensive, making bathrooms one of the priciest areas to renovate. Updating the fixtures, tiling & flooring, can typically be done without moving the plumbing lines for toilets & sinks. As you can see in the pictures above, we have 3 sinks in our bathroom! Our house was built in the 1970s & the building codes were different back then so our toilet was vented through the sink across from it. Initially, the idea of this annoyed the h*** out of me but it was much more affordable to keep the plumbing as-is. 
• Check discount stores/websites for affordable materials. A quick google search can give you easy access to affordable materials like vanities & light fixtures. Websites like Lightsonline.com & Overstock.com are great sites for budget-friendly materials. Hardware stores like Lowe’s & Home Depot run sales a lot so keep a look out for discounted materials at those places too. 
• Here are a few specific ways to update your bathroom without breaking the bank
  • Paint or add wallpaper! Adding a new coat of paint, in a completely different color, can do wonders for updating a space. Peel-and-stick wallpaper is fairly easy to apply so that can be done too, to liven up the space. 
  • If you want to update your tile, opt for larger pieces over smaller ones. You can save on time & material costs. 
  • Replace small details like the mirror frame, towel racks/hooks, cabinet knobs & storage pieces. Those items can make a big statement, at a low cost. 
  • Purchase a vanity with the top included, vs. spending extra on a separate granite/marble countertop
  • Have your bathtub refinished instead of completely replacing. You can buy a refinishing kit to do it yourself, or hire a local company to do it for you.