How to Refresh Your Bathroom on Any Budget
Get an idea of what you can update, whether your budget is £75 or £7,500
When you’re ready to do more than just upgrade the towel situation, but you aren’t quite ready for a full bathroom renovation, consider planning a bathroom refresh. By not tampering with the layout (or adding square metres), you can bring costs way down while making some pretty major changes. Whether your budget is £75 or £7,500, use this guide to help workout what to prioritise and what to put on the back burner, and give your bathroom an update that works with your space and your budget.
If your budget is about £300: Get a new shower head, and then upgrade your towels and bath mat and swap the over-basin or vanity unit light if you have one. Fresh towels, mats (and a shower curtain, if using) and lighting will make the space feel cleaner, brighter and more stylish. To avoid installation issues, select lights that mount to the wall in the same way as the old lights.
Get started: 10 gorgeous ways to light your bathroom vanity mirror
Get started: 10 gorgeous ways to light your bathroom vanity mirror
If your budget is about £400: Get a new shower head, fresh towels, bath mat and better lighting, and then update the loo. Unless your toilet is very old, chances are a new toilet seat and flushing lever are all that’s needed to give it a brand-new look. Just be sure to choose a seat and hardware that will work with your existing toilet: most toilets are either a round or elongated shape, and this determines which toilet seats will work. And while it may sound a bit silly, choosing a really nice toilet seat and lever can make the whole bathroom look classier.
Get started: which is the perfect loo for your bathroom?
Get started: which is the perfect loo for your bathroom?
If your budget is about £750: What’s next? After the shower head, towels etc, lighting and loo seat, it’s time to refresh the vanity unit, if you have one. If yours is in good shape, repainting it and adding new hardware may be all that’s needed. If you have the budget to take it a step further, make like Houzz writer Becky Harris (whose master bathroom is shown here), and give it a new worktop and taps as well.
Get started: how to choose the right taps for your basin
Get started: how to choose the right taps for your basin
If your budget is about £4,000: Refresh the shower head, towels etc., lighting, loo and vanity unit and then add new tiles. Retiling is one of the costlier items in a bathroom renovation, but it can be well worth it if you’ve been living with dated tiles for too long! And while more complicated tile patterns certainly require a pro, if you’re an experienced DIYer, it’s possible to tackle a small tile project (like a backsplash) on your own, if you feel up for it.
Get started
Get started
If your budget is about £5,000: If you have more wiggle room in your budget, and your old vanity-sink combo isn’t cutting it, spring for a new setup and replace the mirror or medicine cabinet above it. Keep in mind that the direction of the plumbing (whether it’s directed through the floor or a wall) will influence how easy it is to install the new unit. For the smoothest (read: cheapest) installation, pick a design that handles plumbing the same way your old one did.
Get started
Get started
If your budget is about £7,500: New shower head, towels etc., lighting, loo, tiles, vanity unit and mirror… what’s left? If you have the room in your budget, it’s time to choose a new bath. Keep in mind that changing from freestanding to built-in or vice versa will require additional plumbing work (and it may disrupt tile work as well), and it can raise the costs significantly.
Still have a little money earmarked for the bathroom refresh? Pick out a statement light fixture, or round out the space with accessories like artwork and plants.
Get started 8 questions to ask before starting a bathroom renovation
What would you most like to change about your current bathroom? Tell us in the Comments.
Next steps
Find a bathroom designer or fitter
Still have a little money earmarked for the bathroom refresh? Pick out a statement light fixture, or round out the space with accessories like artwork and plants.
Get started 8 questions to ask before starting a bathroom renovation
What would you most like to change about your current bathroom? Tell us in the Comments.
Next steps
Find a bathroom designer or fitter
Get started: Find a shower head or tap that suits your tastes and the style of your bath. You can find some here.