10 Ways to Spruce Up Your Bathroom on the Cheap

With the cooler weather coming, now is a great time to take a look at some of the smaller projects you can tackle in the house. This week, let’s look at how to breathe new life into a bathroom while sticking to a tight budget. Here are some ideas:

If your bathroom doesn’t have proper ventilation, you will end up with mold and mildew growing on the walls and ceiling. A replacement fan will cost under $100 and you can install it yourself to ensure that the moisture caused from the shower is being extracted properly. Remember, you’ll need to measure the bathroom first to ensure you get the right fan for the job.

If you want to do your part for the environment, you can update your bathroom with water saving fixtures. Both Lowes and Home Depot carry eco-friendly lines that can cut water flow by upwards of 30 percent, making for a healthier planet and a happier utility bill.

If you can’t stand cleaning the shower, this one is for you. Today you can find shower doors that are finished with a water resistant coating which sheds the droplets that leave unsightly little stains. If you’re constantly walking around with a squeegee in hand, this upgrade might just make your weekend cleaning routine just a little easier.

If you’re looking to replace your cabinetry, take a look at some of the semi-custom options available from the major retailers. There are even companies that spruce up IKEA furniture to make it look more personalized and stylish. If you can’t afford to replace the cabinets, a new lick of paint can breathe new life into old wood.

Replacing fixtures is a great way to spruce up the bathroom for very little cost. Even if you can’t be bothered to give cabinets a new finish, replacing knobs and pulls can give your bathroom a little lift.

If your cabinets are in good shape but they are tough to reach or annoying to get into, a cabinet organizer might be for you. Most systems include sliding surfaces which making reaching items in the back a whole lot easier. No more digging in the dark.

Dated mirrors or lighting fixtures can bring a bathroom down. Kick it up a notch and keep an eye on the sales flyers for accent pieces to give your bathroom a boost for very little effort.

Granite countertops are a pricey remodeling project, but these days you can get the look for less by getting creative. Talk to your local countertop expert about where to look for remnant slabs, or consider cheaper options like a preformed laminate finish.

Make your shower more luxurious by replacing the old head. I personally love a rain shower, but a handheld sprayer can feel great after a long day and it makes cleaning a cinch. You can also replace your old shower curtain with a more modern update for less than $20. You won’t believe how a little change can make a big difference.

Certain tiles can be expensive, so instead of doing a whole floor, why not create a simple border or pattern. Breaking up larger, more expensive tiles with a strip or band will give your bathroom a designer look for a lot less than doing the whole floor.

This list is just the tip of the iceberg and I bet you have a few creative ideas on how to update your bathroom for less. I’d love to hear from you. Send me a message on Facebook at www.facebook.com/odonnellbros.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.