Designer bathrooms are one of the top rated home searches today. After all, if you work to a realistic budget you won’t end up regretting spending more than your means. However, being sensible with the cost of home renovation plans doesn’t have to mean getting a lesser finish. There are certainly ways to get a luxury, designer look bathroom for less.
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It seems we all love to look at gorgeous images of rolltop baths, parquet flooring and marble countertops. But when it comes to our own bathrooms, most of us are looking to spend a little less. We take a look at how you can revamp without breaking the bank:
Choose Larger Tiles
A trick that interior designers often use is to scale up the size of tiling to cheat the impression of a bigger, more luxurious space. A wider expanse of tile looks more expensive and gives your bathroom a streamlined look. Plain polished tiles are fine, but go for a larger format than the typical 3×6. Look for dimensions like 2×8 to make your bathroom look less ‘standard’ and elevate the design to new levels. Oversized bathroom tiles are a great way to make your space look grander.
Choose Unique Tiles
Alongside choosing larger tiles, it can make a lot of sense to look for tiles that are more unique than the standard options found in DIY stores. There are loads of smaller companies out there that sell specialist stone and other construction materials without coming with the price tag you’d expect. A terracotta tile floor can be a great example of this, providing an affordable yet unique option that will make your bathroom stand out from the crowd.
Pick Colored Grouting
Another trick that doesn’t cost the earth is to move away from the standard white grouting. You can get grouting in a huge range of colors these days, and it can really make a difference to the look of the room. For example, if you have chosen to use grey tiles, adding a matching grey grout looks super chic and more refined than standard white – it also hides any dirt better, making it easier to clean! Alternatively, if you opt for plainer white metro tiles which are really cost effective, you can make them look more attractive by using a contrasting color for the grouting. This prevents the finished look being flat and boring. And coloured grouting doesn’t actually cost any more than standard white!
Upgrade Your Hardware
If you don’t have the cash for all new fixtures and fittings, why not change up the hardware instead? A standard cheap vanity unit can be altered beyond recognition with a simple coat of paint and some new drawer pulls and hinges. Choose cut crystal for a deeply luxurious look or antiques brass if you like vintage. Or make it ultra-modern with a satin finish metal or even copper. You can create a one of a kind focal point that would look at home in even the plushest homes – for a very minimal outlay.
Choose Finishes Wisely
If you have a little money to spend, then make sure that you make wise choices and invest it in areas where it will have the biggest impact. If you have a smaller bathroom, then the flooring can be minimal in terms of area, so you can afford to spend more on real engineered wood flooring finishes or expensive stone. If you have a larger floor space, why not create a ‘tile rug’ this means covering a small area in the middle with expensive, patterned feature tiles and choosing a cheaper plain tile for the rest. This approach gives your bathroom a focal point with more impact for less spend. When it comes to countertops, nothing beats the beauty and warmth of expensive natural stone. So look for ways to get it for less, such as locating a local stone yard that may be selling offcuts. Selecting slightly lesser known variants can also save big- for example, Carrara marble can be up to 25 per cent less than better known options. A little upfront comparison and research can help you save big. Think carefully about the remodel and what you want to achieve and view more rather than less.
Source Fixtures for Less
Another big outlay in redesigning your bathroom are the fixtures. If you want a stunning bath to be the star of the show, or a frameless quadrant shower enclosure, costs can easily mount up. Sign up to the mailing lists of bathroom fitting companies early so you can be notified of sales and special deals. You can also scour the listings sites for preloved baths. A beautiful vintage rolltop can be repainted with something like Hammerite to give it a brand new lease of life. Or you can have a bathtub professionally reglazed and still come in at less than a new premium model.
Upgrading Rental Propeties
If you rent your home, you may have thought you’d be unable to facelift the bathroom, but that’s not necessarily true. While you may not be able to change the fixtures and fittings, a lot of landlords will let you do repairs by prior arrangement, or if you agree to paint it back to the original color before you leave. There’s also a lot you can do with accessories. Small details like stunning storage, a new mirror and bath mats or a colorful new shower curtain can have a big impact. If space allows, adding a stool or small seat can really make a space feel more luxurious than functional – plus it gives you somewhere to put clothes while you bathe or to sit and paint your toenails! Also think about designer look storage options for those little grooming necessities. A small marble tray to contain all your skincare products gives them a deluxe look, while lidded glass jars to hold cotton wool pads or cotton buds is much more impressive than the original packaging! It’s all in the details to get an elevated aesthetic and a polished feel to your bathroom. Likewise, ugly flooring can be hidden with the addition of a pretty new bathmat – or go one step further with a wooden duckboard or a Turkish rug! Touches like this add sophistication to the space and can do a lot to detract from tired old fittings.
Getting a beautiful bathroom doesn’t have to cost the earth – a few simple changes can add up to a big design impact and give you a space to be proud of.
This is a contributed post.
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I like you suggested to get your bathtub reglazed professionally instead of getting frameless shower enclosures. I appreciate that you suggested to sign up for the mailing list of bathroom fitting companies for sales and special promos. We would like professional Remodeling Contractors to help us out on rehauling our bathroom.
great list of budget tips. We just redid our bathroom and the extra large tiles really are an easy hack. It makes it look a lot more high end that it is…