Bathroom looking a little tired or neglected? Struggling to create an oasis of calm to escape to after a long day? The news is good – you can revamp your bathroom without breaking the bank with our budget-friendly makeover ideas for a fresh and luxurious bathing sanctuary.
The way to make the most impact in a bathroom is by focusing on updates that will add comfort and ease, says Nick Hailey at Reece Bathrooms.
“When considering a bathroom refresh, first consider who is using the bathroom and their routines. Then your next step before kicking off your bathroom renovation should be to consult with your plumber to see what is possible in your space,” he says.
You can also cut back on some costs by being your own project manager, doing the tasks you can do by yourself, and sourcing your own materials. However, it’s important to ensure you have set a clear budget and consulted with all your tradies on project costs – the little things they need to get the job done can add up if you haven’t included them in your calculation.
Whether it needs a deep clean, a regrout or a recolour, grout is part of the overall look of your tiles. If it’s dirty or dingy – or badly damaged and discoloured, it can make the entire bathroom seem unclean or in dire need of an update.
If grout cleaning isn’t a job that particularly appeals to you, a professional grout clean is likely to be between $25 and $35 per square metre, and they can achieve results that are difficult to accomplish with elbow grease alone.
If your grout is too far gone to be saved, you may need to replace it. Removing your grout and resealing your tiles can remove stains, prevent them from coming back and also give your wall or floor a nice new look.
When it comes to upgrading a bathroom, storage is a key consideration, and updating your vanities can also completely change the look and style of your bathroom.
If space is hard to come by, check out the options for a floating vanity rather than a floor mounted vanity to give the illusion of space in a room. “Wall hung vanities can still integrate ample storage, with double drawer options also available.”
If you have a cloudy shower screen that no amount of scrubbing can clear, it’s a great excuse to create a fresh new look – one of the easiest ways to give your bathroom a makeover. A popular choice is to replace an existing framed shower screen with a semi-frameless or frameless option.
Shower screen replacement can cost anywhere from $250 to $700 for the screen, and shower screen installers charge between $45 and $65 per hour.
Updating tapware is a fairly easy and affordable upgrade to make to a bathroom that’s in need of some attention, Nick saying it can instantly elevate the visual impact of a bathroom.
“Your selection of tapware can define the design of your bathroom and the look you’re hoping to achieve, for example, whether you are going for a contemporary or traditional feel.”
It’s also a budget friendly change, with plenty of options to suit everyone’s style, needs and budget.
Covid cemented the bidet to the top of many people’s must-have list, and it’s definitely something that can be done on a budget. Nick says the bidet seat is the perfect solution if you want upgraded hygiene on your standard toilet without investing in the whole suite of features.
If, however, you’re in the market for a new loo, then choosing a smart toilet gives you the function of a normal toilet with the cleaning advantages of a bidet.
“Today’s smart toilets integrate a number of cleaning functions, including the ability to control pressure, air and water flow with a remote,” he says.
Bathroom mirror looking a little worn or has suffered water damage (blackening along the bottom of the mirror? A new mirror will not only make your bathroom look refreshed, but it’s also an opportunity to play around with new styles – for example, an Art Deco inspired curved edge mirror.
Heated towel rails are an easy and affordable upgrade to any bathroom, particularly as you have the choice of installation with a power outlet (which is more cost effective) or hard wiring.
Towel rails come in many configurations, from ladders to single bars, so there is lots of choice to meet your needs.
Likewise, matching accents including towels, toilet brushes, toothbrush holders and hand soap containers, or an oversized pot with a bathroom friendly plant can all add new touches and personalise the space.
Save thousands on the things you need to renovate or maintain your dream bathroom.
