Bathroom makeover on a budget

Discover how to give your bathroom a new lease of life when you’re on a budget. Being strategic with your spending means you can make it look amazing for less.

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A beautiful sink counter top Debenhams products — Photo Credit: Donna Vallance

How to do a high-impact bathroom makeover on a budget

Try these easy ways to save money and make your bathroom look Fantastic.

Set your budget

Establish a budget before you begin the process to ensure costs don’t run away from you. Set a maximum amount you’d like to spend, leaving a buffer for unexpected costs and under-estimates.

Things to include in your budget are designer fees, materials and possible shipment costs, labour payments and finishing touches like accessories.

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Prioritise changes

Focus on the changes that will have the most visual impact. This is where the majority of your money should go, but these changes don’t have to cost the earth: something as simple as updating your taps and shower-head can significantly lift your design.

Other cost-effective ways to transform the look of your bathroom include:

Fresh coat of paint
New colour scheme
Retiling
Adding a towel rail
Upgrading storage
Buying new towels and accesories

Blue Farrow and Ball Stiffkey Blue in hall way staircase oak — Freshly painted hall

Use cost-effective materials

You can achieve a luxury look for less by being careful to use cost-effective materials. For example, marble can be swapped for look-a-like porcelain or granite, and cheap ceramic tiles provide plenty of shine around the shower and bath. Pretty rattan storage baskets and brass taps bring warmth and a chic Scandinavian style at an affordable price.

Going to explore options in person at a bathroom showroom gives you an idea of how different materials look on a large scale in different lights, helping you find the best value alternatives to their expensive counterparts.

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Consider DIY

Be careful not to cut corners in areas that will affect the finish and functionality of your bathroom. Installation is not an area to skimp on, so only consider DIY tasks if you’re confident in your abilities.

Complex plumbing tasks such as connecting toilets and bathtubs shouldn’t be left to chance, so find a reliable company in your area with a reputation for efficient and high-quality work at a competitive rate. Similarly, any wiring jobs like adding lights or an LED-illuminated mirror will need the expertise of an electrician as there is a danger of electrocution.

Tasks you may feel comfortable doing include painting, tiling and fixing mirrors and cabinets. Sorting out the finish touches independently can save you a surprising amount of money if you’re overhauling your bathroom design.

Look for discounts

Finally, keep an eye out for discounts in the weeks running up to your makeover. Companies run sales periodically throughout the year, shedding excess stock and clearing warehouses of favourites from the previous season at great prices.

If you’re using the services of a plumber, see if they can source parts for the project. Often they will have access to business-to-business special rates or savings from buying in bulk that they can pass on to you.