Want to redo your bathroom on a budget? How to save money while remodeling your bathroom can be tricky, but if you know the right techniques and where to shop, you can easily do it. A low-cost bathroom remodel can leave you with a refreshing new feel and creative use of space. It’s a great way to get a clean, bright, and functional bathroom while saving more money than homeowners who opted for the more expensive route.
Let’s have a look at some techniques on How to save money while remodeling your bathroom:
Plan Ahead
Before starting your remodeling project, plan out all the necessary steps. It can become quite costly when you start things and change your plans halfway. Your project is delayed, and you have to return materials and purchase new ones. So, before you begin your bathroom remodel and before you hire contractors, plan out how you want your new bathroom to look. List out all the fixtures you have and what new items you want to purchase. Categorize all new purchases into must-have items and “nice to have” items. When contemplating the layout, compare items such as tiles, plumbing fixtures, and light fixtures. This way you will know what you want and where to get it from at the best prices. Also, take into consideration the items in good condition in your bathroom.
Leave the Footprint Unchanged
Bathroom remodeling and bathroom renovation are not the same things. Bathroom remodeling involves changing its footprint. This means changing the bathroom’s structure, size, and shape. It could include changes in the room’s foundation, changing load-bearing walls, or plumbing lines. You could also change the locations of plumbing fixtures such as the toilet or faucets and change the electrical wiring.
Renovation simply means changing your bathroom’s look. You can install new tiles, lighting, flooring, and fixtures. However, the basic layout of the bathroom remains unchanged. Changing the bathroom’s footprint increases overall costs. It takes more time and adds additional labor costs. Redoing your bathroom usually involves renovating it rather than a complete remodel. If you have to increase the size of your bathroom or change the arrangement of fixtures and fittings, keep it to a minimum, so you require lesser work hours from contactors. This will also help you save costs.
Use Lookalike Materials That Cost Less
If you need to swap materials and fixtures, try buying inexpensive alternatives. They look similar and can create the look and feel that you want. For example, if you want to install tiling but cannot foot the bill and you do not have the DIY expertise, you can always go for luxury vinyl tiling or LVT. Vinyl tiling is low maintenance a purse-friendly option.
Also, think about what items you want to repair in your bathroom and what items you want to replace. You can save a lot of money repairing items rather than completely replacing them. For example, you can refresh old cabinets with new hardware. Strip down the old hardware and replace it with modern new pieces. This is more affordable than installing completely new cabinets. Maybe install a new sink faucet for a new look. This is popular amongst designers and DIY enthusiasts as it makes your sink look new instead of changing the entire fixture.
Also, try to touch up your tub rather than re-finish it. You can simply repair peeling paint, gauges, and nicks. So, you spot-fix the tub instead of re-finishing the entire surface.
Declutter Your Space
This is an extremely useful and cost-effective tip. Decluttering Your space is a wonderful budget bathroom idea as it requires no additional equipment and spending. Tidy your bathroom and keep only the products you use the most. Stow away all lesser-used products and throw away all items that are past their expiry date. You can also create DIY bathroom shelving to enhance space and help you store items. You can also install a ladder using reclaimed wood as a budget-friendly storage idea.
Play with Paint
Play around with paint in your bathroom to give it a stylishly artistic look. You can paint your bathroom’s ceilings to make the bathroom space more interesting, especially if you have a smaller bathroom. You can also carry out the painting job yourself instead of hiring a professional painter to do it. Another technique is to have painted bathroom floorboards. This can be an affordable yet chic and trendy update to your bathroom. If doing a DIY job, you can use wood paint or paint designed especially for floors. Paint created for floors will be less slippery and more durable, but you might be limited in color choices. You can also paint your bathroom walls an unexpected shade to update them and add personality to them. If you have a smaller bathroom, use softer shades like tea pink or baby pink for a more space-enhancing effect.
Shop from Wholesale Stores
When redoing your bathroom, a great budget-friendly option is to shop from wholesale stores online or within your community. These wholesale stores are usually reselling returned items from bigger retail stores and at a fraction of the cost. Beautify your space with accessories and cute décor. Take old decorative items out of storage and repurpose them in creative ways.
The above-listed techniques can be useful when it comes to how to save money while remodeling your bathroom.