Easy bathroom updates for less

Since your bathroom is one of the most high-traffic areas of your home, it pays to invest in this space. Simple updates like painting, replacing hardware or adding a new light fixture can give your bathroom a whole new look.

Whether you’re looking for a small update or a total redesign, it's easy to give your bathroom a makeover without breaking the bank.

Looking for great ways to refresh your bathroom for less? Start here:



Tools and Materials

Step 1. Vanity. A new bathroom vanity can make your room sparkle. You can select from a variety of ready-made vanities or customize the look with the vanity and countertop combos.

Step 2. Lighting. A miniature chandelier can add glamour to any bathroom, while sconces flanking a mirror or medicine cabinet like an electric 3-light vanity help shed light in all the right places.

Step 3. Flooring. When giving your bathroom a makeover, why not work from the ground up? Endless options of affordable flooring offer lasting durability, including resilient vinyl, laminate and tile:

Vinyl. Vinyl plank flooring has an easy GripStrip installation with interlocking edges that lay directly over your old floor with no prep or messy glue. It's also water-resistant—perfect in high-moisture areas like basements, kitchens and bathrooms—and looks and feels like real wood.

Laminate. Laminate flooring is moisture resistant, easy to install and beautiful with added durability.

Tile. Whether you fancy ceramic, porcelain, slate or stone, tile is a relatively simple installation you'll enjoy for years to come. Consider setting large porcelain tiles at a 45-degree angle from floor to ceiling to add a polished finish to your bathroom. When it comes to durability and affordability, porcelain is a beautiful, low-maintenance option that will maintain its pristine finish for years to come.

Step 4. Paint. A fresh coat of paint is the quickest and simplest way to give a dated room a new identity. When painting a bathroom, consider a semigloss or eggshell finish to stand up to moisture.

To add drama in smaller spaces, consider bold colors like hot pink, tangerine or black, then add contrast with white or light-colored trim, fixtures and accessories.

Step 5. Hardware. Add unity to your bathroom with complementary hardware including tissue dispensers, towel racks, hooks, knobs and pulls.

Step 6. Faucets and showerheads. Give your bathroom the look of a modern resort with in-wall or high-arc faucets. Feel as though you're at the spa with a massaging shower faucet.

Step 7. Storage. Cluttered countertops can make for an unsanitary eyesore. Get organized by categorizing your bathroom products and storing them accordingly in medicine cabinets, over-toilet cabinets and vanities. If you're limited on storage space, maybe it's time to simplify your beauty regime. Toss anything you haven't used in the last month and give yourself a fresh start.

Step 8. Bathroom decor. Turn your bathroom into your own personal spa with fresh towels, scented candles and accessories in calming tones like aqua blue, lavender, sage green and pale pink.

A glass mosaic backsplash or chair rail will help define your space by adding visual interest, texture and a pop of color. For quick, clean and easy installation, consider SimpleMat Tile Installation Mat. The mat bonds instantly to allow grouting right away and requires no mortar or mixing, minimizing mess.

Step 9. Window treatments. Bathroom window treatments are important for privacy, but they also add to the overall design. Applying textured or frosted film to windowpanes is a quick fix for blocking the view through shower windows, while blinds, shades and valances complement the décor in drier areas.

Need expert assistance? Visit your local Home Depot store to ask their associates about products or how-to instructions. The Home Depot expert associates are also available to answer your questions online. Visit them here.