7 Ways to Update Your Bathroom on a Budget
If you’re thinking of updating your bathroom but don’t have tonnes of cash to spare, worry not as there are still plenty of ways to spruce up your bathroom on a budget. From cleaning your tiles, to new bathroom furniture, there’s an option for every budget.
Stylish bathroom accessories
The addition of small bathroom accessories such as toothbrush holders, toilet brushes and bathroom bins are some of the easiest ways to add a fresh feel to your bathroom. With some of these accessories costing even less than £10, there’s no need to splash the cash.
Bathroom accessories can be the perfect way to add a pop of colour to an otherwise outdated or tired bathroom. From bright pinks and yellows to calming blues and greens, there are plenty of ways to inject personality into your bathroom with bathroom accessories. You could even simply replace your bath towels and a bath mat for a cost-effective way to give your bathroom a facelift.
Did you know it’s recommended you should change your towels every 1-3 years and your bath mat every 3 years? If yours have seen better days, then now might be the time to give your bathroom a refresh with some fresh fluffy towels and a luxury bath mat.
Refresh your bathroom walls
Another fantastic budget-friendly way to update your bathroom is with a simple refresh of your bathroom walls. Whether you have tiled walls, bathroom wall panels or painted walls it's easy to give all of these options an update.
If your bathroom tiles are looking a bit grubby and grimy or perhaps your once white grouting is slowly turning yellow, you can have your tiles looking as good as new in no time, and with minimal costs too.
As a rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to give your bathroom tiles a quick wipe-down each time they get wet but with busy day-to-day lives we rarely remember or even have time to do this when getting out of the shower or bath. Therefore, your tiles could require a more thorough cleaning.
For this we suggest using a mixture of water and bicarbonate of soda, creating a paste perfect for cleaning any grime from your bathroom tiles. However, before you start make sure to check this is suitable for your tiles. If you have particularly delicate or gloss tiles the last thing you want is to scratch them.
If your grouting has started to go a funny colour, perhaps yellow or grey, then now’s the perfect time to give it a quick facelift. Don’t panic, you won’t need to replace your grouting completely, you can simply use kitchen cupboard essentials to create the perfect cleaning solution.
Now, we don’t mean any old kitchen cupboard item. You can’t use that tin of baked beans that’s been in the back of the cupboard for the last 5 years! Bicarbonate of soda on the other hand can be a great cleaning solution for many things, not just grouting.
Simply mix two parts bicarbonate of soda with one part water and spread directly onto your grout, using an old toothbrush to scrub the mixture in thoroughly. This mixture could even remove any mould lurking on the grout.
For more information on cleaning bathroom tiles, take a look at the following post – How to Clean Bathroom Tiles.
Bathroom wall panels on the other hand are relatively easy to clean and, in most cases, a simple weekly wipe-down can keep them looking as good as new. On the other hand, their sealant can take a battering when not fully dried out.
Much like grouting, sealant, when not cleaned and dried regularly can form a build-up of mould. For a daily solution, make sure to wipe seals down after a shower or bath as this can help to prevent mould and grime from building up. However, day-to-day life can get in the way and wiping down a seal isn’t always our first thought. Therefore, cleaning sealant with a natural vinegar spray can help to get rid of pesky mould build-up.
A simple lick of paint can also go a long way. After a while, walls tend to get scratched and scraped, leaving marks and small dents in them, especially so in a busy family home. If your bathroom walls no longer look as fresh as the day you moved in, then now’s the time to fill any dents and give them a fresh lick of paint. You could even choose a new colour.
Update your bathroom furniture
If your current bathroom storage solutions aren’t quite living up to your expectations, or they’ve seen better days, then this is a great way to refresh your bathroom. Whether your current mirror cabinet or vanity unit has taken a battering, or you simply don’t have enough storage space then now’s the time to invest in something that works for your bathroom.
If you have a particularly low budget then instead of a brand-new vanity unit, you could consider a stylish under-sink cabinet or even a pre-loved or second-hand unit at a fraction of the cost. A second-hand unit is ideal if you’re looking to add a touch of personality to the space to make it your own. A fresh lick of paint or varnish can do wonders to give an old piece of furniture a second lease of life.
Shower head update or clean
When used regularly, shower heads can become grubby and grimy quickly, so why not treat yourself to a new shower head?
Did you know changing your shower head every 6-8 months is recommended to prevent any unwanted grime and bacteria from building up? However, it can be costly to replace a shower head this often, therefore a good clean regularly can also help to prevent the growth of mould and bacteria from forming on your shower head.
Before cleaning your shower head it’s a good idea to check the manufacturer’s instructions as some shower heads are designed to be wiped clean, meaning a quick wipe with a soft microfiber cloth after every couple of uses is good practice. These types of shower heads shouldn’t be cleaned with any harsh chemicals.
However, if your shower head isn’t wipe clean, then a long soak in a solution of vinegar can do just the trick. The easiest way to do this is by placing a plastic bag full of white vinegar over your shower head, making sure the head is completely submerged, tie the bag together, and leave to soak for at least an hour. You should then find your shower looking as good as new.
New toilet seat
If you’re tired of your plain white toilet, why not treat yourself to a new toilet seat? Available in a variety of colours from black and grey to wood and even bright pink, there’s a toilet seat for every bathroom design.
However, it’s good to keep in mind the different shapes of toilet seats to make sure you get the correct shape for your pan. You could even treat yourself to a soft close option and enjoy a new sense of luxury.
Upgrade to coloured taps
Over the years bathroom taps can easily build up a layer of limescale, no matter how often you clean them, especially so in hard water areas. If this sounds familiar, then a new set of matching bathroom taps may be just what you need.
Whilst chrome bathroom taps used to be the go-to, black, brushed brass and gold are high on people’s wish list these days. Black, brass and gold can help to add a much-needed touch of colour and luxury to an otherwise clinical-looking bathroom. What’s more, they don’t cost the earth either.
Add light with a bathroom mirror
Whether you currently have a bathroom mirror or not, they're a great way to add a fresh lease of life to your bathroom. They’re practical and great at bouncing light around the room, which can help make your bathroom feel more homely and inviting.
Available in a wide range of designs from standard wall-hung bathroom mirrors to bathroom mirror cabinets and even LED options, there’s something to suit every interior design and budget.
If you found this post useful, you might also like - DIY Home Improvements - Brushed Brass Design Ideas to Inspire - Elevate Your Bathroom: Art Deco Bathroom Ideas.
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