Your home’s bathroom is arguably its most functional room. Sure, some people transform their homes into spas, however, the truth is that most of the time, you’ll go to the bathroom only when you have a task to complete there. This can be something like taking a shower, going to the loo, applying make-up, shaving, brushing your teeth, etc. By optimizing your bathroom, you can make some or all of these tasks simpler and more pleasant.
Then, there’s the issue of increasing the value of your home. Make no mistake, when they come to see the place, potential buyers will head straight to the bathroom. Not only is this so important but it’s also a reflection of the overall maintenance of the rest of the household, as well.
With all these advantages, you might start wondering – why aren’t bathroom improvements more common? The truth is that a major bathroom renovation tends to be one of the more expensive household improvement projects out there. With that in mind and without further ado, here are a couple of tips to refresh your bathroom even on a low budget.
Affordable flooring option
The first thing you need is to replace the floor. Now, here you have two priorities. The first one is a floor that will be resistant to moisture. No matter how big or how good your floor mat is, there’s going to be some water on the floor. Even if it doesn’t spill or drip off your body, the humidity in the room, coupled with condensation due to temperature shifts, will cause the floor to get wet one way or the other. So, it’s a priority for you that the floor is non-abrasive and non-absorbent.
Second, you need it to be affordable. A standard vinyl floor is a perfect example of how this is supposed to work. The cost can be between $0.50 to $4.00 per square foot for materials, which is far from expensive. Other than this, you can go with vinyl flooring (even luxurious vinyl flooring is less expensive than some of its alternatives). For those with an interest in making an industrial bathroom, the idea of going for a concrete floor can be quite appealing. Just keep in mind that it might get a bit cold.
Paint the walls
Choosing paint for your bathroom goes far beyond the color. You want to have a semi-glossy or glossy finish and you need the paint to have anti-mildew additives. As we’ve already mentioned, moisture, humidity, and splash damage are all serious things. Maintenance will take you only so far and you need the walls to be as resistant as possible, on their own. While you can’t leave them this way indefinitely, the truth is that you want the paint to last as long as possible.
Paint the ceiling anything but white to create a unique visual impression of a smaller, cozier space. The best way to achieve this is to paint the ceiling in a darker color. This way, by painting the ceiling dark blue or violet, for instance, you will create the impression of an oasis under a clear night sky. A lighter color, however, will make the room appear taller. It’s like a painting accent wall, only this time, you’re choosing the ceiling.
Go with fancy minor fixtures
One of the key things you need to bear in mind is the importance of picking small and inexpensive details that will massively transform the bathroom from a visual standpoint. For instance, replacing your showerhead with a chrome alternative can already create an impression of a completely different design. Replacing cabinet hardware, a faucet, or stringing a new shower curtain can all make a disproportionately large difference.
According to veteran retailers of bathroom accessories from Sydney, you need to adopt a bit more strategic approach here. Try to enter the bathroom and roleplay someone who sees it for the very first time. What’s the first thing you notice? This is the focal point of the room and an element that grabs the attention. Usually, it’s the tub/shower, vanity, or even a shower curtain. By just giving this focal point a facelift, you will completely change the impression that the room leaves.
Change the shower curtain and lining.
The shower is one of the first things you notice when you enter a complete bathroom. Old and faded shower curtains and liners immediately attract unfavorable notice. Additionally, with time, mold and mildew accumulate on shower curtains and liners, which can result in a number of lung problems.
The ideal shower curtain liner will offer a strong barrier against soap and shampoo that can lead to buildup as well as water and the shower curtain fabric. The majority of shower curtain liners are less than $20, and some even have compartments built in to carry bottles of your shower goods. The shower curtain may then be used for some fun after you’ve selected the greatest lining you can locate. This is where you may give your bathroom a splash of color and extra flair.
Open storage
Some people see their bathrooms as virtually empty and believe that they just don’t have enough accessories to depict the full potential of the place. Now, opening up your storage (going for open shelves right away or unhinging the doors of your already existing cabinets) can get you there. The truth is that the majority of your bathroom supplies are already packed in a pretty aesthetic way. Why hide your towels behind a closed cabinet door when you can stack them as an additional ornament?
Also, keep in mind that keeping these items behind a barrier usually doesn’t offer that much protection. The majority of items that are designed for the bathroom are already in bottles or jars that are designed to withstand moisture. Sure, privacy is another concern and there are some items that you may not wish guests to see when they visit your bathroom, however, there’s always an option of hiding some while displaying other items.
Add some greenery
When it comes to providing your bathroom with some refreshing traits, you can’t choose better than going for house plants. Now, aside from additionally enhancing that impression of an oasis that we’ve mentioned previously, the truth is that greenery makes a world of difference in terms of air quality in the room. Keep in mind that the ventilation in a bathroom might be a serious bottleneck and the window is probably small (and not used that frequently) which makes it a great feature.
Keep in mind that there are so many particles of water just floating around the bathroom that you might not have to water these plants whatsoever. However, some houseplants may not thrive in these circumstances. Therefore, it’s essential that you do your research on the houseplants that are ideal for your bathroom. This way, you maximize the effect and minimize the amount of active work that you have to invest.
In conclusion
Sure, you can install or repair a bidet, buy a new vanity, install tiles on the entire floor and walls, and do much more but the cost of this would be simply enormous. Is it worth it? Definitely, if you can afford it! It will increase the quality of life in your home and drastically boost its resale value. Still, even if you don’t have the fortune to spend on this renovation, chances are that you can do quite a bit to reinvigorate the place. The above-listed five suggestions are just a small sample of all the amazing options you have available.
