5 Affordable Bathroom Renovations You Can Do Yourself, According to Reno Pros

Just because your budget is tight doesn’t mean you have to put off that much-needed bathroom renovation you’ve been dreaming about. From painting and hanging wallpaper to swapping dated fixtures and hardware, these affordable bathroom renovation ideas can transform one of the most-used spaces in your home without diminishing your savings.

To help you get started, we’ve interviewed a design expert about the top budget-friendly bathroom renovation ideas and why these bathroom updates are worth doing.

Paint Your Bathroom

Paint is one of the most powerful home transformation tools for the price. In fact, you can paint a small bathroom for as little as $70 on average.

Not only is it one of the least expensive home improvement projects you can take on, but Patty Hampton, head of design at Refresh Your Space, calls it “the update with the most visual impact on the room.”

“For paint, you can do an accent wall, or a two-tone treatment with a horizontal split, using a darker color on the bottom and a lighter color on the top, which will make the bathroom appear bigger,” she says.

Painting a bathroom isn’t limited to just the walls—paint is a great option for improving the look of tired cabinetry, doors, trim, and even vanities. You can even give tile a whole new look with paint, saving you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars tearing out and replacing the existing tile.

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Hang Humidity-Sensitive Wallpaper

If you’re looking to make a stronger visual statement in your bathroom than can be done by paint alone, wallpaper may be a better option. When shopping for wallpaper for bathrooms, Hampton advises looking for new humidity-sensitive, peel-and-stick options, which can stand up to a bathroom’s humid environment.

Bathrooms are an excellent opportunity to choose a fun, statement-making wallpaper that you may be hesitant to select for a main living space. Take this opportunity to choose fun patterns and bold colors.

Replace Your Toilet

Don’t let a dingy, dated toilet ruin your bathroom’s look and feel. Replacing a toilet is a pretty simple process that most DIYers can tackle themselves, though you may want to reach out to a plumber or handyman if you don’t feel qualified.

Hampton notes that a new toilet not only results in a better bathroom style, but it can also increase the reliability and water efficiency.

Update Bathroom Fixtures

Bathroom fixtures go in and out of style. Depending on their style, your current fixtures could be dragging down your bathroom’s aesthetic. Luckily, you can swap them for stylish alternatives for a modest amount of money.

If you’re trying to match any existing bathroom fixtures, you may have the best luck by shopping for other options within the same brand. Hampton says that common finishes like matte black and polished chrome may match between brands, but other finishes like brushed nickel may vary from brand to brand.

To save money, you can always choose complementary metals instead of matching them perfectly.

“If you are not planning to open up the wall in the shower/tub area, make sure any new plumbing fixtures are the same brand as what’s already there, so it will work with the existing rough-in plumbing,” she says.

Update Bathroom Hardware

If you don’t have the money to update your faucets and fixtures, Hampton suggests updating your bathroom hardware, such as knobs, towel racks, hooks, drawer pulls, and more, to improve your bathroom’s look without breaking the bank. These items tend to cost less than faucets and fixtures while still making a notable impact on the bathroom’s style and functionality.