9 Cheap but Charming Ways To Update Your Bathroom Without Actually Remodeling
Plunking down big money to renovate a bathroom isn’t in the cards for many of us. New tile, a better shower stall and a luxe tub are big ticket items for homeowners. Plus, renters aren’t usually allowed to rip up a bathroom they don’t actually own.
Yet, a better-looking loo is a #goal since you spend quality time in yours every day. The fix? A few inexpensive no-renovation renovation ideas that go beyond new towels or a coat of paint to quickly improve your bathroom’s look and feel.
For some ideas on these mini projects, we’ve tapped interior design pros who’ve actually made these same types of updates in their own homes and for clients. Here are eight smart (and easy) bathroom renovations you can achieve without tackling a complete overhaul.
1. Install a bidet attachment
Bidets are catching on in the U.S., though they’re more popular in Europe generally. But if you like the idea of a more, um, comprehensive cleanup after you do your business, consider this small upgrade that’ll run you about $100.
A bidet attachment goes in between your toilet seat and the tank, and the water comes from your home’s own pipes (it’s redirected via a nozzle).
2. Swap out your fixtures
“Your bathroom sink faucet is the most used item in this space, so a nice new option in an updated design will serve you well and create a fresh look,” says Pamela O’Brien, of Pamela Hope Designs.
“Black or brass will make your bathroom look sleek and modern,” says Elise Armitage, design expert and founder of What The Fab.
Other fast and inexpensive upgrades include changing the door handles, cabinet pulls, towel bars, or toilet paper holder.
3. Craft a different vanity
Just about any small cabinet, table or dresser can be made into a vanity, so if you’re handy and already have the piece, this project will only run you your time and the cost of the sink.
Making your own vanity is an excellent choice if you can’t find a prefab pick to fit a tight space. And if you can do most of the work yourself, save the plumbing part, you still might save money versus a floor model. And DIY is so much more interesting than installing the same big-box vanity every one else has.
O’Brien also suggests a new vanity mirror over your sink for a fast upgrade, “though if you want to take it a step further, consider replacing the vanity lights, too.”
Pick warm white light bulbs for the prettiest glow, say the pros.
4. Install a stick-on backsplash
Photo by Michael Tauber Architecture
Peel-and-stick tiles are a lifesaver for renters and thrifty homeowners alike, as they can be easily applied and taken down. You can place faux pebbles, geometrics, or subway tile-esque designs right onto the wall or over existing tiles you want to hide (we’re looking at you, avocado green hexagons!).
5. Hang a new shower curtain
A new shower curtain is a no-brainer, especially if yours is old and crusty. But you don’t need to pick the wildest pattern out there or even a color. Instead, go sheer.
Kara Harms, the design mind at Whimsy Soul, just completed a much-needed makeover in her own rental bathroom—and one of her ideas was to add a see-through curtain alongside the tub.
“This clear pick immediately made my bathroom feel bigger since I could look all the way to the back wall,” she says. “Plus, it let more light into the shower area, and the orange color added a pop of personality.”
6. Add some greenery
Harms also souped up her bathroom with a variety of plants by drilling holes for ceiling hooks.
“I was able to then DIY some macrame plant hangers and hang a ton of greenery around my bathroom to help it feel more like a jungle,” she shares.
But if you don’t have a drill or can’t put holes in your rental ceiling, several potted options are easy to display on the counter or shelves (if you have the space).
7. Add a statement piece
A standard-issue shower stall can sometimes be an irrevocable snooze. But since you have to put your toiletries some place, why not make your storage stand out?
This faux stump is styled with an orchid and a loofah, but you can corral your items on a similar piece for the same effect.
And if you decide to stick with a trusty metal caddy, “make sure the color matches the hardware in your bathroom, like gold or silver,” suggests Harms.
8. Edit your products
A mess of plastic bottles crammed into your shower niche or lining the tub edge is a sad sight, per the experts. Instead, keep only what you love and use, and ditch the rest. Make Marie Kondo proud.
Or make like Harms and decant your products into chic, matching containers.
“I buy a set for about $10 and transfer my face wash, shampoo, conditioner, and liquid body soap into them, and now my shower looks uniform and elevated,” she says.
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