You’ve found and bought the perfect house. You’ve had your trusted contractor come through and give you a gorgeous kitchen to entertain in, a beautiful master suite that your friends are envious of, and creative kids rooms that they’ll love growing up in… but your budget came up just a little short when it came time to do the bathroom. Don’t fret – you won’t be stuck staring at the painted-white tub and 70s vanity for too much longer. While we’re able to work with just about any budget, many people choose to do parts of the bathroom remodel themselves to save on costs. We’ve put together a few tips that will help you achieve your dream home spa without breaking the bank, but want to always remind you that it is best to do things that could affect the integrity of your house and your safety, such as plumbing or electrical work, with a trained professional.
When working with a DIY bathroom, patience is key. Proper research and planning is key to executing a perfect bathroom remodel, so take your time with getting inspiration on Pinterest, magazines, or the internet. Going into a home renovation store such as Lowe’s and Home Depot is a good way to compare samples of things such as flooring, countertop materials, and cabinetry. It’s important to keep in mind what’ll work for your specific property as well; some older plumbing fixtures may not work with modern, eco-friendly tubs, showers, or toilets. Getting a professional opinion before moving forward with your project is always recommend, and we’re here to help.
Once you have your inspiration down and your plan set, gathering materials is your next step. You can source great items for your bathroom from home renovation stores, but you may also be able to score some great deals off the internet or local mom-and-pop shops. Don’t be afraid to explore local areas, as often you can bid out similar items and get an extraordinarily low price! It may take some time, but getting the right materials for the job is crucial to getting your bathroom to be the way you want.
You may want to do a full remodel, but in the interest of keeping to a budget, we usually recommend only remodeling one or two pieces fully and simply sprucing up the remaining ones. Flooring is usually the biggest cost associated with a bathroom remodel, so keeping your existing flooring (or even refinishing if you have hardwood), is a great way to work with your numbers and still achieve the same great look you’ve envisioned. If you’re absolutely against your flooring and want it switched, refinishing the cabinets or keeping the same sink are also wonderful options.
No matter how big or small you go with your bathroom remodel, there are ways to keep the costs low. A major factor that’s easily overlooked is décor – you can have a model home bathroom, but without some candles and comfortable towels, it’ll still look like the home doesn’t have anyone living there. Check out home décor shops for some tchotchkes that showcase your personality and breathe some life into your budget bathroom! The more that you decorate, the more your do-it-yourself bathroom becomes a would-you-do-mine-too bathroom.
