Most bathroom designs are still feasible no matter how much money you have. You may still pay homage to the hottest interior design trends without hiring a contractor thanks to lookalike surfaces and creative DIY workarounds.
All of the ideas in this section are really affordable, and most of them are simple tweaks or little DIY projects that anyone can complete. As a result, they are both quick and inexpensive.
1. USE ONLINE MARKETPLACES FOR MATERIALS AND GO DIY
There’s nothing like the satisfaction of undertaking a little bit of DIY. Yes, it can be messy and take significantly longer than if you got the professionals in, but there’s a lot to be said about person who can apply themselves to an interior challenge.
Plus, there’s also the obvious benefit of cost-saving on labor and a few smug brownie points to be had when guests compliment your bathroom too.
This yellow bathroom idea by home renovator @homewithhelenandco uses daffodils to give a bit of springtime style to her bath and shower.
She says: ‘I’ve mentioned before that I tiled the bathroom myself.
‘My most asked question is where the tiles are from. I just searched for orange subway tiles on Ebay (yep, they’re orange, not yellow) watched a couple of videos and went for it.’
‘If you’re thinking of wallpapering or tiling for the first time, YouTube is invaluable and just take your time. This took me weeks to finish.’
While your own labor is free and the cost of watching online videos is included in your internet package, auction-based e-commerce sites can be a minefield if you don’t know what you’re doing.
The cost of metro tiles will ultimately depend on how they’re sold (per piece or by the box), but we’ve seen boxes go for as little as £23/£17 per square metre.
Be sure to haggle where you can, know your spending limits and even try searching using misspelled words. Bidding using an uneven amount can make all the difference too.
2. START WITH A POT OF PAINT
From beautiful neutral beige, to dark and daring black and navy hues, painting your walls is top of our list when it comes to updating your bathroom decor. And there are many budget bathroom ideas that make the execution both easy and stylish.
Don’t just think about painting your walls one single shade. Instead, explore different bathroom paint ideas that experiment with placement, paint types, textures and techniques. For example, whilst chalk paint can add a rustic look your bathroom, a floral stencil can add pretty country details to your bathroom decor.
To keep this budget bathroom decor low-cost and minimal on maintenance, the best paint for bathrooms will be moisture and steam resistant, washable and is a formulation that protects the emulsion from mold – something we commonly see in damp areas like the bathroom. Some time-saving variants will be quick-drying and require no undercoat.
Lastly, opt for a low odor paint where possible, and keep the room ventilated.
3. SWAP EXPENSIVE FLOORING FOR AFFORDABLE ALTERNATIVES
If you’re a fan of tiling, but don’t have the DIY expertise or can’t foot the financial bill, then luxury vinyl tiling (or LVT) is one of the best water-resistant budget bathroom ideas to consider.
A long shot away from its formerly fashionable, but now outdated lino cousin, this modern bathroom idea imitates more high-end flooring options is accessible choice for homeowners and renters alike. Prices start from a very purse-friendly $2.72/£1.95 per square foot.
What’s more, cleaning vinyl flooring is low maintenance too. Using one cupboard staple, you can get this flooring solution gleaming in no time!
4. UPCYCLE OLD BATHROOM FURNITURE
If you have tired, lackluster units that are in need of a bit of TLC – don’t throw them away. Across social media sites like Pinterest and Instagram, upcycling old furniture is one of the top trending budget bathroom ideas.
Plus, if you haven’t got vanity units that need revamping, Facebook Marketplace, Ebay and Gumtree are great go-tos for where to find secondhand furniture.
5. FAKE TILING WITH ADHESIVE WALL AND FLOOR SOLUTIONS
As the saying goes, time is money, so who wants to spend countless hours doing DIY during their free time? (Unless you enjoy it of course!)
Instead of spending precious time mixing gloppy wallpaper paste, cutting tile after tile and cleaning tile dust off your surfaces, wing it with peel and stick wallpaper and adhesive wall and floor tile solutions.
These sticky solutions aren’t tricky! In fact, they are one of many simple bathroom ideas that mimic premium bathroom wallpaper decor.
So get peeling and sticking for as little as $1.44/£1 per square foot.
6. DE-CLUTTER YOUR SPACE LIKE AN INTERIORS EXPERT
One of our most cost-effective budget bathroom ideas, this trendy tip requires no special equipment or designated spend. Simply tidy your bathroom by either stowing away lesser used products or by binning cosmetics, lotions, gels and ointments that are past their expiry date.
But if you’re wondering how to determine what goes into the trash can, take a look at the back of your packaging and look for a tub icon. This will indicate how many months the product should be kept for after opening. So off you go – tidy up like Marie Kondo!
And if you’re reluctant to get rid of your haul, creating DIY bathroom shelving or a ladder using reclaimed wood is a budget-friendly and thrifty idea. Dollar stores will also stock drawer dividers and other cheap ways to efficiently organize your space.
7. PAINT A BATHROOM CEILING ANYTHING BUT WHITE
Painted ceilings are a massive trend at the moment and are a really great way to add interest to a space, especially a smaller space like a bathroom. If you are a keen DIYer and want to give this a go yourself, just check out our guide to painting a ceiling.
If you’re feeling brave and want to copy this gothic look, we recommend going for a combo of Farrow & Ball Down Pipe and Railings, and investing in good bathroom lighting. Designing a bathroom from scratch? Head over to our feature for an in depth guide.
8. PAINT A BATHROOM FLOOR FOR A QUICK AND AFFORDABLE UPDATE
Painting floorboards has also become a bit of a trend, so if you have floorboards in your bathroom, consider this as a cheap but chic bathroom update. You’ll need to use wood paint, but if you can, use a paint designed for floors as it will be more durable and less slippery – if more limited in color choices.
9. OR PAINT BATHROOM WALLS AN UNEXPECTED SHADE
There are few cheaper and easier ways to update a space than by giving it a new lick of paint. Pink room ideas are among our favorites at the moment, and softer shades are a space-enhancing choice for a small room. So if you are looking for an on trend bathroom update, we say go for a rosy hue. Something like Farrow & Ball’s Sulking Room Pink, which despite the name is actually a really grown-up take on the color, would be our fave choice.
10. PAINT YOUR BATHROOM TILES
If you don’t want the expense (and mess!) of taking down bathroom tiles and starting all over again, consider painting over your bathroom tiles. This is a relatively quick and cheap bathroom tile idea for bathrooms on budget.
Whether you want to paint your tiles one color, or create a gradient ombre finish, a pot of paint goes a long way to achieving a luxury bathroom design for less.
Most tile paint only needs one coat, but with its high VOC content, be sure to keep it out of reach of children and keep the room well-ventilated to extract the fumes from this solvent-based solution.
It’s also worth noting that gleaming grouting goes a long way, so make you know how to clean tile grout correctly to ensure to remove any grubby gunk.
11. CREATE AN OMBRÉ PAINT EFFECT
Experimenting with on-trend paint ideas is an easy and affordable way of creating a new vibe in a tired looking space. Copy this idea and pick two or three shades of varying tones (we’d recommend blues for a bathroom) and create a stylish finish with the help of our guide to painting an ombré accent wall.
12. EXPERIMENT WITH BATHROOM WALLPAPER
Bathrooms and wallpaper? Surely that’s not a good mix? Well, actually, it can work if you just follow a few extra steps when choosing and hanging your wallpaper. First, don’t hang wallpaper anywhere that will be in constant contact with water – and if your bathroom isn’t really well ventilated we would recommend sticking to wallpaper specifically designed for bathrooms. Otherwise, you can use any wallpaper you like, but make sure you use extra strong wallpaper adhesive; a layer of clear varnish can help protect it further.