23 Budget-Friendly Bathroom Remodel Ideas to Try Yourself

Add Peel-and-Stick Flooring

One of Darling’s favorite ways to breathe new life into a bathroom is through peel-and-stick flooring, and it’s more durable and long-lasting than you may think. “Peel-and-stick flooring is often a vinyl-like material,” she says. “It’s meant to be walked on and be cleaned.” 

Plus, peel-and-stick flooring often comes in playful patterns, so you can go for a bold flooring look without the commitment.

Put Some Wallpaper On It

Wallpapering a small bathroom or powder bath is a project you can easily tackle in the hours between Friday to Sunday. While peel-and-stick flooring is usually a safe bet for a bathroom, the same isn’t true for peel-and-stick wallpaper due to its lighter weight and, therefore, its tendency to lift.

“I definitely only would recommend pasted or traditional wallpaper for a bathroom,” Darling says. “Peel-and-stick is not going to be your friend because if it gets steamy in there, it’s going to peel right off.”

Add Beadboard

Adding beadboard backsplash is a bit more of a complex DIY that does require some power tools, but its impact on the space makes it worth the effort. A little design tip from Darling: Wallpaper the top half of your bathroom above the beadboard, and paint the beadboard in a hue featured in the wallpaper. You can even have the paint store color-match the paint to the wallpaper.

Simply Paint It

Sometimes all a bathroom needs is a fresh coat of paint. If you’re working with a small windowless bathroom, the best approach may be to go light-and-airy with a pastel color. However, a small powder bath is also a great place to make a bold statement with darker paint. If your bathroom features tile with an accent color, painting it a variant of the accent color will tie everything together.

Change Your Grout Color

Grout doesn’t last forever, and if it’s past its prime it can be difficult to clean. Giving your grout a new coat is an easy DIY job that only takes 3 to 8 hours and $15 to $30 dollars depending on the size of your space.

If you do decide to go the re-grouting route, you can switch from a dark color grout to a light color grout. Or, you can really make the grout pop by using a staining product to go from light to dark grout. Darling recommends using a grout pen. “A grout pen is a marker that is meant to go on grout,” she says. “Once you color the grout, you can wipe it off the tile and clean it like usual. It just really updates your whole look if you have fresher, brighter grout.”

Do a DIY Vanity Upgrade

When you don’t have the time or the funds to replace your bathroom vanity, paint paired with new knobs can do wonders. Just be sure to prep your cabinets accordingly and use bathroom-friendly paint that can withstand moisture.

Put in a Niche

Malcolm Simmons, a design contributor for Emily Henderson, added a small niche to the right of his bathroom sink as part of his bathroom remodel. This is a great option if you have a sink without any counter space or storage, such as a pedestal sink. Just be sure to check for live wires or plumbing pipes before cutting into your drywall.

Hang a New Mirror or Medicine Cabinet

If you’re unhappy with your current mirror, changing it out is easy and often budget friendly. Opting for a round mirror instead of a classic rectangular one can add a modern yet soft touch. If you have a creaky old medicine cabinet that has seen better days, you can change it out for a new one that’s a similar size. If it is a recessed medicine cabinet, you may need to create a slightly bigger hole in your drywall or fill in any small gaps with caulk.

Repurpose an Old Mirror

Building a frame is an easy DIY project that’s not just for art. If you have a basic bathroom mirror, you can add some pizzaz by building a custom frame and attaching it to the mirror with command strips. “A frame can make your mirror look a little more stately and give it a cool vintage look,” Darling says.

Dress Up Your Windows

Windows without trim can sometimes look a bit bare. If you want to channel a more historic or maximalist look, consider adding thick, ornate trim around them.

Install a New Shower Door

Perhaps you have a frosted shower door that’s dating your bathroom, or maybe you have a shower curtain setup that always seems to let water escape. Whatever the case, installing a new shower door isn’t out of the question. You can cross this project off your to-do list in as few as three hours and with about $300 dollars.

Shiplap Your Ceiling

For those of you who are up for a slightly more involved project, installing shiplap on a ceiling requires an intermediate skill level and about 1 to 2 days of your time. You’ll be looking at about $500 in materials. If that’s out of your budget, you can achieve a similar vibe by painting your ceiling an accent color.

Skirt Your Pedestal Sink

Pedestal sinks are timeless but can leave you with a storage issue. With a few stitches, you can fashion some fabric into a sink skirt and stow a basket of toiletries or spare toilet paper beneath.

Hang Shelving

If a sink skirt isn’t exactly your style, shelving is another way to affordably add more storage. Darling recommends supporting shelving with brackets and wall anchors and hanging them on studs when possible.

Elevate Your Hardware

If you’re someone who appreciates the small details in life, opt for a unique towel hook and toilet paper holder. With the right screws and wall anchors, updating these features takes less than 30 minutes. You’ll be left with a functional decor piece that will bring you a bit of joy each time you. In a similar vein, you can also swap out basic vent, light switch, and outlet covers for more aesthetic ones.

Give Sconces New Shades & Bulbs

While changing out your sconces is certainly something you can take on yourself, a much easier and affordable alternative is to simply update the light covers. Also, Darling says to never underestimate the power of choosing the right type of light bulb. She recommends soft white bulbs since they are flattering and are optimal for helping you see to apply your makeup.

Create a Vanity Backsplash

Demolishing and replacing your floor or shower show tile can be expensive and intimidating. However, adding a small backsplash behind your vanity is a much more approachable way to try your hand at tiling.

Hang a Statement Chandelier

Above a bathtub is a chic place to hang a modern or classic chandelier. If you don’t have a hookup for a light over your bathtub, you can swag the light fixture with a chain and hang it on a hook. Bonus points if you decide to add a medallion.

Update Your Faucets

If your sink faucet seems to scream “builder grade,” you can totally replace it. Replacing a sink faucet typically only takes 1 to 2 hours.

Paint Your Floor Tile

While bold peel-and-stick floor tile is a wonderful option for adding intrigue to your bathroom floor, painting a pattern on your tile with a stencil can be an even more budget-friendly alternative.

Paint Your Bathtub

Don’t love the look of your bathtub? It’s actually possible to paint it. Clawfoot tubs can look stunning with a fresh new coat on the exterior. Reglazing your bathtub is another project you can DIY, but it may not have the same longevity as professional reglazing.

Swap Out Accessories

If you feel like something is still lacking in your bathroom at the end of a remodel, it could be small accessories. For example, placing a small wooden stool for towel storage next to a bathtub can add functionality and warmth to the space. Additionally, Darling encourages you not to skimp on art. She recommends canvas pieces since they can generally withstand humidity.