Sound familiar? Unfortunately, bathroom renovations are notorious for costing a fortune, but I'm here to prove that with clever use of materials, working with what you've got, and not being afraid to do a lot of it yourself, you can get yourself a lovely new space without taking out a second mortgage.
Also, I'm not saying that all bad bathrooms are a particular shade of pink trendy in mid-century baths, but I'd just like to point out the prevalence of such a shade in many of the "before" images listed. It's inescapable!
1. Painting the tile saves money for a good countertop.
You need to decide what you can live with and what you can't. In this project, the tile was in decent shape, so the owners chose to paint it instead of replacing it all. This saved a ton of money, allowing them to upgrade the lighting and replace the old countertop. I love the gray they chose to repaint the vanity.
2. Find those bargains!
This is actually my own bathroom! It took the pink theme so far as to be fully carpeted to match. Clearly, that had to come out when my father and I started the project this summer. But a trip to a salvage yard awarded me a clawfoot tub for less than $200! Saving so much money on the tub allowed me to do more than I originally thought I could, including moving the toilet to the other side of the room.
3. Before! Dark and dingy.
This small bathroom suffered from a lot of things — from a peeling floor to the torn wallpaper and aged vanity. Luckily, the owner knew just how to fix it up!
After! Cheery yellow.
The toilet and faucet were replaced, and the walls were covered with cute yellow slats. Everything else was repainted.
4. Make the thrift store work for you!
This project does a great job of showing how smart use of thrifty finds can make a unique space with a ton of personality. The smart repurposing made room in the budget for the beautiful new vanity.
5. Before! Blank slate.
An empty space like this one can be a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, you can do whatever you want, but on the other, it means more pieces need to be purchased, increasing the starting costs before you even consider making it pretty. Let's see how it turned out!
After! Vintage charm.
The tile and moulding were cleaned up, and the old radiator was painted to match the new walls. The bathroom is open and airy, with a old-world charm that I adore!
6. Don't underestimate a coat of paint!
Can you believe this transformation? With the walls and paneling repainted, all it takes is some smart DIY decor to create a whimsical, spa-like space.
7. Before! So. Much. Pink.
Okay, this guy wins. His shade of pink is way worse than mine was. This is just so...intense. No wonder he needed to redo it.
After! Simple and clean.
For an IT guy with little DIY experience, he did a great job! I love the recessed shelves he took the time to add in the shower, and the contrasting tile really makes them pop.
8. Before! I just can't even...
Where to start? The continuing pink trend? The loud, floral curtains? The clashing, alternate shade of pink displayed by the tub and sink? Yeesh!
After! Oh, thank goodness!
Previous owners had made the mistake of using plastic tile and wallpapering directly on the drywall, so some creativity was needed to fix it up. Paneling and paint to the rescue, leaving plenty of money saved to replace those pink fixtures!
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