If you are planning to remodel your bathroom, and are on a tight budget, there are several low cost solutions that can turn an old, drab bathroom into a modern and contemporary one.
First, start with the tub area. The tub area is the center piece of your bathroom. It is what can make or break a bathroom. If the tub area is old and stained it sticks out like a sore thumb. There are a variety of new tubs styles and shapes to choose from if you are considering replacing it. There are corner tubs, recessed tubs, drop in tubs, freestanding tubs, and whirlpool tubs.
If you have an old cast iron tub and don't want to replace it, you can have it refinished to bring new life to it.
Also, regarding the tub area, if there is outdated tile installed above the tub, or even worse, fiberglass paneling, remove it and replace it with new and contemporary ceramic tiles. There are a multitude of ceramic tile styles and patterns compared to what was available in the 1950s. Many ceramic tiles are inexpensive and can be installed by a homeowner.
Second, take a look at the bathroom vanity area. If the bathroom vanity is old, stained and/or damaged you can find a replacement one at a home improvement store for relatively little money. If the vanity is in good shape, you could simply dress it up by replacing the vanity top and possibly the bathroom sink. Bathroom vanity tops and sinks are easy to replace and are easy to install yourself.
Third, if your older toilet works and is not damaged in anyway, you probably should stick with it, particularly if you like a strong flush. New, low water utilization toilets are great for limiting the use of water, but can be a pain in terms of their effectiveness in flushing.
Fourth, if you have a hot water heating system, consider replacing the heating element in the bathroom. These frequently rust or get damaged and create a nasty eyesore in the bathroom. You can replace them yourself; however it does require some plumbing skills that you may not want to tackle.
Fifth, upgrade the bathroom light fixtures. Today people want bright bathrooms. Older bathrooms frequently only had one or two bulbs that resided in an overhead fan assembly. Consider installing a new ceiling fan/light assembly as well as additional lighting above or on the sides of the bathroom mirror.
Sixth, replace the bathroom flooring. Older bathrooms frequently have old, yellowing vinyl flooring that is curling up around the edges of the bathroom. Ceramic floor tiling is the preference with many homebuyers today and is a project most homeowners can do on their own. One word of advice, if you have plans of removing the vanity and toilet as part of the remodeling project, install the ceramic tile before you reinstall the vanity and toilet. You'll save yourself a lot of tile cutting and time.
Seventh, remove that old pink or blue ceramic tile from the bathroom walls and replace it with either new ceramic tile or beadboard.
Eight, replace all of the bathroom trim. Bathroom trim sees a lot of moisture and frequently gets dinged up over the years. As a result, it can look pretty shabby. It's easier to pull it off and replace it with new pre-painted or pre-stained trim.
Almost all of these bathroom remodeling tips can be done by the homeowner and require little skill. It's just a matter of rolling up the sleeves and digging in. So put together your list of bathroom remodeling ideas and get to work in transforming your old, ugly bathroom into a modern sanctuary.
For more information about bathroom remodeling see HomeAdditionPlus.com's Bathroom Remodeling Bid Sheet.
About the Author: Over the past 20+ years Mark Donovan has been involved with building homes and additions to homes. His projects have included: building a vacation home, building additions and garages on to existing homes, and finishing unfinished homes. For more information about Home Improvement and Home Additions, and Home Remodeling and Repair visit homeadditionplus.com and homeaddition.blogspot.com
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