Simple bathroom Renovation Ideas

Bathroom remodeling is second only to kitchen remodeling in terms of pain, misery, dust, cost, and unmet-timetables.

You might say: "There is no such thing as an easy and cheap bathroom remodel, " I add that when we use words like "easy and cheap" it is relative to the entire bathroom remodeling process. Of course, it's never fast and inexpensive when you're dealing with plumbing, electrical, flooring, and more-all in a confined space that is so crucial to our lives.

The smash-and-grab bathroom remodel is a dark secret for many people. When I did my first surface-level bathroom renovation, I never mentioned to anyone. It was not a feature of cocktail party conversation, put it that way. But I'll tell you: it was sure nice to have a clean, bright, and functional bathroom.

1. Cover, Don't Replace

This is the guiding principle of any surface-level renovation, with the caveat that you never want to cover anything because it needs to be replaced.

It's a pre-fab board that extends as high as 48" and will eliminate the need to fix any unfortunate wall dings and minor holes. But should that wallboard be speckled with mold and mildew, the last thing you want to do is cover it up. Unfortunately, you need to track down the source, stop it, and replace affected portions of wallboard.

2. Refinish Tub Instead of Replacing It

Bathtub or shower refinishing is a prime example of "cover, not replace." If the problem is mainly cosmetic-a yellowed surface and some cracks and nicks-you can refinish your shower or bathtub.

Bathtub and shower liners-a staple of infomercials and the hidden secret of many nice-looking bathrooms-are actually not as cheap as they seem. Never a permanent fix, they will carry you through a few years. Liners require professional installation

3. Pre-Fab Shower Rather Than Tiled

Decided your tub or shower is beyond refinishing? Need a new one? The absolutely most expensive option is hiring tradesmen to build a unit out of tile from scratch.

4. You Don't Need That High-End Flooring

You think you want that radiant-heat granite floor but you really don't. It's only 35 square feet we're dealing with here - sheet or square vinyl will do just fine.

And know what? Vinyl looks better than ever, with innovations such as luxury vinyl flooring (LVF) and plank vinyl. Give it a try; you'll never look back. Trust me.

5. Install Your Own Toilet

Don't call in the plumber to switch out the old toilet with the new. Install your toilet yourself. It's much easier than you can imagine, the hardest part being physically moving the toilet into place. For that, get a friend.

6. Paint It Yourself

Don't use a painter. Generally, for whole-house painting, I would recommend that you consider hiring a professional painter. But think of it: bathroom walls are taken up with mirrors, showers, tile, bathtubs. You're only dealing with a few square feet. You can paint the bathroom yourself in two days.

7. Resist the Urge to Move Plumbing

Don't move plumbing. Moving water supply and/or drainage immediately drives up the cost of any remodel project.

8. Install Your Own Bathroom Vanity and Top

Because bathrooms are small, it's possible for you to buy nearly or fully assembled bathroom vanity units and vanity tops and have them in place within a couple of hours.

Vanity units come in certain sizes ranging from 24 inches to 60 inches wide. Coordinating tops (counters) can be purchased that even have sinks fused into them-no sink installation and caulking woes!

9. Design It Yourself

Whole-house remodels, additions, and kitchens can benefit from the expertise of a qualified designer. But bathrooms?