How to Renovate a Bathroom On a Budget

Aside from the kitchen, the bathrooms are generally the most important aspect of any given house. If you’re a homeowner who’s looking to sell in the near future, then you should be aware that these days, buyers are looking for houses with upgraded bathrooms, and plenty of them at that. Even if you’re not planning to put your home on the market just yet, a bathroom renovation can be a worthwhile investment nonetheless.

Of course, the greatest challenge when it comes to bathroom remodeling is coming up with enough money to get the job done right. Fortunately, with the right amount of planning and effort, you can change the look of an outdated bathroom without being forced to spend a fortune. As the owner of A-Z Nassau Construction Corp., a family-owned general contracting company that has been serving Long Island and New York City since 1999, Mario Rappa understands that in these relatively tough times, it can be difficult for the average homeowner to fork over a significant amount of money for home improvements on a whole. He therefore offers the following tips on how to renovate a bathroom on a budget:

Focus on the master first
If you have limited funds in your home improvement budget, then focus on upgrading your master bathroom first. In the event that you do choose to sell, a buyer is more likely to overlook an outdated bathroom as long as it isn’t the one that he plans to use regularly.

Add a nice countertop
Believe it or not, the cost of granite, marble, and other such high-end materials has really gone down over the past number of years. If you’ve got a smaller vanity to work with, then a modest-sized stone countertop might not set you back as much money as you’d expect. Remember, when it comes to granite and similar options for countertops, there are usually numerous levels of quality from which to choose. To minimize your costs, opt for a selection that falls into the lower range as far as these levels are concerned, as a bottom of the barrel piece of granite is a much better investment than a high-end piece of laminate.

Put in a designer faucet
One of the easiest ways to improve the appearance of an outdated bathroom is to add a designer sink faucet. These days, designer faucets are available in an array of styles and finishes, from stainless steel to antique bronze. While some designer faucets can easily top the $1,000 mark, plenty are available for less than a quarter of that price. Best of all, if you’re relatively handy, then installing a new designer faucet is probably something that you’ll be able to do on your own.

Accessorize
Sometimes, all it takes is a couple of nice-looking bathroom accessories to completely change the look of a bathroom. If you don’t have a lot of money to spend on your bathroom renovation project, then consider investing in a stylish towel bar and toilet tissue holder. (And if you’re going to add a designer faucet, then try to find items that match it.) Also, the right set of non-permanent fixtures such as trash cans, soap dispensers, and toothbrush holders can really help tie a bathroom together. Finally, an eye-catching shower curtain, coupled with a matching tub mat and set of towels, can really bring a bathroom up a notch on the attractiveness front.

Fix what you can’t afford to replace
When it comes to bathroom remodeling, certain aspects are bound to be far more pricey than others. Anything involving plumbing and electricity is likely to cost a bundle, and the act of replacing your shower, tub, or cabinets might set you back a nice chunk of change. Therefore, if your funds are limited, then it might make more sense to refinish your shower, bathtub and cabinets rather than swapping them out for new ones.

Repaint
Nothing like a fresh coat of paint revives an otherwise lackluster bathroom. If your bathroom walls could use a pick-me-up, then go to a paint store, find the right color, and set aside a few hours on a weekend for your own painting session. The great thing about paint is that it’s cheap and easy to apply yourself. So if you’re not looking to spend a lot on your bathroom remodel, then painting is a good way to go.

Remember, whether you’re looking to sell your home or not, any investment that you make in your bathrooms is likely to be a wise one. So even if your bathroom renovation budget is limited, you can still make the most of the money you have simply by being creative.