How to Save Money on a Bathroom Remodel
3 pros!
Are you searching for inexpensive bathroom remodel ideas? Or maybe you just want to be sure you get a good deal? Follow these tips to keep your cash when remodeling a bathroom.
So you want to remodel your bathroom without dipping into your retirement fund? With bathroom remodels costing upwards of $15,000, here are a few tips to help you save money and not break the bank.
Bathroom Remodels on a Budget
Setting a budget can help you keep costs down as long as you stick to it. That means you need to create a realistic budget. If your projected tile costs eat up 75 percent of your $500 budget, it’s time to rethink things.
Figure out the prices of everything you want your bathroom to include. Next, visit several stores and see who has the best deals on your must-have items. Then sit down to tally up the costs to create a realistic budget — and remember labor costs.
Decide Where to Splurge and Save
Want that lux marble tile? Then you'll have to opt for a less expensive material somewhere else in your bathroom (perhaps the gold-plated tub?). Decide where your priorities are and make a list of what's most important to you.
For example, if you DIY install your bathroom sink vanity, you can free up some money to pay for that tile. Or, if you really want that gold-plated tub, you can opt for simple ceramic tile and a DIY vanity. If you want an affordable bathroom remodel that doesn't look cheap, it all comes down to give-and-take.
Get Creative
Feel free to get a little creative in your bathroom. Don't feel like you have to get that $250 pressed-wood vanity from the home improvement store. Find a charming old dresser or end table and convert it into a vanity.
Do you like your tub but think the surface needs a little work? Keep the tub and reglaze the surface instead of buying new. Stay creative, and you'll make your bathroom truly one-of-a-kind.
Prepare to Get Dirty
The more you can do it yourself (DIY), the more you'll save. While you might not be an expert mason or a plumbing pro, there are little upgrades you can make in your bathroom yourself. Homeowners can:
• Hang a new mirror above the vanity.
• Install the vanity, then have a plumber hook up the sink.
• Paint the room.
• Remove old wallpaper.
• Take out old tile.
Remember, every step you do on your own will save you money.
Upgrade the Accessories
The cheapest way to spiff up your bathroom is to upgrade the accessories. Swap out faucets, light fixtures, towel racks and the vanity’s hardware at a relatively small price. While these items cost very little in the overall scheme, they can make a huge difference in your bathroom's look.
We hope these inexpensive bathroom remodel ideas help you build your dream space. Remember, you don't have to follow in everyone’s footsteps when it comes to bathroom remodeling. DIY what you can and stay creative to create a truly custom-tailored bathroom that speaks to you.
Other cost-saving tips
Besides giving your tub a facelift, consider other low-cost ways to achieve a bathroom remodel. “If you want to save money, the vanity unit can be a starting point,” says interior designer Mark Zapfe of Creative House in Glenview, Illinois.
A custom-made vanity and mirror can start at $2,500, Zapfe says, but homeowners can find an equally attractive prefabricated unit at a home improvement store for a fraction of the cost. “Then you can buy a mirror and stain the frame to match the inexpensive vanity,” he says.
Zapfe charges a $100 consulting fee and then $50 per hour for design work, though price varies by case. For help installing a new sink or faucet along with the vanity, be sure to check the List for a highly rated plumber in your area.
Zapfe also suggests a new coat of paint and window treatments. To avoid moisture damage, he recommends homeowners stick with cotton or polyester-blend fabrics and avoid silk and linen. “Wood blinds with a factory finish are fine, too,” he says, noting that consumers often hesitate to use them. “You’d have to run the steam for days in order to warp it.”
In the end, Zapfe says it helps if homeowners keep an open mind to a professional remodeler’s recommendation regarding their bathroom renovation plans.
“I’m very budget conscious,” Zapfe says. “If you’re saving money, don’t regret it. Sometimes the cheapest option you might regret, when for another $75 you could get something nicer.”