5 Cost-Effective Bathroom Updates

Raise your hand if you have an unlimited budget to freshen up your home and revamp outdated spaces...

Anyone out there raising your hand?!  Yea, I'm not either.  In fact, I don't know anyone who has a ton of cash stocked away to update important areas of their home, like a kitchen or bathroom. That's why I jumped at the chance for Tali Wee of Zillow to put together a guest post for us today about 5 cost-effective bathroom updates.

Take it away, Tali!

Many homeowners purchase their homes with the intention of remodeling or upgrading at least a few features throughout their years of ownership. Although it’s nearly impossible to find the dream home with exactly the desired finishes, buyers still spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to purchase homes, accepting the burden of remodeling. Buying a home is an expensive process and when the monthly costs are calculated, the total typically doesn’t leave much excess to finance home upgrades.

If the financial burdens of becoming a homeowner have depleted remodeling funds, consider these five tips to improve an outdated bathroom on a budget.

1. Refresh Caulk and Grout (each <$25)

A crisp white line of new caulk is easy to apply and refreshes the appearance of an older bathroom. Re-caulk around the sink and bathtub to replace the dingy, old or stained caulking. Remove the tattered caulk with a utility knife and patience, squeeze a new bead of caulk along the gap and wipe smooth with a finishing tool. Single-use caulk costs less than $5 and a finishing tool is about $5. A caulking gun ranges in price but averages about $15 and a large tube of caulk is less than $10.

Another way to make the bathroom look anew is to re-grout the cracked, crumbling tile. The process takes longer than caulking, but is simple to complete. Scrap and score the existing joints with a utility knife, wipe with a dry cloth, re-grout, wipe with a damp sponge, let dry and wipe with a dry cloth once more. Grout is inexpensive at $15 per box, and a grout float and sponge cost less than $10 combined.

Image Source, Digs

2. Repaint (<$55)

One inexpensive way to update any room is to give it a fresh coat of paint. Consider changing up the color of the room to add personality and flair. In smaller bathrooms be sure to select lighter hues to open up the space and reflect more light. A gallon of paint ranges in quality and price from $20-$40. Painters tape and a paintbrush for a nonprofessional shouldn’t cost more than $15 combined.

Image Source, Digs

3. Redecorate (<$120)

With new paint, homeowners might select a new color theme. Consider shopping for a new shower curtain, bathmat or towels to coordinate with the new look. Replace the window curtain to tie the room together. Snag a shower curtain for less than $20, a bathmat for about $20 and a set of bath towels for about $40-$60. Depending on the style, size and material of curtain selected, it could range in price dramatically, but an average curtain might cost $20.

Image Source, Digs

4. Revamp Accessories (<$135)

Add extra details such as fragrant candles or colorful artwork for a minor bathroom upgrade. A few candles or a piece of bathroom art might cost $30. Include reading materials from around the house to stack near the commode. Spend $15 to buy a stylish basket for extra rolls of toilet tissues. Add a soap pump near the sink for $10; it provides both fashion and function. Or place a house plant in a decorative pot somewhere in the room, which may cost $30 combined. Another popular finishing touch is to hang monogramed towel hooks for the members of the family that run about $10 per hook.

Image Source, Digs

5. Replace Hardware ($150 - $230)

A great way to modernize an outdated bathroom is to swap the old fixtures and hardware with updated replacements. Visit a hardware store or antique shop to find the perfectly fitting style of knobs, pulls and light fixtures for the space. Typically door knobs cost $20 or less while drawer pulls and handles range around $5 each. Costs for light fixtures vary significantly but an average fixture might run about $70. A new sink or shower faucet with handles dramatically updates the space and usually costs around $80.

Image Source, Digs

Although purchasing a home comes with many upfront and monthly charges, homeowners shouldn’t feel stuck in an outdated home while they save up for a professional remodel. Follow these five affordable, do-it-yourself upgrades to spruce up bathrooms on a budget.