Today I’m discussing updating a bathroom on a budget. If you read my blog often, you’ll already know I’m refurbishing my childhood home. I’m 15 months in now, and progress has been slower than I’d like. The constant yo-yoing in and out of lockdown and school has meant money is really tight, so I am doing things on an even tighter budget than originally planned. So with that in mind, today I’m discussing ways of updating a bathroom on a budget. Read on to see what options I have.
Updating A Bathroom On A Budget
My bathroom is still in its original 1950’s form. While this means I have a beautifully long and deep metal bath, it also means green tiles, no heating, no shower and temperamental taps. So, how much does a new bathroom cost? – I was shocked when I realised the answer! So while ideally I’d love to rip it all out and start again, I don’t have the money to pay for that right now. The priorities for now are ventilation, heating, fixing the taps and painting the tiles.
Adding Heating To The Bathroom
While I’d love nothing more than to add underfloor heating, that kind of expenditure just isn’t an option right now. So I’ve been looking at cheaper, electric radiator options while I’m updating a bathroom on a budget. The issue I have though is that my bathroom is tiny, so it’s either freezing cold or boiling hot. There’s no happy medium.
I have a separate toilet, so there’s literally just the bath and wash basin in my bathroom, and 1.4m x 0.8m of floor space – which the door opens into. So space really is at a premium.
Adding Ventilation To The Bathroom
The next issue I have is that the only ventilation in the room is the large window. So if I’m having a bath, the bathroom either gets really steamy, or I have the window open. While this isn’t a major issue, it does mean I need to add blinds for the bathroom to my shopping list. That or an extractor fan.
Replacing The Bathroom Taps
I’m well aware that my bath looks very old and tired – it is 66 years old, so that’s hardly surprising. That said, I’m reluctant to rip it out as my son is Autistic and loves to jump in the bath. This one seems a lot sturdier than many modern options, so I’m happy to hold on to it until I am in a position to pay for a stronger modern one.
That said, the taps on the bath literally don’t work. The cold one is so stiff it takes two hands to turn it off and on. While the hot one has been tightened with a wrench to stop it dripping as the screw to change the washer has snapped, so it can’t be done. Pre lockdown, a plumber suggested grinding off the old taps to replace them, which I agreed to. Then Covid happened, and I’ve been filling the bath with a 1980’s style shower head from the sink ever since. Replacing the taps is top of the bathroom to-to list. Because I’m updating a bathroom on a budget, I’ve opted for budget, traditional style taps, which are £30.
Budget Bathroom Flooring Options
While I’d love decent bathroom tiles, I can’t stretch to that right now. So instead, I’ve bought some plywood to level the bathroom floor out, and the plan is to get vinyl flooring put down in the bathroom and the toilet too, once they are level. That’ll probably be the final job in the list of bathroom jobs though. I’d definitely consider Vinyl if you’re updating a bathroom on a budget. If you’re looking for a more comprehensive renovation, you can contact an expert renovator for affordable yet stylish solutions tailored to your budget.
Refreshing The Bathroom Tiles
As the top photograph shows, my bathroom tiles are a lovely mint green colour. While I don’t detest this, they aren’t the crisp, clean look or style I’d usually go for. They all need re-grouting, but I’m worried that if I scrape out the grout, the tiles will fall off. I don’t want to rip the tiles off now only to need to redo them when I have the funds to get a shower fitted. So I’m considering painting them white or cream for now, just to neutralise the colour scheme a bit. This is the cheapest way to refresh tiles when you’re updating a bathroom on a budget.
Ideally, I’d have white or cream subway style tiles round the bath and re-plaster the rest of the walls, as I don’t think tiles are necessary on every wall, and the windowsill like I currently have. Finally, have you got any other ways of updating a bathroom on a budget? Share them in the comments if you have.
