Bathrooms are where we spend the majority of our time, getting ready for work in the morning and relaxing after a long day. And often, that means staring at the same tired-old elements of your bathroom for years on end. We got tired of looking at the same old tired faucets, cabinets, and mirrors in our bathroom. It’s not that they were bad, they just weren’t ours. And we wanted a fresh new space to wake up to every morning.
You may find that there is a particular feeling of tiredness that you feel when you look at your bathroom, and it is not quite as it looks old, and unforgiving. I know that I certainly do. The bathroom. A space often the most neglected in homes today when it comes to design.
People instantly assume that in order to ‘update’ the bathroom to look new and to a high standard, it is going to cost thousands of pounds and take weeks to complete. Many have believed this myth for far too long. In reality, you can update a bathroom within a weekend and for a fraction of the price.
We deserve better.
The bathroom. The place where you wake up in the morning to start your day. The place where you get ready for bed at night. It is also one of the smallest rooms in the house. Often, the least amount of design goes into this room, probably because people assume that in order to give it a facelift, thousands of dollars and weeks of work are required. Wrong! You can give your bathroom a whole new look with just a few simple tweaks, all of which can be completed in the span of a weekend. It’s time to give your bathroom some love, so let’s get started with 5 simple tweaks that will give your bathroom a complete overhaul.
1. Swap Out the Hardware
Most people wouldn’t even notice the old, tarnished, or even mismatched bathroom hardware until someone points it out. Cabinet knobs and pulls, and even towel bars, can all have a huge impact on the look and feel of a bathroom. And in most cases, they can be easily swapped out for a fresh new look. Replacing old hardware is a simple process of unscrewing the old and screwing in the new. It usually takes only an hour or so and requires nothing more than a screwdriver. There are many styles to choose from, from very modern and sleek to warm and old-world. For a modern bathroom, consider using a matte black finish. For a more classic look, try a brushed brass or champagne bronze.
For the first upgrade, we will switch out the bathroom hardware. Outdated cabinet knobs and drawer pulls can bring down the whole style of your bathroom, as can older towel racks. It is very easy to replace the bathroom hardware with just a screwdriver and about an hour. For a modern bathroom, you can choose matte black pulls, or, for a warmer look, brushed brass or champagne bronze for a more classic feel. It is very important to measure the space between the screw holes on your cabinet pulls before you buy the hardware to ensure that the new pulls will fit in the same holes in the cabinet, and you won’t have to drill new ones.
Simple, right?
Note: When selecting bathroom hardware, it is very common for people to purchase beautiful pulls only to discover that the pulls are too small for the space between the screw holes. This is frustrating because the hardware otherwise looks beautiful. To avoid this problem, make sure to measure twice and buy once.
2. Upgrade Your Faucet
An outdated, dripping, or lackluster faucet is one of the most noticeable eyesores in a bathroom. Often, builder-grade faucets are the first thing to lose their luster, turning a perfectly good sink into a dated feature. The good news is that replacing your faucet is a surprisingly straightforward project that can instantly elevate the room's aesthetic. Whether you are looking for a sleek, modern update or a classic, timeless design, there is a wide range of faucets for bathrooms that can match your style. Installation usually only requires basic tools like an adjustable wrench and plumber's tape, making it a perfect weekend DIY task.
Think about the finish—matte black brings a contemporary edge, while brushed gold or chrome can offer a more traditional or high-end feel. Beyond the look, a new, efficient faucet can improve water flow and save you money in the long run. Once you make the swap, you will be amazed at how such a small, functional change makes the entire vanity look brand new. Don't settle for a faucet that detracts from your space when a fresh, beautiful upgrade is just a short project away.
3. Apply a Fresh Coat of Paint
There’s nothing better than a fresh coat of paint! Of course, there are many ways to update a room, but paint is by far the most cost-effective, and there is no better way to update a room than with a fresh coat of paint. As most bathrooms are small in square footage, a single gallon of paint will be enough to completely paint the room. This is definitely one of the easiest updates you can make to a bathroom. Choosing the color of the paint is, of course, the hardest part.
For the color, you can go for a soft white, warm beige, or a gentle sage. The most important thing is that the color you choose will make your small bathroom look larger and more peaceful.
And, of course, because the bathroom is very humid, you have to choose a paint with a semi-gloss or satin finish. These types of paint are perfect for bathrooms because they are easy to clean and they resist moisture very well.
The hardest part of painting is the prep work. I hate it when I am using painter’s tape, and it does not create a great seal between the tape and the painted surface. However, slowly pulling back the tape while the paint is still slightly wet creates a great line and makes for a fantastic finish. And there is nothing like the smell of latex paint mixed with a damp bathroom. It’s a smell that I have grown to appreciate over the years.
When removing the painter’s tape from your freshly painted walls, make sure to pull it back slowly while the paint is still slightly tacky. This will help you get the best possible lines, and the results will be so cool that you will feel proud of yourself for taking the time to do it right.
4. Frame Your Builder-Grade Mirror
Many new homes come with huge frameless mirrors hung on bathroom walls. These can look very “builder basic” and unfinished. And – unless you are really handy – taking down these huge, heavy sheets of glass can be a real nightmare (ruining your drywall in the process).
To add a frame to a pre-hung mirror, do not try to remove the mirror from the wall. This is usually very difficult to do and can end up being costly to repair any damage done to the drywall. Instead, build the frame right on top of the existing mirror. You can use very lightweight wood or MDF for this type of project. After it has been cut to the right size, paint or stain as desired, and attach using a very moisture-resistant adhesive.
It really does work and gives the illusion of new construction. It makes the shower or vanity area the focal point of the room and gives it a ‘custom’ look.
If you can’t cut perfect miter joints, don’t worry! Instead, of course, there is an alternative way to achieve a very nice corner. Using so-called square corner blocks is a common trick in case you don’t feel too confident to cut precise joints. These simple corner blocks are mounted onto the wall in a recessed position and look very neat and professional. You will be surprised how a simple thing like this can make such a big difference.
5. Curate Your Textiles and Accessories
Little to no tools are required for most of these designs, which can actually be created with items found throughout your house. The styling of a bathroom is created by a grouping of bathroom textiles and bathroom accessories. This could be towels, soap dispensers, toothbrush holders, and much more.
Towels: Get rid of those sad towels and get some nice, plush bath sheets in a neutral color. A shower curtain: Ditch that plastic shower curtain for a beautiful, textured fabric curtain that hits the floor. Accessorize: Put your cotton swabs, bubble bath, and other essentials in nice glass jars. Add a small potted plant to the space – ferns and pothos thrive in humid environments.
Making the Most of Your Weekend
You don’t have to spend all of your money in order to make your home beautiful. The ideas presented here are affordable and will enable you to enhance your home with projects that will make a real difference to your daily life. Choose two or three and create a beautiful bathroom that you will be delighted to come home to.
You will take a deep breath and feel great as you gaze at your shiny new hardware or newly painted bathroom, and realize that this is what home is all about.
