Of all the ways you can improve your house, remodeling your bathroom is undoubtedly one of the most expensive options. This is especially true if you’re renovating your master bathroom and you’re installing the most expensive items. Putting in new cabinets can cost up to $13,000. A bathtub can set you back another $8,000. Add new flooring to the list, and you may also add up to $7,000 to the budget. If you have any other questions about bathrooms, you can found it at: walkinshowers.org.
It’s so expensive that members of Angie’s List all over the nation reported an average cost $18,417 to remodel a bathroom. The fact that that figure is just the average, and places like New York City can cost you a lot more can give you nightmares.
But there’s a way to cut down on the cost. In fact, here are some ways you can save money and still get the new-look bathroom you deserve:
1. Work with a designer or architect. It’s probably weird to start a list like this with an option that costs you even more money. But it’s a proper investment, because an experienced pro can come up with a plan that will eliminate any expensive errors you’re likely to make.
2. Network with your designers and contractors. If you choose your designer properly with background checks, then they should be able to recommend an efficient contractor for the job. And then that contractor can perhaps provide stock left over from other jobs, or recommend sellers that offer high-quality bathroom fixtures at reasonable prices.
3. Keep to the same bathroom footprint. This means you should just replace old toilets and showers and tubs with new ones in their original locations. This saves you thousands of dollars required to relocate the plumbing and electrical wiring.
4. Try to start by repainting the bathroom with a new color. If you’re dissatisfied with the look and feel of your bathroom, even a simple paint job can change your perception right away. This is a very cheap option that can bring a dramatic change in how you view your bathroom.
5. Consider a light tube. Natural light looks better and is more cheerful than artificial lighting, but putting in new windows in your bathroom can be costly. A cheaper and quicker alternative is to just install a light tube that can funnel light from the roof into your bathroom.
6. Limit the tiling. Tiling can be expensive, especially when you use it for the floor and the walls. But you can limit it to just the floor instead, and you can also just use expensive tiles as accents alongside a cheaper tile.
7. Replace tile on walls. So instead of using tiles on your walls, you can use beadboard, board and batten, or reclaimed wood panels. They offer a warmer vibe than cold tiles on your wall.
8. Buy a frame instead of a new mirror for the bathroom. A fabulous frame is often more affordable than getting a huge brand new mirror. The frame can hide the wear brought on by age, and it can make your mirror (and your bathroom) look like new.
9. Look to make changes that don’t need special tools. Your bathroom may not need remodeling at all, after you’ve changed the bath sheets, shower curtain, and rug, and put in some flowers in a vase. You can also change the towel racks, drawer pulls, the toilet seat and lid, vanity door with terrific replacements or get the best shower head out there.
10. DIY as much as you can. Save on labor costs by removing the fixtures you mean to replace, if you have the knowhow and the experience. And some people even have the DIY experience to do their own demolition, but you have to really know what you’re doing.
11. Buy used. You can save a lot of money buying used fixtures, especially when you work with specialist services online which can buy and fix up Jacuzzis and other expensive items. You can also visit salvage yards and flea markets, which can yield fantastic bathroom fixtures at astonishingly low prices.
12. Find discounts. If you’re set on buying new, don’t settle for retail prices. Go online where you can find lots of discounts for just about any type of bathroom fixture.
13. Renovate one area at a time. As we’ve noted, a small change can make a dramatic improvement on the look of the bathroom. Start with the tub or shower area first, and you can see for yourself how a new look in those areas can make your bathroom look new again.
14. Focus on the focal point. If you concentrate on the focal point of the bathroom, then you may not need to make major changes in the rest of the bathroom to give it a whole new look. Putting in a slab granite vanity for a focal point may be a bit expensive, but it saves you money in the long run when you don’t have to spend money on other major fixtures.
15. Choose chrome over brushed nickel. Brushed nickel is much more expensive, so go with the chrome. It has its own charms for fixtures like faucets, and you’re different than so many other bathrooms out there.
16. Pick look-alike materials. If granite is too expensive, there are ways to get the look without paying as much. You can get the look of a mahogany vanity with similar hybrid wood.
17. Minimize recessed lighting. Not only do you have to buy more fixtures, you’ll also spend a lot more on labor because these holes have to be cut and insulated for recessed lights. But a single wall or ceiling-mounted fixture of equal wattage to 6 can lights can cut your expenses from $900 to $300.
Conclusion
There are simple rules to keeping the bathroom remodeling costs down. Just work with a trustworthy designer and contractor, try to see what you can do yourself, and go slow and small with your renovations. With the right people and even tiny changes, you can end up with a great-looking bathroom without spending a fortune.