With these beautiful budget tiny bathroom ideas, you can spruce up a small bathroom without breaking the bank…
Little bathrooms are the perfect area to experiment with décor, and you don’t have to stretch a little budget to have a huge impression; in fact, small bathroom ideas on a budget may have a significant influence on elevating the space.
‘Retaining and renovating your current materials, as well as adding low-cost but effective complimentary features such as a tiled splashback, is a terrific way to redesign your tiny bathroom on a budget,’ explains Katie Lion, Interior Designer at Kitesgrove.
‘Another tip is to replace the fixtures in your little bathroom: elements like light fixtures and taps may seem trivial, but changing them may have a great influence on the overall design of your bathroom.’
SMALL BATHROOM IDEAS ON A BUDGET FOR A STYLISH UPDATE
We’ve gathered a slew of top expert recommendations on budget tiny bathroom ideas for a lovely bijou bathroom that doesn’t skimp on design, from using recycled materials to adding a lick of paint or bold patterned wallpaper…
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1. TILE THE FITTED BATHROOM PANELS
The modest fitted bath has taken a lot of flak over the years, but there are ways to make it appear elegant if you don’t have space for a freestanding bath.
‘While freestanding bathtubs are normally at the top of everyone’s bathroom wish list, a regular fitted bath can be just as intriguing when it comes to bathroom design, especially if you opt to dress it up with tiles’, says Barrie Cutchie, Design Director of BC Designs.
‘Bath panel tiling is exactly what it sounds like: putting tiles to the side of your bath in the same or contrasting design as the rest of your bathroom. The procedure entails the use of specialised tile backing board that will not warp and needs a little more effort than ordinary bath panels, but it is typically worth the extra effort.
‘It is a really cost-effective method to create a statement bath. It also implies that as long as you acquire a tileable panel, you may spend very little on the actual bath.’
2. INCLUDE LARGE ARTWORK
Art doesn’t have to be expensive (there are lots of inexpensive art fairs and vintage stores to peruse) and is a beautiful way to add colour and visual interest to a small bathroom.
‘Bathrooms are the perfect area to have fun with décor, adding a burst of pattern and vivid colour provides warmth and depth to a scheme,’ explains HM Interiors’ Tom Cox. ‘That’s why we prefer to incorporate huge size artworks, they offer so much personality and create an unexpected splash of colour. It’s an inexpensive approach to make a difference.’
3. MAKE A VANITY UNIT OUT OF RECYCLED DRAWERS
You don’t have to spend a fortune on a vanity unit – an upcycled option may look just as good as a high-end brand new one.
‘Some of the best vanity units I have seen have been second hand pieces of furniture that have been carefully brought back to life and utilised as a basis for a basin,’ says BC Designs’ Barrie Cutchie.
A nice little bathroom storage suggestion is to choose one with a bottom shelf that can be used to store towels and other supplies.
4. IMPLEMENT A PRINTED SHOWER CURTAIN
It’s time to replace that plain old shower curtain with a bold and stunning one.
‘When it comes to colour, pattern and print, the modest bathroom is frequently disregarded, yet it’s one of the ideal locations to readily embrace vibrant design’, explains Jamie Watkins of Divine Savages.
‘How come you can’t combine real style with practicality? A luxury shower curtain imprinted with a luxurious pattern is a reasonably low-cost method to create a dramatic aesthetic statement in a bathroom.’
Interior designer Fiona Duke concurs, saying, ‘Accessorising with a colourful patterned shower curtain will offer a little something to a bland and modest area.’
5. USE ELEGANT LARGE MIRRORS
‘Hanging huge mirrors is a tried-and-true approach for making a tiny space appear larger,’ explains Linda Holmes, Interiors Director at LuxDeco. ‘Mirrors are an important part of a tiny bathroom, and they have the potential to create or ruin a space.
‘For smaller areas, mirrors do an excellent job of generating the illusion of more space.’
Of course, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to reproduce this elegant bathroom mirror design because there are so many chic choices available online and in stores that are excellent for a budget makeover.
‘Large mirrors create an improved feeling of space perception in smaller areas,’ says Emily Rose of Walls and Floors. Circular mirrors have grown in popularity over the years because of their capacity to provide depth and structure to a room.’
6. ADD FLOATING SHELVES
Install floating shelves on the wall to save floor space in a tiny bathroom. Storage is always a plus, and a clean area may help it stay that way.
‘Floating storage solutions are perfect since they take up no floor space and can be installed at the most convenient height for the family,’ says Rebecca Quinlan of LaRedoute. ‘Rattan is the ideal way to incorporate some on-trend natural materials into the bathroom while keeping all of your essentials close at reach.’
You may also utilise recycled materials for your shelves to save even more money.
‘Perhaps the first step would be to consider what you can re-use and upcycle before stripping everything out – in this bathroom we saved money by keeping the original roll top bath and just painted the underneath a deep red to work with the floor tiles and contrast against the panelling – which gave it a complete facelift’, says interior designer Brooke Copp-Barton of @home_at_brookes.
‘We also utilised off-cuts from the kitchen’s iroko wood worktop (made from salvaged school laboratory tables) to construct additional shelves in the bathroom – a cost-effective option.’
7. CHANGE OUT FIXTURES AND FITTINGS
Changing your light fixtures and hardware is a simple way to bring personality to a tiny bathroom. Brass and matte black taps are in, and wall sconce types are unlimited – go for a sleek fluted pendant for a vintage industrial look, or add a pleated fabric alternative for a cottagecore look.
‘Switch the handles on units for a fast refresh and use unusual finishes and textures to make the room feel more costly,’ says Xander Shreenan, interior designer at Dowsing & Reynolds.
‘Changing the tap is one method to transform the ambience of a tiny bathroom on a budget if you have chrome fixtures. To create a stylish hotel atmosphere, choose a matte black finish.’
8. USE LARGE PRINTED WALLPAPER
‘As one of the smallest rooms in your house, a bijou bathroom is the ideal chance to have fun and embrace vibrant pattern and print,’ explains Divine Savages’ Jamie Watkins.
And whatever reservations you have about utilising wallpaper in a bathroom are soon dispelled. ‘So many people come to us and ask if you can put wallpaper in a bathroom,’ Jamie adds. Will the humidity and dampness be okay? Not to worry! Yes, of course you can, we say. You should absolutely utilise wallpaper in a bathroom. A well ventilated bathroom will gladly tolerate wallpaper, and you may simply avoid the ‘risk regions’ by making some wise design decisions.
‘You may also varnish your bathroom wallpaper to produce a highly durable, clear surface that resists finger prints, dampness, stains, scuffing and colour fading. Simply apply it over the wallpaper with a brush or roller to keep your bathroom wallpaper looking new for years to come.’
And the good news for those on a tight budget? ‘You’ll discover that you only need a handful of rolls to create that enormous statement,’ Jamie explains.
Mindthegap’s trendy bathroom wallpaper concept above demonstrates how you can get adventurous with your vanity unit (or sink) and install it in an accent colour chosen from the paper.
9. APPLY A SLIP OF WHITE PAINT
We adore modest dark bathrooms for an intimate, cosy environment, but if you want a wider look, bright or white paint will do the trick.
‘A lick of paint can always make a place seem brand new and doesn’t have to be pricey for a fast refresh,’ explains Xander Shreenan.
‘A white palette is the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about designing a small bathroom, and there’s a reason; light colours provide the illusion that a space is much wider than it is,’ explains Emily Rose of Walls and Floors.
We love how a white painted ceiling mixes effortlessly with zellige tiles in the elegant little bathroom above by Fiona Duke Interiors to create a textured environment that also appears larger than it is.
‘Layout and design are crucial in a small bathroom,’ Fiona says of the design. We also had to deal with slanted ceilings in this little area.
‘We picked a bath on legs so that the patterned flooring could be seen throughout the floor space, giving the illusion of a larger floor area.
‘The walls were covered in zellige tiles, which we tone-matched to the ceiling to soften the lines and keep the slope from feeling too dominating. Accessorising with a brightly patterned shower curtain brought a pop of colour to the otherwise bland area, and a wide mirror offered a sense of space.’
10. REMEMBER THE FIFTH WALL
Extending a bold patterned wallpaper over the bathroom ceiling is a stunning technique to make the area feel larger while remaining warm and cosy.
‘Adding a vibrant, flowery pattern to your walls will bring individuality,’ says Jamie Watkins of Divine Savages. ‘Embrace the fifth wall, gaze up and paper the ceiling – it will help blur the difference between the wall and ceiling to give a sense of space.’
We adore Raili Clasen’s gorgeous bathroom above, which wonderfully demonstrates how a great bold wallpaper can provide a feeling of space while still being inviting and enjoyable.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO RENOVATE A SMALL BATHROOM?
‘If you’re willing to shop about and do part of the work yourself, a small bathroom may be renovated for as low as $1500 (£1000),’ says BC Designs’ Barrie Cutchie. ‘Using used furniture for your vanity unit is a fashionable and cost-effective option.
‘The primary piece of advise for individuals on a budget is to choose one focus item on which you will spend the majority of your cash, such as a bath, brassware, or tiles. Any of these pieces may greatly brighten the space and make less expensive goods appear more valuable.’
‘An key consideration when planning a budget bathroom renovation is to figure in any labour expenses ahead,’ says Xander Shreenan of Dowsing & Reynolds. This is where the majority of your funds may be spent, so consider which jobs (if any) you can accomplish on your own.’
HOW MUCH DOES A SMALL BATHROOM COST ON AVERAGE?
‘The cost of installing a tiny bathroom is dependent on the materials you choose,’ explains Barrie Cutchie. ‘If you choose high-end materials, a tiny bathroom might nevertheless cost more than a medium or even a big bathroom.
‘Many manufacturers provide smaller versions of their bigger goods, such as compact footprint copper tubs, which can nevertheless cost more than $5,500 (£4000).
‘Just because you have a smaller bathroom doesn’t mean you have to forsake aesthetic or design. On average, you could expect to pay between $1500 and $5500 (£1000 to £4000) for a modest bathroom.’
If you pick higher-end finishes and are unable to undertake any of the work yourself, you may face a greater cost margin.
‘When budgeting for a small bathroom, I would usually suggest allowing $13,500 to $20,000 (£10,000 to £15,000) – this may sound like a lot, but once you have added up the sanitary ware, brassware, tiles and fittings (expensive purchases in their own right), you need to hire skilled plumbers and builders to bring it all together’, says interior designer Brooke Copp-Barton.
‘Bathrooms are technical and fussy, and it is well worth the money to invest in competent craftsmen to do it well,’ says the designer.
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