Small Bathroom Budget Ideas

Here are our top ideas for sprucing up a small bathroom on a budget!

We always get asked for small bathroom budget ideas so we have pulled together what we think are the best ways to improve your bathroom – all at low cost but giving you great value.

You certainly don’t need to break the bank to freshen up a small bathroom. There are lots of things you can do to spruce up a small bathroom on a budget and we have put together what we think are the best ideas and ways to do this.

The main or only bathroom in your house might be small, or you might have an ensuite or smaller bathroom that you just haven’t focused on in the last few years and with just a few changes you can get it looking great again.

We haven’t included larger works like replacing the tiles etc. Although this can radically alter the look and feel of any bathroom, this will obviously incur more cost and take more time.

You can achieve a high end look too and still get great value so we have included some of these options.

If you are planning on selling your house then a few simple changes to the bathroom will help you achieve a higher price and just make the property more attractive overall.

Changing the taps or mixers

One of the cheapest and best ways to change the whole look of a small bathroom is by replacing old and weary taps and mixers with something brand new.

The likes of this Nero Basin Mixer Tap comes with a click-clack plug so freshens up the wash basin immediately.

This is a chrome finish so looks clean and can be matched with other parts of the range if you also have a bath for example. In this case you would be best to change the taps or mixer on the bath also to achieve an overall clean look throughout the room.

If you just have a sink or basin then these can be used independently as a great budget way to brighten things up.

Fitting them is achievable but you would want to know what you are doing – otherwise get a plumber in who can do something like this very quickly.

New Bathroom Furniture

A very popular way to freshen up a small bathroom and utilise any restricted space is with a Tall Boy storage unit.

These are obviously tall and thin so don’t have much of a footprint but offer fantastic storage for the likes of cosmetics, towels and cleaning items too.

There are a number of colours and styles available so it is easy to enough to match any existing style or decor.

They can simply be moved around when you want as they are not fixed or secured to the floor permanently so you should get years of service out of them.

Some people match the likes of a Tall Boy with other bathroom furniture like vanity units etc in the same range but many people just buy them independently as a great value way to get rid of clutter and add something new and modern without taking up too much space.

LED Bathroom Mirrors

LED Bathroom Mirrors have become really popular in the last few years and particularly suit modern or contemporary style bathrooms.

The LED lights are suited to the sort of lighting you would want in the bathroom and ideal for applying make up and shaving etc.

There are loads of different styles available including square, rectangular or circular models and also mirrors that have automatic activation and include shaver sockets.

You will need to have a suitable power connection where you want to hang it though so you will need to speak to an electrician beforehand.

Adding an LED Bathroom Mirror can be a really simple way of adding that wow factor to any small bathroom.

Bathroom Cabinets & Vanity Units

A new vanity unit or bathroom cabinet with integrated sink or basin will not only create more storage space but provides a more pleasurable space for your daily ablutions.

Although many vanity units are contemporary in style and design, there are lots of classic or vintage style units that will suit older bathrooms.

This means you can tidy up the whole look of the bathroom without having to undertake a full refurbishment project. It is amazing the difference made by just clearing and removing clutter – especially in a smaller bathroom.

Some of our Vanity Units are wall hung and some are free standing so this just comes down to personal preference.

Most of the range includes sinks or basins as standard too as it is not likely that your current sink will be a perfect match.

New Electric Shower

Whatever about the changing the look of your bathroom, one of the best and cheapest ways to actually start enjoying the bathroom again is a new, upgraded electric shower.

Few things are as difficult to do as getting out of a warm bed on a cold morning to stand under a dribble of a tepid shower. Life is just too short for that.

If your electric shower is old then it is likely less efficient and more costly to run – never mind not giving you constant, controlled warmth and heat through the water flow.

Many of our models are like for like replacements – so you can find out your existing model and then just update it using the same ‘footprint’.

This avoids the need for more complicated tiling work and more associated expense.

You should always use a qualified electrican and / or plumber if you do not know what you are doing – particularly when water and electricity are involved.

Shower Enclosures

A brand new and sparkling clean shower enclosure will not only lift the whole look of any small bathroom as soon as you walk in, but will make your shower a more enjoyable experience as it will seem new and shiny and clean to you from there too.

Older shower enclosures inevitably endure a build up of grime and dirt and even the best kept bathrooms will have this unsightly look after a period of time.

There are so many variations of shower enclosures but a new one can almost always be found for your specific dimensions and shape etc.

This means they can just be a like for like replacement and this can be anything from a simple panel right through to a full three sided enclosure.

New Handles & Knobs

Probably the cheapest and simplest thing you can do to improve the look of a bathroom is to change the handles and knobs on any furniture or drawers etc.

This is a minimal outlay for you but it really is amazing the difference it can make.

You can maybe decide to place more traditional style handles or knobs on furniture or drawers, or use a more contemporary style for something a bit more modern.

Most handles and knobs simply screw out and then you can screw the new ones in. There are loads of styles to choose from with varying finishes including chrome, brass and nickel etc along with a myriad of styles to choose from.

New Sink

Changing the bathroom sink can freshen up the whole look of any bathroom but also give you the chance to save a bit of space if that was needed.

A clean, fresh sink is always more preferable to an older sink with dirt and grime embedded in it and this is the case if it is your own home or whether you might be conditioning a house for sale.

If the bathroom sink currently in place has a full pedestal – you might want to consider a semi or half pedestal which will create a little more floor space. Using this type of semi or half pedestal means you can place the likes of this 6 litre pedal bin underneath and keep it out of the way.

If space is at a real premium then a cloakroom or corner sink will use the minimum amount of space and also help the bathroom look less cluttered and potentially larger than it actually is.

New Toilet

It goes without saying that a discoloured or old toilet is extremely unsightly and is one of the main things that will make a bathroom look tired or grubby.

This is particularly true in a smaller bathroom where you will not have much space.

Changing the toilet itself will instantly change the look of the bathroom and a newer model will also be more environmentally friendly in terms of water usage too.

A wall hung toilet will save space but may not suit every bathroom orientation. There is a great range of toilet styles to choose from including more modern and contemporary designs through to more traditional models. You can match a new toilet with the basin etc or just change the toilet on its own.

Bathroom Suites on a budget

If you are considering changing the sink or the toilet then you might just consider on changing both at the same time.

This means that you will have matching items and styles in your bathroom and a brand new, fresh and clean sink and toilet in one go.

There is a little more work involved but still all very achievable and a very simple job for a plumber to do so this is often the best way forward.

New Showerhead

If you don’t have an electric shower then a new showerhead is certainly a cost effective way of not only improving the look of your bathroom but also making your daily shower more enjoyable.

Older showerheads can get clogged up with limescale, dirt and grime so swapping these over for some new polished chrome will really catch the eye quickly.

New Bath

Once an older bath becomes discoloured and grimy it is almost impossible to really bring it back to its former glory – no matter how much scrubbing you do.

It is also one of those things that stays with you once it catches your eye.

A new bath will freshen up any bathroom and also mean you can enjoy the luxury of a soak too. Smaller bathrooms with a bath normally have it against walls and larger bathrooms may have space for a free standing bath.

Free standing baths in particular really do add a touch of class but you will need to also consider your taps etc if going down that route. You may need to change your existing taps or may need to go for floor mounted or free standing taps like some of the newer models.

Again, there are modern and contemporary styles along with more traditional looks available too. It is a bigger expense than just changing a few handles or knobs but certainly does lift the whole room.

Showergem Shower Caddy

This clever little bathroom accessory helps keep all those bottles clean and tidy and it is amazing the difference this makes to the overall look of any bathroom.

Removing clutter and preventing spills and stains will create a cleaner and fresher look and the Showergem is great value and easy to put into place – it just sticks on with the special adhesive that it is supplied with.

It can also be removed easily should you decide to move on or go with a more radical bathroom renovation etc.

This was designed and developed here in Ireland and you might have saw this previously on Dragons Den too!