8 ways to make your old bathroom look new again

Who doesn’t love the look and feel of a newly revamped bathroom? Especially when it’s done on a budget that doesn’t break the bank.

A full bathroom renovation can be expensive, since it also involves plumbing and waterproofing. But, if your bathroom is still in good condition, and doesn’t need a lot of work, then there are a few budget-friendly ways to still transform your bathroom without having to spend a lot. 

Here are 8 simple yet transformative ways to revamp your bathroom on a budget with the help of a handyman. 

Update the lights

A great way to change the overall feel of the bathroom is by changing out the lights, or adding more. The type of fixtures you decide on will depend heavily on the ambience you want to create in  the space. 

Most old bathrooms typically have just one big ceiling light to light the whole space. But to really make an impact, you’ll want to have a good mix of task lighting and accent light in your bathroom for functionality and ambience.

Consider adding down-lights or up-light scones by the bathroom mirror, specifically on both the left and right to avoid creating unpleasant shadows in your reflection that are usually caused by having lighting only above the mirror. Adding a good amount of task lighting in the shower is also a good rule of thumb, even if you are leaning towards a more sultry feel for the bathroom’s general design. If you want a soft glow, consider mirrors with concealed lights. 

Change the taps, mixers and shower heads

After a while, your bathroom taps, shower mixers and shower heads may start to look dull and tarnished. For lower-quality items, the chrome finish may start to crack and flake off, looking unsightly. 

By just changing these items, you can give your bathroom a refreshed appearance depending on its quality and finish. It’s a simple and quick task for any handyman as it only involves removing and installing the new items.

You can replace them with the traditional chromed faucets and mixers, or go bold and choose gold-accented, or matte-black versions. You’ll be surprised just how different and polished the space will feel. Book a reliable plumber at Recommend.my to get the job done with no stress.

Add more bathroom storage

One effective way to improve the look and feel of a bathroom is by adding more storage. This way, items which used to sit exposed can be hidden away, making the bathroom look more clean and sleek. 

And why stop there? Consider other bathroom accessories such as racks, hooks, baskets, bins and other storage options to your bathroom. This is a great way to keep the clutter out of sight, but still accessible. It will feel completely different without a messy countertop or shower area.

Switch from shower curtains to a fixed divider

Shower curtains, while inexpensive, can make the bathroom feel cramped. It’s also not very effective at keeping water inside the shower area. Instead of a shower curtain, you can open up a small bathroom by replacing it with a glass shower divider, or shower screen.

Shower screens are going to cost you more money than a shower curtain, but they are still an affordable means to add a fresh new look to your bathroom’s shower area. There are different types of shower diver designs, from frosted glass doors that slide open, to a half-wall divider.

Add a pop of colour 

You don’t have to keep everything in your bathroom a pristine white. Pops of colour are a great way to add personality to your bathroom and can be done in simple and affordable ways with the use of bathroom accessories. You can pick one colour, or a shade range of a specific colour tone to create an appealing look throughout the bathroom. 

Pops of colour can be added using bathroom accessories, such as toothbrush holders and soap dispensers, or even towels, rugs and baskets. Or, add some potted plants (Pothos aka money plant is a good hard-to-kill choice) to create a green bathroom.

But if the design of your bathroom, such as the tile backsplash and fixtures, are already colourful then you’ll want to use accessories with a neutral colour palette instead for an interesting effect. 

Repaint the walls / ceiling

The floors and walls of your bathroom will likely be covered by tiles. But many bathrooms will only tile halfway up the wall, also known as half-tile bathroom. For the un-tiled part of the walls (and even the ceiling), you can add a fresh coat of paint. A new coat of paint in any colour will undoubtedly give the space a fresh appearance, but you can take it one step further by playing around with tones, patterns and colour placement.

Try painting the walls a colour to contrast or compliment the floor and wall tile of your bathroom, or even choose black paint for drama. Pick unexpected colours, and try creating an ombre gradient for a cool look. Paint patterns and designs for a statement wall if your bathroom layout allows for one. 

Most people often leave the ceiling of their bathroom white, a common and boring look, so paint it a different colour to create an interesting feature to an otherwise plain-looking bathroom. You can hire a handyman to help bring your vision alive, but it’s also a fun weekend DIY if you want to create something really unique with paint. 

Upgrade the bathroom mirror 

Bathroom mirrors are meant to be functional, but that doesn’t mean they can’t help elevate the appearance and atmosphere of a bathroom. The right mirror design can make the biggest difference in a space, especially when it’s placed in the right position. To make sure you pick the right one for your bathroom, remember to consider your bathroom style, the use of the mirror, the overall size of the space and where the mirror will be hung. 

It’s always a good idea to hang a larger mirror in your bathroom to create the illusion of more space, but it should not look like the mirror is being stuffed in there. Make sure to take measurements before purchasing. The design and shape of the mirror depend on the style you want for your bathroom, and if it’s a vanity mirror or a full-length mirror. 

Create a feature wall

If you’ve been wanting to remodel your bathroom to create interest in an otherwise simple common bathroom, then consider retiling the wall area above your sink, or the far wall in your shower, turning it into a “feature wall”. You would be surprised as to how this one change will give the space a new look and feel. 

You can start small by only changing the tile backsplash above the sink first, or go all out and do the entire shower area. You’ll be able to have a lot of fun and let your creativity come through with this budget-friendly redesign trick. The design possibilities are endless.

Ready to renovate your bathroom?

Revamping your bathroom is now easy when you have the right professional help to bring your ideas to life. Find the right handyman to help with your bathroom at Recommend.my, Malaysia’s #1 renovation, repairs and cleaning platform.