DIY Budget Friendly Bathroom Update: How To Refresh Your Bathroom On A Budget

Happy Friday friends! Today I’m sharing a DIY budget friendly bathroom update and other simple ways to refresh your bathroom!

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There were so many things to consider with our guest bathroom update. It has come a long way since we first purchased our home over ten years ago! When I first saw the bathroom all those years ago, I knew we were going to need a major bathroom update; however, as new homeowners, we were really focused on updating the main living areas before we started on smaller projects, like a bathroom makeover.

I’m not sure why or how putting carpet in your bathroom was such a fad, but I knew it needed to immediately go haha I also wanted to update the vanity space. While some people love a dark, moody look, the black behind the bathroom vanity mirror definitely was not my style! Plus, there are way more beautiful ways to make your home moody yet stylish. You can check out the blog post about my sister’s home for inspiration if that is your style!

Thankfully, we were able to make a few updates to the bathroom after getting our main living areas finished, and while the end result was a major improvement from the green carpets and dark vanity, I still wasn’t completely in love with this space. I knew that the bathroom update of my dreams would require patience and a little elbow grease to get the job done.

Over the next several years, I slowly made small little DIY, budget friendly bathroom updates to finally achieve the charming, cottage style bathroom I always wanted. I want to share with you how you can make a simple, cost effective upgrade in your space with these DIY projects. I think you will be surprised at how big of an impact one small update can make!

Paint Your Floors

A bright color scheme and a fresh coat of paint can make a huge difference on your bathroom walls, but have you considered painting your floor? I know it may sound crazy, but painting your floor tile is much more cost effective than buying new tile for a bathroom renovation.

We had installed linoleum flooring because the previous owner had already purchased it for this bathroom, and so we used the linoleum as it was free to us. However, I wanted a new look on my floors and one day thought “what if I tried painting them?”

I’m so happy I took the chance because look at how beautifully it turned out! Now, this did take a lot of time as I’m a perfectionist and I wanted the lines to be perfectly clean and straight haha so if you are like me, maybe choose all one color if you are wanting to speed the process up!

For all the time it took, the paint has held up against peeling, moisture and four little boys, so in my opinion, this DIY bathroom remodel update was definitely a win in my book!

Build Your Own Vanity

I don’t know if you have been in any home improvement stores lately, but a new vanity is very expensive, with the cheapest ones being $100+ and prices only increasing. I had to get creative to if I wanted a fresh look, and the old vanity cabinet and countertops were not the vision I had for my bathroom space.

Now, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with painting your existing vanity or even painting your countertops! It is definitely a cheaper option than purchasing a new one; however, I was inspired by many other cottage style bathrooms to build my own vanity with some fence posts I purchased at a lumber yard for $5!

I found the sink on clearance for $40 at a local home improvement store, and my dad helped me put it all together. I absolutely love how much charm and character this vanity has brought into my bathroom!

Use A Second Hand Mirror

Mirrors can also be very expensive, but thankfully there always seems to be plenty of second hand mirrors in stock at the thrift store! In fact, one time a worker gave me a mirror for free because they had so many. Purchasing second hand mirrors will save you so much money, and if you ever decide to switch out your mirror (like I have one or two times haha) you won’t feel as bad replacing a cheap mirror.

Second hand mirrors are another way to add charm and character to your bathroom, giving your vanity a vintage feel. If you don’t like the finish, you can always paint or stain the mirror’s frame to make it look exactly how you want it to!

Paint Your Existing Tile

As I mentioned previously, I was not totally in love with our first bathroom update. I chose trendy shower tiles to get the project done quickly instead of really searching for I would love for years to come. We put a pretty shower curtain up to hide the bathtub, but I knew I would want to redo the tub someday.

However, we didn’t really need a totally new shower as my brother-in-law installed the tile for us and did an excellent job. It just seemed like a waste to tear out all of his good work just for aesthetics. I brainstormed how I could make the tile more my style without having to do a total gut job, when I decided to yet again get out my paint brush!

People paint backsplashes and subway tile all the time, so I thought how could a shower be much different? I started small by painting the little accent tiles a shade of white just to see how I liked it and how well it held up. Once I was pleased with the results, I decided it was time to paint the shower wall tile, grout and trim.

I purchased this tub and tile refinishing kit and went to work painting all the tile in the shower area. I left out the beige subway tile around the border and window because I really felt like it was a charming accent. I then used a grout pen to give all the grout a fresh white coat of paint. Again, I was so happy with the final result!

Once the shower was refinished, it desperately needed to be sealed in several areas. You can see what the window ledge looked like before. I removed all of the old caulk and cleaned the service, then I used my Loctite Perfect Finish Kitchen and Bath Sealant to seal the window. 

This caulk was so easy to use and went on beautifully! I love that it won’t shrink or crack over time and it’s mold and mildew resistant, perfect for a shower! I like to apply the caulk in a thin line and smooth it out with my finger, using a wet paper towel to wipe away any excess off my finger. The Loctite sealant created a seamless finish and I just love the way our shower looks now! It has a fresh new look and we spent less than $100. Win win!

Thrift Your Bathroom Decor

Don’t spend all of your money on new bathroom decor like soap dispensers, towel hooks and artwork. So many of these items can be found at your local thrift stores! You can even find new hardware for your bathroom if you are lucky! Be patient and keep an eye out for pieces that are both functional and beautiful.

I love little using little jars for cotton balls, q-tip cotton swabs and faux stems! Little glass jars and canisters can be found in abundance at thrift stores. I have also found some really pretty faux flowers at second hand shops as well! I also am a collector of hooks, knobs and peg racks; I just think they are so charming! And how perfect to have a little peg rack in your bathroom for towels?

These DIY, affordable bathroom updates allowed me to finally achieve the cottage style vision I had for this small space! To overview, here are some ways to update your bathroom on a budget:

1. Paint your floors
2. Build your own vanity
3. Use a second hand mirror 
4. Paint your existing tile (with proper paint)
5. Thrift your bathroom decor 

What are some budget friendly things you have done with a bathroom update? Let me know in the comments below! Thank you for stopping by friends!

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