Inexpensive Ways to Update Your Bathroom

If updating your bathroom sounds like a time consuming and pricey weekend project, don’t sweat. We have some easy, ways to update your loo without breaking the bank.

Paint
it’s the number one quick-fix suggestion on the cheap. Paint can completely change a room.  Paint can cover a multitude of sins.  If your walls are smooth but dingy, paint them a single color or get creative with stripes or geometric shapes.  If the walls are uneven or otherwise flawed, go with a paint treatment to camouflage the damage.  You can sponge on two shades of paint to give depth and mask the uneven areas.  If your bathroom is small, choose light colors to make it feel less cramped.  Be sure to use a high-gloss paint in the bathroom, as gloss is more resistant to moisture. Martha Stewart Living Interior/Exterior Latex High Gloss White/Base 1 - 3.67 L, about $38, www.homedepot.ca

Details
Purchase a new shower curtain, bath mat, rug, and counter top accessories (soap dish, toothbrush holder, etc) all in coordinating colors.  Add a few coordinated guest towels and colored candles for the final touch.  You'll be amazed at how different the bathroom looks and feels.  Sometimes this is all it takes to give the bathroom a fresh new look. Solid Colour Bath Towels, Thick ‘n’ Thirsty, about $5 ea., www.bedbathandbeyond.ca, Shower Curtain: style factory®/MD Tulip Vinyl Shower Curtain, about $25 – www.sears.ca,

Hardware
Get a nail and a hammer and hang that piece of art you haven’t found a place for yet. Install a giant mirror. Adding a new hanging shelf to the shower or a tray to the bath gives an instant feeling of luxury.  Sometimes it’s a matter of changing the light bulb. Foremost Mirror, about $60, www.rona.ca

Vinyl Tile Flooring
Sounds complicated and expensive? It’s neither. If your bathroom floor sorely needs an update, look into self-stick vinyl floor tiles.  These tough vinyl tiles come in a variety of colors and patterns, and can be had for about $1.00 per square foot.  You can lay them over your existing floor, and they stick on their own, so there's no messy adhesive or grout to clean up. for vinyl flooring details and installation options, head over to Home Depot, www.homedepot.ca

Accents
Keep it seasonal and simple. The key is simplicity. No fussy knickknacks and dried floral arrangements really don’t have a place in bathrooms and only serve as dust collectors. Use bath items as decorations instead. Coloured lotion bottles and bubble baths are functional and can be attractive when organized properly. Adding a candle gives a new scent and warm ambiance. Decorative soaps are nice but rarely used; instead you should find attractive bottles and refill them with liquid soap. Candles: 12 oz. candle jar from Sparta Candles, about $10, www.spartacandles.com, Fresh sugar/bath lemon soap, about $13, www.sephora.com,

Smart Shopping
The easiest way to save money and update your bathroom is to get the best deals. Be creative and bargain shop; big box discount stores often have extensive selection with low prices. Specialty stores have unique bathroom items that you might like better, and some will even match prices. You can also find bathroom bargains online at places like Overstock.com and Smartbargains.com. Be aware of shipping costs, and budget accordingly. Some stores to keep in mind: IKEA, Home Depot, Home Hardware, Rona, Homesense

Image from MorgueFile. 

Hilary Lauren Fox
		About the author:
		Sometimes she's a redhead, sometimes she's a blonde. Some days it's H&M, and on other days, it's Chanel. What ever the mood, she is a woman who is passionate about the arts, fashion and social media. Born in Toronto, Hilary Lauren Fox is an only child to artist parents - mom was an illustrator and pattern maker, dad was a painter.  Rather then studying the arts as her parents hoped for, Hilary opted for a degree in psychology with dreams of working in a clinical setting. But after graduating she realized that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and that the arts was in her blood, applying her education within the art and fashion world.
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