10 Ways to Save Money on Your Bathroom Renovation (Updated in 2023)
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Pete Ortiz - Last updated:
Who doesn’t want a fresh and modern-looking bathroom? You spend quite a bit of time in there, and it’s the one room in the house that plenty of guests get a good look at. But just because you want to renovate your bathroom, that doesn’t mean you have unlimited funds to do it.
You don’t have to ditch the entire renovation, though. There are many ways that you can get your dream bathroom without going way over your budget.
This guide features 10 great ways to save money on your next bathroom renovation while still getting phenomenal results.
The 10 Ways to Save Money on Your Bathroom Renovation
1. Refinish Instead of Replace
Ease of Completion : | Moderate to challenging |
Overall Appearance: | Outstanding |
Versatility: | Moderate |
One proven way of saving money when you’re completing a bathroom renovation is to work with what you have. It’s easy to just go out and replace your aging bathroom components, but sometimes all you need to do to get the appearance that you want is to refinish what’s already there.
It’s going to take more work, but it should cost a fraction of the cost of replacing it, and it’ll still have a new look.
2. Get Grout-Free Wall Panels Instead of Tile
Ease of Completion : | Easy |
Overall Appearance: | Moderate |
Versatility: | Moderate |
When you think of bathroom renovations, you probably think of tile. It’s a major fixture in most bathroom renovations, but when you break down the costs, it’s also one of the most expensive. Installing it is a complicated task too.
The good news is that there’s a great option out there that’s more affordable and easier to install: grout-free wall panels. It’s not the first thing that comes to mind when completing a bathroom remodel, but there are many different designs out there that really pop.
3. Work With the Current Plumbing and Electrical Circuits
Ease of Completion : | Easy |
Overall Appearance: | Moderate |
Versatility: | Low |
You have grand plans for your bathroom remodel. But unfortunately, grand plans come with grand price tags. If you can find a way to keep your current plumbing and electrical outlets in place, you can save a great deal of money on the renovations and then use that money to renovate other areas of your bathroom.
Moving plumbing and electrical lines is often the most expensive part of a renovation, so skipping these costs entirely will go a long way toward reducing the overall cost of the job.
4. Tear It Down Yourself
Ease of Completion : | Moderate |
Overall Appearance: | N/A |
Versatility: | N/A |
You might not be a general contractor or even the most knowledgeable handyperson, but most people can figure out how to tear out components. This is something that the contractor is going to charge you for, so if you do the work ahead of time, you should be able to get a bit of savings.
Just ensure that you don’t damage other components and create more work for the contractor later.
5. Frame Your Current Mirror
Ease of Completion : | Easy |
Overall Appearance: | Outstanding |
Versatility: | Low |
One of the easiest ways to overhaul the look of your bathroom is to simply frame or reframe the existing mirror. You can do this as a part of a larger renovation and save money on a new mirror, or you can do it as a standalone upgrade.
Either way, it’s a great way to improve the look of your bathroom without spending much money.
6. Replace Just Part of the Toilet
Ease of Completion : | Easy |
Overall Appearance: | Moderate |
Versatility: | Low |
When was the last time that you took a hard look at your entire toilet? Chances are that you don’t do it often. Instead, you probably just look at the toilet seat and cover.
Those are what most people look at, so if you’re trying to improve the look of your bathroom, these are the components that you should consider replacing. It’ll save you money and still overhaul the look of your bathroom.
7. Plan in Advance
Ease of Completion : | Moderate |
Overall Appearance: | N/A |
Versatility: | N/A |
If you want to keep your bathroom renovation budget intact, it’s all about knowing how much everything will cost before you start. The last thing that you want is to get halfway through a project only to find out that the next step is going to blow your budget out of the water.
Planning ahead enables you to make realistic decisions about the renovation project before you get to a point where you can’t change course without spending more money.
8. Shop Around
Ease of Completion : | Moderate |
Overall Appearance: | N/A |
Versatility: | N/A |
Sometimes you just need that signature piece to put your bathroom over the top. For everything else, see if you can save by shopping around. Compare prices on Amazon with traditional stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot.
For accent pieces, you can try to find something great at thrift stores or garage sales. It’s a great way to get accessories for your new bathroom without spending excessive amounts of money.
9. Only Contract What You Can’t Do
Ease of Completion : | Easy |
Overall Appearance: | N/A |
Versatility: | N/A |
While it would be nice to just sit back and have someone else renovate your kitchen for you, that’s a luxury. If you have a budget that you need to stick to, one of the easiest ways that you can cut costs is to complete some of the work yourself.
Don’t pay for a full bathroom remodel; just contract the things that you can’t do, like the floors or the tile. This way, you can save yourself a great deal of money.
10. Repaint
Ease of Completion : | Easy |
Overall Appearance: | Outstanding |
Versatility: | High |
One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to spruce up any room is to put a new coat of paint on the wall. A bathroom remodel is no different. Get a few gallons of paint, and when you finish painting the bathroom, it’ll have an entirely new feel to it without you spending excess money.
Conclusion
Now that you have a few great ideas for how to renovate your bathroom without breaking the bank, it’s time for you to plan your next renovation while keeping your budget intact. Just plan it all out beforehand, and use a few of the tips and tricks from this list to get the bathroom of your dreams!
Featured Image Credit: Beyond Time, Shutterstock
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