As someone who has been hired to do numerous bathroom renovations, I’m indeed the right person to help you with this. One thing in common among homeowners hiring someone to develop and/or remodel an existing bathroom is most want the job done for a reasonable price.
To remodel a bathroom for cheap you could do the work yourself and save money using alternate cheaper materials. Watching for sales on plumbing fixtures and materials can help save hundreds of dollars. Yet another option for remodeling a bathroom ‘on the cheap’ is to purchase from a reuse-it store. These stores have used building materials typically donated to them.
In this article, I’ll cover all the different ways I can think of to help you save money on your bathroom remodel. The cost of remodeling bathrooms can get out of hand quickly so watching every penny you spend will be your first task. One thing I always do in any remodel is ask if there is a cheaper alternative to what I think needs to be done.
Let’s get started.
How Much does a Cheap Bathroom Remodel Cost?
Up first, let’s talk about what you can expect to pay for a cheap bathroom remodel.
The costs involved will obviously depend upon whether you do some or all of the work yourself or hire someone. Costs will also be dependent on what and how much of the bathroom is being remodeled.
Let’s face it, throwing a quick coat of paint on the walls after doing some patching can make a big impact on the look of a room without breaking the bank. If you patched and painted only, you could easily spend a mere $100 on a modest-sized bathroom.
Something tells me however, you’re here for more.
It’s impossible for me to give you a specific cost for a cheap bathroom remodel, unless I look at your bathroom and you let me know what you want replaced and updated.
What I can tell you for certain is a small to medium sized bathroom can be remodeled for as little as $2,000 USD if you do the work yourself. This would include replacing fixtures but not flooring or windows. It could be even cheaper than $2,000, depending on how much you spend on fixtures (ie: bathtub, vanity, toilet, mirror, lighting).
If you don’t have the time, the tools or you’re just aren’t skilled enough to attempt such a task, then expect to pay approximately $4,500 to $5,000USD for your cheap bathroom remodel. This cost includes the $2,000 for materials and labor costs of $2,500 to $3,000.
If you do hire someone, you can try to get a better deal on the labor costs, especially if you aren’t in a hurry. Have a discussion with your tradesmen and see if there is a time when they can give you a better deal. If they can wait to do your job during their slow season or on evenings/weekends, you can likely get a great discount on labor charges. It doesn’t hurt to ask.
Top 8 Ways to Remodel a Bathroom for Cheap
In this section, I’ll offer up some excellent ways you can save money remodeling your bathroom. As with most things, location plays a role in availability and pricing on material items – so take that into account when applicable. In no particular order, here are the top 8 ways you can save money redoing a bathroom.
Selecting Lower Cost Materials
This probably isn’t what you want to hear right away but picking out lower cost materials can make the difference between being able to afford a remodel to not doing one at all.
Here are some examples of lower cost materials.
Instead of a tile floor, consider a vinyl laminate. The finishes in laminate have come a long way over the past decade. By using a vinyl laminate, you benefit as the boards are waterproof. What else would you want in a bathroom?
Instead of purchasing a jet tub, why not opt for a basic tub? You would save hundreds of dollars.
When it comes to a bathroom vanity, I know people who have purchased a white particle board style and spray painted it to the color they really wanted. The difference in a white color versus any other color when it comes to vanities is ridiculous! A couple cans of spray paint will cost you about $20 where you could save a few hundred dollars by selecting white.
These are just a few examples of how you can save by switching up what materials you use. Put your thinking cap on and you can come up with cheaper options almost always.
Touch-up Your Tub Instead of Replacing It
Instead of pulling out an older tub, why not consider touching it up with paint approved for tubs and save yourself a ton of money?
I know everyone wants a shiny new tub to plant their butts in but is it necessary? No, not really. If your goal is to remodel and save money, touching up scratches on an older tub is an easy way to save money and time.
It can cost a lot and take up precious time taking out and installing a new tub. It’s something to consider.
Refresh Cabinets with Paint and New Hardware
I have already touched on this earlier when it comes to purchasing a new vanity. Instead of tearing out an older vanity that fits perfectly already and has the functionality you need and are used too, why not refresh the cabinet?
Spray paints come in some amazing colors and finishes now. It would be easy to tape off and spray paint a vanity in place.
If your vanity has door or drawer handles, consider updating them with new ones. If the door hinges are exposed, they can also be replaced or painted. It’s much cheaper to paint them.
For no more than $50, you could completely change the appearance of a bathroom vanity.
If the vanity has a drop-in style sink, you could replace that reasonably as well. If you’re doing that, consider changing out the vanity faucet as well. It’s still much cheaper than replacing the whole cabinet.
Install a Prefab Shower Instead of Tiling a Shower/Tub
Tiling the walls around a tub or shower can be very expensive. If your bathroom accommodates a free-standing shower, then consider buying one of these units.
The walls are typically a vinyl material and are easy to install and much cheaper than tile.
Just because your bathroom came with a tub doesn’t mean it has to stay. It’ll depend on who is using that bathroom to bathe however, a lot of people prefer showers over tubs.
Install Your Own Plumbing Fixtures
This one should be common sense but installing your own plumbing fixtures will save you potentially thousands of dollars.
You don’t require a special license or permit to replace a plumbing fixture. Just make sure you’re not moving any of the drain or water lines. If this is the case, then you’ll want to check with your local town or city hall office to see if permits are required.
Don’t Move the Plumbing Fixtures
This ties into the last point. If you decide to move a vanity, toilet, or bathtub the costs are going to skyrocket. You’ll be forced to hire a plumber as most building bylaws require this, not to mention that moving fixtures around is expensive.
If your interest is remodeling for cheap, then get this idea out of your head.
Purchase Used Bathroom Fixtures
Just about every city has a reuse-type store. Once you have your measurements, go down to yours and see what they currently have in-stock. You’ll be amazed at some of the treasures you can find in these places!
Or, if you know anyone renovating a bathroom or maybe you have done so in the past, use materials from those jobs.
Create Your Own Bathroom Design
Some people pay others to design new bathrooms. I understand some lack the ability to picture anything different from what is.
Why pay someone to design a new bathroom when chances are you know someone who can give you ideas. There’s always someone who’s just waiting for anyone to ask them “what do you think I should do?”
If you’re wanting to remodel cheaply, then hiring someone to give you ideas is a waste of money. Look online for inspiration, ask friends and family, go to open houses, etc.
How do You Remodel a Bathroom for $500?
If I only had $500 to spend on a bathroom remodel, here’s what I would spend the money on.
- New paint for walls and possibly the ceiling. I would expect to pay no more than $130 for paint to renew a bathroom. You don’t need to spend extra money on high-end designer paints. Remember the goal here is to remodel for cheap. Don’t forget to patch and sand holes before painting.
- Refinishing a vanity with paints and new pulls and hinges will make a huge impact on the look of the bathroom without replacing the cabinet. You can expect about $75 for these materials.
So far, we are at approximately $205 spent. With the remaining $280, here’s what I would consider doing.
- Replacing vanity lights and the mirror is another way to get a big bang for your bucks. Consider a mirror that has lighting and is mounted on a swivel so you can move the mirror, so it works best for you. New lights can really make a room pop! I’d expect to spend approximately $225 for a new mirror and lighting.
- This leaves us with $70. With this money, I’d replace any window dressings or towel racks with more modern pieces – if the cost is under that $75 mark, that is.
If you do the painting and vanity refurbish along with new lights, mirror, towel racks and blinds, your bathroom can look completely different all while keeping the exact same fixtures in place.
This is also stuff you can do yourself over a weekend.
Can You Renovate Your Own Bathroom?
Yes, you can renovate your own bathroom.
The times you’ll need to contact a professional plumber or electrician is when you’re removing or moving the locations of plumbing fixtures and electrical switches, plugs, fans or lighting.
The most important question is ‘are you capable of renovating your own bathroom?’ Just because a person wants to do something doesn’t always mean they should.
How Long does a Bathroom Remodel Take?
A bathroom remodel should never take longer than 1 to 2 weeks.
Unless you’re gutting the entire room and waiting on permits and tradesmen to show up, having your bathroom remodeled doesn’t take that long at all.
Of course, it’ll all depend on how much you do. I can speak from experience that most bathroom remodels should take no more than 5 days.
Is it Worth it to Remodel a Bathroom?
Yes, a bathroom remodel is worth it. There are a few reasons that make remodeling a bathroom worth it.
Functionality can change over time for toilets, faucets and even tubs – for example, tubs that have jets or lights. Technology changes quickly, even in the bathroom. Toilets now come with low flush options and slow close toilet seats. It’s these updated changes that sometimes make using a bathroom more enjoyable.
Comfort is important, not just in the bedroom. Having a bathroom that isn’t only functional but has comfort where needed will make getting ready for the day or pampering yourself before bed much more enjoyable. If faucets are working properly or the flooring is pulling up, it can be frustrating.
Something that most homeowners will question if selling their house is in the cards in the future is whether a bathroom remodel will be worth it for resale. Think of it this way, when you go look at a new home to potentially purchase, will an outdated bathroom be a deterrent?
Yes, in most cases an outdated bathroom will turn potential buyers off and away. When your bathroom is updated and clean and a buyer has less to update when moving in, buyers will usually pay a bit more for this luxury.
All these reasons make remodeling a bathroom worth it.
Final Thoughts on Remodeling a Bathroom for Cheap
If you don’t have much money, then paint is your best option for updating/remodeling an older bathroom.
If you apply my suggestions in this article, you can change the whole appearance of your bathroom for cheap quite easily, maybe even for $500 or less.
Pro tip on paint. There are recycling centers that accept and sell paint. If you can’t find any at a “reuse” store, then check out your neighborhood recycling center. Some city or town offices will also accept used paints. That could be another great source for cheap paint.
If you have time to watch for sales, do that to save a ton of money on bathroom fixtures, especially for vanities as they seem to be overpriced everywhere.
Good luck with your bathroom remodel.
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