Mini Bathroom Reno

Are you looking to update a room without spending a fortune?

Sometimes it's the little things that get us through (another 5 years, lol!). 

While all of us who opt for an older home wish that we had the ability to rip out that outdated bathroom back to the studs and begin again as soon as we move in,  bathroom reno's are expensive and often not in the cards for several years. Does that mean then, that we have to live with the "Sunrise", "Ming Green", "Sky Blue" or "Mamie Pink" sink, tub and tile combinations? 

No.

A few simple, inexpensive changes can give you an updated look that might just hold you over until you have a) decided what style you love and b) saved up enough to pay for it!

Here's what we did and the products we used:

Tile Paint: TileDoc, available at Lowes and Sherwin William stores. It is very caustic, so I suggest wearing a proper ventilation mask and keeping it a window open during application $50

Wall Paint: Benjamin Moore Aura is an amazing quality product. It is more expensive per can, but it covers almost any colour in about 1.5 coats. I love a flat finish, but in a bathroom I often use eggshell. Colour is Tranquility AF-490 $27

Floor Tile: TrafficMASTER Ceramica 12 x 12 inch Concrete Resilient Vinyl Tile Flooring $1.47 ea

Cabinet Doors: Habitat for Humanity ReStore, $1 ea. Painted with Sherwin Williams ProClassic Smooth Latex Enamel for Trim & Doors. Colour matched to Benjamin Moore's Mascarpone AF-20 

(I still love BM's colours better) $25

Hinges: Canadian Tire, about $20 for 4 hinges

Cabinet Knobs: Habit for Humanity ReStore $1 for 2

Shower Curtain: Homesense, Nicole Miller $15

Toilet: Home Depot, Glacier Bay High Efficiency Dual Flush Elongated Toilet $100 

Mirror: Frontier Sales, $25 3313 Danforth Ave, Scarborough, ON 416-691-3300

Vintage Art: Penney & Company, Post Card, $3. 114 Dundas Street W, Whitby, ON 905-493-7300

Towel Bar: Home Depot, Lyndhurst 24 inch Brushed Nickel Towel Bar $30

Bird Hook: Markham Home For The Holidays (Christmas Show), Markham Fair Grounds $7 

So that it in a nutshell, costing between $300-$350 it has made our bathroom a lot more liveable by today's decor standards. So if you are looking to freshen things up for a couple of years before a big renovation, or if you are trying to add a lot of value for a little investment before you sell, these tricks will help put more money in your pocket.

The before picture below was taken just prior to us taking possession 4 years ago. Our then 5 year old son cried for days that we were "leaving our nice house for this"! Through the transformation over the last few years I think we have turned him in to a future DIYer!

If this post has inspired a mini reno in your home, please send me your before and after pics to laura@lauramcbride.ca, I'd love to see them! 

For more ideas like this, or other inspirations that may help you love where you live visit me at lauramcbride.ca or follow me on Twitter @inspired4real. 

Thanks for reading ;)

Laura