DIY: Five Cheap Bathroom Remodel Upgrades

One of my favorite rooms in the house is the bathroom. I'm a shower nut, taking two or three showers per day on a good day. I love a nice, long, hot shower and have found showers and tub soaks help me be more creative--I always come up with my best ideas in the shower. Because of this, I like a bathroom that is gorgeous, inviting and attractive, but I don't want to pay a lot of money to make that happen.

If you're like me and want a nice bathroom but don't want to spend a fortune to get it that way, I have some tips for you to help remodel and upgrade or update your bathroom without breaking the bank.

Remodel Your Bathroom with Do-it-Yourself Paint

I tried using wallpaper in my bathroom once, but because of my love of long, hot, steamy showers and tub soaks, the wallpaper never did cling to the walls well. Paint, on the other hand, is durable, washable, and longer lasting than wallpaper, and ever better--it's cheaper! You can paint your bathroom walls yourself, with less than about 20 bucks for an average sized bathroom, and try a bold, refreshing or vibrant color you wouldn't use anywhere else in your house.

If you don't like the color or just want a new look or feel to the bathroom, you can repaint it as often as you'd like!

Upgrade Your Bathroom with a Splash Wall or Splash Board

Splash walls or splash boards have been round for awhile, but here recently, I've seen some remodeling ideas using splash walls on the actual walls of the bathroom and not just on the shower and tub walls. These fiberglass or plexi-boards can be added to your wall with a little putty and glue or can be bolted onto the wall at the edges, providing a splash wall that is super easy to clean, holds up to shaking off after a shower, and come in a variety of color to match the other walls or parts of walls in your bathroom.

Update Your Bathroom Fixtures

Nothing can change the look of a bathroom as easily or inexpensively as changing the fixtures on the cabinets, toilet, sink and tub. New cabinet pulls, new faucets and water knobs and a new showerhead (how to replace a showerhead) can all update the look of your bathroom without having to change anything else about it. You can usually do it yourself with these fixtures by buying replacement kits, and save yourself a lot of money remodeling your bathroom.

Decorate Your Bathroom

Buying coordinating bathmats, toilet mats, toilet covers, shower curtains, toothbrush holders, soap dispensers, and the like can really add to the overall appeal of the bathroom without making any permanent changes. I like to have several sets of matching things to match the seasons--autumn colors for fall, bright cheery colors for summer, and spring florals--and change them out regularly to completely change the look of the bathroom.

Resurface the Tub or Shower Stall for a Bathroom Upgrade

There are new shower and tub stalls that are made to go over your existing old shower or tub, bringing it back to life and making it appear brand new. These are a bit more expensive than the other upgrade suggestions, and you'll have to special order them to fit your tub and fixtures, but they are still much cheaper than replacing a shower or a tub. For most people who are mechanically inclined, you can do it yourself, or you can hire a contractor or contact a company like Rebath to install them for you.

There you have it: five easy and inexpensive (cheap) bathroom do it yourself ideas to remodel and update or upgrade your bathroom without breaking your pocket book.