Bathroom Transformation on a Budget - How to Refresh It Without Renovating?

One of the ways to transform a bathroom is to change the appearance of the walls, which doesn’t necessarily mean removing tiles. There are several ways to renew a bathroom without ripping out the tiles. The first method is using wall stickers. These are available in many designs and colors, and they look particularly great as decor above the sink or behind the toilet.

Renovating an old bathroom can also include updating the floor. Vinyl panels are a great option as they are highly resistant to damage, durable, and elegant. They are also very easy to install, as they simply need to be glued over the old tiles.

Another idea for updating the bathroom floor tiles is using PVC flooring or linoleum. These materials are affordable and moisture-resistant. Depending on the chosen design, the flooring can imitate stone, ceramic tiles, or wood. It’s important to use a strong adhesive during installation to prevent shifting or wrinkling of the material.

A proven method for a quick transformation is painting the bathroom. But can you paint bathroom tiles, and if so, what type of paint should you use?

Painting tiles is a common practice worth considering when the current tile color becomes boring, or when they become faded or damaged. It works well for painting all the tiles one uniform color or using multiple colors. In the latter case, one color can be applied to a decorative strip, and another color to the tiles. This approach doesn’t require advanced skills, and it’s easy to achieve an attractive look.

Repainting old tiles is a cheap bathroom transformation because you don't need to spend much on paint, but that doesn’t mean just any paint will do. To ensure durability and good coverage, it’s recommended to use specialist bathroom renovation paints. If the tiles are matte or textured, these types of paints will adhere well. For glazed tiles, a primer should be applied first, followed by two coats of paint. Are there any other ideas on how to renew a bathroom without replacing tiles?

Over time, the grout filling the space between tiles loses its original look, darkens, and becomes difficult to clean. Grout is also one of the places where mold often develops in bathrooms. Refreshing the grout will make the old bathroom look cleaner, fresher, and more inviting. So, how do you refresh grout? First, try cleaning it. You can use a brush and a grout cleaner or a homemade paste made from water and baking soda. A steam cleaner can also help, although it’s not always fully effective. If cleaning doesn’t work, you can paint the grout with a grout - a polymer-based resin paint available in various shades. Another option is to replace the grout entirely. In this case, you gently scrape out the old grout with a grout remover tool and fill the gaps with new grout. Once you know how to refresh grout in the bathroom and what to use, it’s time to consider another element to renew without replacing tiles - the doors.

Doors not only separate two rooms but are also an important part of the decor and influence the overall perception of the space. Old doors often don’t look too appealing unless they’re styled that way, and replacing them can be costly. Therefore, for those looking for ideas on how to renew a bathroom on a budget, door renovation is a great option. Like with the previous element, there are several solutions to choose from.

One simpler option is to apply a new covering to old doors. This will give them a fresh color, and any damage or defects will be hidden. A wallpaper with geometric patterns, a beautiful landscape, or another design will turn the door into a true piece of decor. However, before purchasing, it’s important to ensure that the wallpaper is suitable for bathroom spaces. How to renew wooden doors? Wood is elegant and timeless, so it’s worth bringing out its beauty. In this case, you should sand the surface, fill any gaps, and then apply varnish or paint. But how do you renew doors painted with oil-based paint?

Cleaning wooden doors of old paint can be difficult, especially when the paint has deeply penetrated the wood’s structure. Before starting to paint old doors, it’s recommended to remove the handles and hinges to avoid staining them, and also ensure the surface beneath them is treated. There are a few methods for removing old paint. The easiest method is to use sandpaper or a sander. The downside of this solution is that it’s time-consuming, messy, and creates a lot of dust during work. Another method is to use chemical paint removers. These soften the paint layer, and it can be easily removed. The drawback of this method is the strong odor and the presence of irritants in the air, so it’s not ideal for indoor use. Once the old paint is removed, the gaps can be filled, and the doors can be painted in the chosen color. For old interior doors with glass, the glass can either be painted or covered with a veneer.

When considering how to renew a bathroom without a renovation, most people focus on replacing accessories and furniture. However, new furniture isn’t necessary, as existing pieces can be refreshed at a low cost. How to renew the sink cabinet or other bathroom furniture?

One suggestion is to replace the handles with new ones, which, surprisingly, can completely change the look of the furniture. When selecting handles, make sure they match the overall bathroom decor. Another good idea is to use waterproof paint for bathroom furniture. Simply choose the perfect color and apply waterproof paint designed for laminated or wooden furniture. Instead of paint, decorative self-adhesive films can also be used.

There are many ideas for how to renew old doors or refresh grout, so a costly bathroom renovation is not always necessary. It’s worth taking a closer look at the bathroom, as it might be possible to renew certain elements. For example, old doors with glass could end up looking like they came straight from the store.