Three Easy Steps to a Bathroom Facelift on a Budget

Creating a new look in the bathroom does not have to cost an arm and a leg.  It can be done inexpensively, with a few well thought out changes.

1)  First, no good design can be accomplished without having an overriding concept that can guide the direction of the design and the style of the room.  This concept can be anything from a phrase, a word, an abstract idea, or even a concrete idea.  The point is to have it speak to what you want this room to ultimately say about you.  Keep in mind the feel that you are trying to accomplish.  Are you trying to have a tranquil bathroom full of serenity, or are you more interested in a vibrant place that makes you happy, keeps you engaged and wakes you up in the morning?  Your concept should reflect these ideas.  Having a clear concept will become invaluable when trying to select finishes and materials.  It will actually help you narrow the scope of options of what will work in your room.

2)  Secondly, you have to think about what colors and color scheme will go with your concept.  Here’s where you can really brainstorm and get creative.  Design is extremely subjective, and each of us has a different take on what represents something for us.  Due to our own background, our cultural and familial influences growing up, we each develop our own set of idiosyncrasies about what represents something for us.  While for some people the color blue may be particularly soothing, for others it may be associated with a traumatic experience growing up.  Who knows maybe your sibling used to torment you with a blue blanket?  Again the point here is to look within yourself and find what resonates with you.  I often times will google a phrase or word and look at the images that come up.  It usually yields some inspiration and helps me start developing some ideas that I can later incorporate into my design.

Beyond our own idiosyncrasies, there are also many “universal themes” that we tend to share as part of the human race.  For instance If our concept is somewhat serious and traditional, often times muted and jewel tones can help represent that idea.  On the other hand, if we are more interested in being contemporary or have an abstract concept, going for bolder and more saturated colors can bring that concept home.  No matter what color scheme you choose, or where you get your inspiration, unless you are a whiz at color selection, keep it easy on yourself andtry to not have more than 2-3 colors.

3) Thirdly, consider  what is your budget, and what can you honestly afford to change in your bathroom?  If your budget is very limited, you can at least minimally change the following:

Level 1 changes:

1)  Wall color

2)  Flooring

3)  One major accent piece in the room, and/or accessories

You can still make a strong impact changing just these few things, and once again, it will not cost too much.

If your budget for both time and financial resources is more generous, then there’s a few more things you can add to the list:

Level 2 Changes:

4) Resurfacing/painting/ or staining the cabinetry

5) Changing/resurfacing countertops

6) Changing cabinet hardware

Great impact can be achieved with these few changes, but if you are still looking for something more significant in terms of the functionality of your space, then you can add a few more things to the list such as:

Level 3 Changes:

7)  Changing the lighting (can make a huge impact on the room)

8)  Changing the cabinetry

9)  Changing the plumbing fixtures.

If you would like to learn more about changes you can easily make, and see photos of an example of a bathroom done based on these steps, check out the rest of my blog article at http://fullcircleinteriorsolutions.com/?p=710. 

Whether you are interested and/or ready to make Level 1, 2 or 3 changes in your bathroom or another room in your home, keep in mind you don't have to go at it alone.  Seek the help of a professional interior designer like myself, to help and guide you through this process.