5 Tips for a Budget-Friendly Bathroom Makeover

February 15, 2021

Potential Dallas homebuyers are most likely to make up their minds about your property based on the appearance of… the kitchen, the living room, and the master bathroom. Before you list your property, you have the chance to make these spaces stand out!

Last month, we talked about budget-friendly kitchen makeovers, and I showed you how to revive your living spaces here. So today… let’s talk about budget-friendly bathroom makeovers. 

Whenever you’re updating your property to sell, you don’t want to break the bank. The good news — there are many inexpensive yet impactful ways to update your bathroom before listing. People usually assume that upgrading their bathroom is an intensive endeavor that would take tearing it all down and starting from scratch. Not necessarily.

Sometimes the smallest details are what make the design in any space. You just have to be smart with your investment and address the design elements that have the biggest impact. In fact, I’d say you can get away with spending anywhere from $250 to $5,000 to revive an outdated bathroom.

Today, I’m sharing my top 5 budget-friendly tips for a bathroom makeover, of course, using one of our latest projects. Come take a look!

Before: Outdated Bathroom Before Listing

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Before even thinking of putting their condo on the market, the owners reached out to me for a renovation and staging consultation and feedback. But what’s wrong with it? It is a perfectly functional space and has everything a bathroom needs, but… the walls feel dark, the lighting isn’t impressing anyone, and the bathtub feels like a relic of the 1990s. All mixed in with that Tuscan-inspired travertine floor.

When I saw this bathroom, I knew that an update would positively impact the home’s overall value. (Spoiler Alert: it did!) And we didn’t break the bank to get there...

Tip 1: Paint the Walls a Fresh, Light Color

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If you’ve been following me for a while you probably know that I always like to start with a fresh light canvas, AKA bright walls. We painted the walls a light green gray, and instantly, the whole space felt fresh and open. Simply change, completely different feel.

Tip 2: Address Any Functionality Issues, if you can

One thing to keep in mind is that a bathroom makeover is an excellent time to address any functionality or layout issues. Take this bathroom, for instance, My clients both admitted that they had no use for the bathtub and would rather have a decent sized shower. If that’s how they feel, future homeowners are likely to feel the same way.

We knew that getting rid of the tub/shower combination would solve two issues in one: it visually opened up the space and made it more functional. We even went one step further and ripped out the dated travertine floor tile and brought in highly-functional and cost-effective LVP. (talk about LVP, Check out my post on why high end homes are giving up hardwood by going HERE)

Bigger investment than painting the walls? Yes. Worth the increase in property value? Absolutely. 

Tip 3: Upgrade the Vanity, Lighting & Mirror

budget-friendly bathroom makeover design by keti dallas

Ah, the vanity, lighting, and mirror! These are the things that can transform your bathroom from builder grade to livable luxury that Dallas homebuyers are willing to pay for. We took out the traditional, lantern-looking lighting that was there previously and installed this more modern fixture in brushed chrome.

We decided to paint the vanity cabinets, as well. With the new flooring, granite counter, and light green gray walls, the color palette (specifically the vanity color) felt a bit off. As a True Color Expert, I was able to pick a neutral shade with an undertone that ties it all together and makes the countertop not look dated at all. Now, it feels light, warm and inviting!

As for the mirror, we actually kept the original mirror in this space because it made the room feel larger. If you’re adding your own, bigger is better, so it reflects more light and opens up the space. I suggest picking a mirror with a simple yet classic frame.

Tip 4: Update Faucets & Hardware

If there is one takeaway from this blog post, it’s this: no bathroom makeover is complete until you’ve updated your faucets and cabinet pulls. I know, these items are small, functional elements and easily overlooked — but you wouldn’t believe how much of an impact they have on the overall design of the space. Plus, they are easy to swap out (you can even do it yourself) and are budget-friendly. So trust me on this one. 

I suggest opting for more modern-style hardware in a metal that complements the color palette of the space. 

Tip 5: Update Shower Wall

Painting the bathroom walls a light green gray brought instant freshness and modernity to the space, so we needed to extend that color (or lack of color) to the shower wall, as well. This bathroom originally had subway tiles, but they looked a bit dingy, and we knew they had to go!

No need for Demo Day... we simply glazed the tiles for a cohesive look. Fresh, classic, timeless — wouldn’t you agree?

dallas bathroom after renovations property listing real estate market budget-friendly bathroom makeover

What was the ROI of this redesigned listing?

And now the moment that you’ve been waiting for...

Once we put the property on the market, it sold in about 5 days from listing! Not only that, we nailed the staging… so much that the new buyer even bought some of our inventory items. How amazing is that?!

If you have a property that’s been sitting on the market for months, or if you want to renovate your bathroom (so that it doesn’t sit on the market for ages!), I would be delighted to support you. 

Book your free discovery call with me here, and let’s chat!

— Keti

P.S. Don’t forget to sign up here for our Guide to a Stress-Free and Profitable Renovation!

We increase the value of real estate through profit driven and timeless design for renovations and new home builds.  Whether you’re renovating your home, flipping a property or want to wisely invest in updates and staging before selling your property your ROI is our business.
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