61 budget bathroom ideas to freshen up your space

Low-cost bathroom tips that look like luxury

Rustoleum/@threeboysandapinkbath

Lacklustre bathroom in need of a makeover? Whether you want to transform your space into a tranquil spa with some serious DIY magic or simply spruce things up with fresh accessories, these affordable decorating ideas are sure to give your washroom the wow-factor without breaking the bank.

Co-ordinate accessories

Dunelm

To create a streamlined and co-ordinated look without splashing out, bring in matching bathroom accessories in a contrasting hue to your existing decor. Look out for soap dispensers, toothbrush holders and storage jars and match them up with towels in the same shade. You can find affordable washroom accessories that look far more expensive than their price tags in most supermarkets.

Go large with tiling

Victoria Plum

In the not too distant past, large format bathroom tiles were more expensive due to their weight, however, new manufacturing technology and design developments now mean that going big won't stretch your budget. Opting for large format tiles also means you'll require fewer tiles and much less grouting, making it a relatively budget-friendly option compared to small, complex designs.

Vamp up the vinyl

Lifestyle Floors

Hardwearing, waterproof and budget-friendly, a vinyl floor makes an ideal solution for low-cost bathrooms. Gone are the days of flimsy thin materials – strong and warm underfoot, vinyl now comes in an array of vibrant colours, patterns and finishes. This refreshing blue Roccoco design makes a stunning statement against a crisp white suite and walls.

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Work with wood panels

247 Blinds

Wood panelling makes a characterful and often cheaper alternative to wall tiles, especially if you like the country look. Make sure you coat the wood in protective water-resistant paint with an oil-based finish and only mount it in areas that are unlikely to get soaked.

Clean up existing tiles

Walls and Floors

A humid and damp space, your bathroom's tiling and grouting can easily become discoloured with mould and mildew. A toothbrush, white vinegar and a little elbow grease can make existing tiles look like new again. If staining persists, grab a handy grout pen to brighten dull tile borders.

Expose the bathroom backdrop

Amara

If your bathroom decorating project is part of a new extension or renovation, why not take the opportunity to add a new feature to your wash space? Keep pipework exposed for an on-trend industrial vibe or skip the plastering and embrace a tactile bare brick feature wall. You may need to seal porous materials with a protective treatment.

Take style tips from the spa

Victoria Plum

Giving a budget bathroom a theme can up the sense of luxury without costing your wallet. This serene scheme has been modelled after a spa, from the contemporary freestanding bathtub to the Moroccan-inspired feature tiles, warming wood floor and crisp white accessories. Now to kick back and relax...

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Brighten with paint

Argos

Bringing a new colour into your bathroom can completely transform a room for the cost of just a couple of tins of paint! Softer shades on walls can reflect light and create the illusion of space, while bold hues like this energising bright blue evoke the soothing rush of the ocean.

Treat yourself to fresh towels

Dorma

The easiest way to make your bathroom feel renewed on a shoe-string is with a crisp new batch of towels. Whether you go for a vibrant new shade or plump for a classic white hue, a new set is sure to create that fluffy hotel vibe and freshen up the whole space. Rather than hiding your new purchases away in a cupboard, try hanging your towels from hooks or neatly folding them on a stool or console table.

Create calm with candles

Lights4Fun

There's nothing like a harsh bathroom light to ruin a relaxing soak in the tub. Create a soothing and inviting ambience by bringing in plenty of candlelight. A set of hurricane lanterns placed on the floor will look enchanting, while column candles on the bath ledge will cast soothing pools of light. To keep your space safe, opt for realistic LED-operated designs.

Go for greenery

Wilko

Bringing nature indoors is a great way to create a calming, tranquil space. Transform your bathroom into a peaceful sanctuary by buying a few indoor plants and placing them on the windowsill or on a console table. If you're feeling adventurous, play with levels and suspend a hanging plant or two from the ceiling.

Wow with wallpaper

Wallsauce

Many people discount wallpaper as impractical in a bathroom, but if you do your research it can really make your space shine – it’s a lot easier to replace than tiles and there's an array of moisture-resistant wallpapers out there to choose from. Opt for a bright patterned feature wall for a splash of colour or try out a budget-friendly stone or brick-effect design to add the illusion of texture.

Love decorative walls? Get inspired by our pick of the best wallpaper ideas

Use a stool as storage

Dunelm

Instead of relying on cabinets, baskets and shelving, display your best-looking bathroom items on a small stool. It won’t take up too up much space and will make a characterful statement piece that can also be used as a seat when needed.

Smarten up with bath mats

George Home

Don’t go for the most boring bath mat in the shop – as well as being functional, mats can make a real design statement, whether its with bold colours, a quirky pattern or an unusual shape. If your space is relatively neutral, opt for a vibrant pattern or layer one or two contrasting designs for an eclectic feel.

Try out textured baskets

JD Williams

Whether they're for laundry, toiletries or cleaning products, baskets are a budget bathroom essential when it comes to keeping a small space tidy and organised. Seagrass or rattan will add natural texture and warmth, while washable linen and wood are also popular washroom trends.

Install multi-tasking shelves

Frontline Bathrooms

If you’re tight on space in your bathroom, installing a multi-tasking shelving unit is a great space-saving hack. This unit features hooks to hang bathrobes, towels and toiletry bags, while a handy shelf over the stop offers a valuable extra place to store washroom essentials.

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Fake a luxurious look

Tile Mountain

Marble has undergone something of a revival in recent years, however, the real thing comes with a seriously hefty price tag. To recreate the look on a budget, opt for more affordable marble-effect tiles. This white gloss design oozes opulence with a realistic grain that's guaranteed to turn heads. No one will ever know!

Cut out some shelves

Bathroom Takeaway

Adding recessed shelves isn't as complicated as it sounds, but unless you’re a dab hand with DIY, we’d recommend bringing in a builder for this one. Whether inside a tiled shower wall or set above a bath, they'll add an effortlessly stylish architectural feature to the room, as well as providing ample storage.

Bring in flat-pack furniture

IKEA

Searching for attractive storage units for your bathroom? You don't need to splurge on handmade cabinetry. From open shelving to closed bureaus, flat-pack furniture can offer a practical and stylish solution for streamlining your bathroom without breaking the bank.

Lay down laminate

Good Homes at B&Q

Laying laminate flooring in your wash space is an easy way to make a dramatic change for a relatively small outlay. It's hardwearing, easy to clean and simple to install, so it's ideal for DIY aficionados. If wood-effect isn't your thing, you can choose from a range of faux-stone options too.

Take taps to the dark side

Frontline Bathrooms

Instead of classic chrome taps, shake things up with matte black or shimmering metallics to add a modern touch to your bathroom. You can either replace your existing taps with new models or carefully spray them with metal paint – don't forget the primer. For a coordinated finish, mount a black grid mirror over the basin to complete the look.

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Take the tiling halfway

IKEA

If you've fallen for a stylish wall tile but can't afford to deck out your whole bathroom, take the tiling halfway. Not only will it free up plenty of cash to spend on other elements of your space but it'll give your walls an on-trend two-tone look. For a bold contrast, pair a bright, patterned tile with neutral paint or shake things up and go for dark walls and pale tiling – either way you're on to a winner.

Throw in fun motifs

George Home

There are certain everyday essentials that every bathroom needs, from soap dispensers and toothbrush holders to towels. Elevate these staples into a statement in their own right by opting for a fun motif to tie the whole scheme together. Here, shell-shaped dispensers add a quirky touch that's mirrored across the patterned towels.

Don’t be afraid to experiment

Walls and Floors

If you’ve played it safe in every other room in your home, the bathroom is the place you can afford to be bold and try something daring. Whether it’s installing patterned floor tiles, putting up a vibrant wallpaper or throwing in some unusual accessories, a bathroom or small WC is the space to figure out what designs you like before applying your ideas to the rest of the house.

Dare to display

The Container Store

With no end of clever storage hacks out there, it’s often tempting to go for a minimalist bathroom and keep all your products concealed behind cupboard doors. However, displaying your most attractive items is a great way to add character to your wash space, plus it makes them more easily accessible. Store products in transparent organisers to keep the look clean rather than cluttered.

Update unit handles

Frontline Bathrooms

Give an existing piece of bathroom furniture a refresh with a set of new handles. Keep things classic with a sleek metal design or shake up your scheme and opt for handles in a bold contrasting hue or a quirky pattern. Easy fixture updates are a great way to breathe new life into a room without spending too much money.

Liven up a laundry basket

Bathroom Sanctuary

If you’ve got an unimaginative plastic box or draw-string bag for your laundry, it’s time to replace it with an attractive laundry basket that will up the style factor in your washroom rather than just serving a purpose. Opt for a basket made of natural materials for an on-trend, tactile vibe and add in matching accessories such as small storage boxes for a co-ordinated look.

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Only tile wet areas

Heritage Bathrooms

Restricting tiles to the wet areas of your bathroom will drop the decorating budget considerably or allow for a more high-end material and finish. Freshen up the rest of the space with a complementary, mould-resistant paint.

Go dark and dramatic

Heritage Bathrooms

Wondering how to give a no-frills white bathroom suite some personality? Steal a style trick from the more dramatic parts of your home and create an eye-catching feature wall. An oversized floral pattern completely transforms this traditional bathroom and using it on just one wall is a great way to keep costs down.

Aim for high art

Waters Baths

How to get that boudoir look on a budget? Take a few tips from this stunning sophisticated scheme. Start with a dark wall colour in a moody blue, black or bottle green then dress your space with greenery and objet d'art. Here, anatomical prints have been mounted, framed and hung two-a-piece to form a Victoriana-inspired feature that turns a workaday space into a cabinet of curiosities.

Feature the floor

Heritage Bathrooms

Patterned flooring is super fashionable and will transform a plain bathroom into a spectacular space. If ceramic and stone tiles are too expensive consider more affordable waterproof vinyl or treated laminate.

Revamp a bath panel

JD Williams Home

Small weekend DIY jobs can make a big difference to a bland wash space. Turn the bath into a striking feature that draws the eye by replacing the bathtub surround or tiling the existing one with a feature pattern. This scheme uses varying shades of grey in a super stylish herringbone pattern; fiddly but fabulous!

Opt for ombre

Annie Sloan paints

If you're a dab hand with a paintbrush try this gorgeous colour fade to create a big dramatic impact in your bathroom. We love these aquatic blues for a washroom, and if your bath could use a spruce up why not carry the colour onto the side of the tub?

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Pick pretty blinds

Blinds2go

Patterned roller blinds will give a bathroom a sense of smart style. Polyester is the perfect fabric for bathroom windows as it will provide much-needed privacy and moisture simply rolls off it. For windows next to the shower choose blinds made of PVC as it is 100% waterproof.

Stick on new tiles

Smart Tiles

If you want to give a wet area an instant refresh try these peel-and-stick metro tiles for a style shortcut. Try on a sink backsplash or above a bath to give your bathroom a brand new look without blowing the budget.

Choose movable storage

Sainsbury's Home

If fitted bathroom storage is out of the question, moveable storage could be the answer. Vertical tiered storage will hold a great deal in a small space and caddies will hang on walls or doors. Go for wood versions or if you can stretch to stainless steel do, as it won't rust in the damp environment.

Look for reclaimed fixtures

Topps Tiles

Reclaimed sanitaryware or upcycled furniture can give a bathroom vintage character. Adding an antique sink or reclaimed bath will create Victorian bathhouse chic or try installing a sink into a well-loved wooden vanity unit for unique country charm.

Lose the bath

B&Q

According to the Environment Agency, a five-minute shower can use about a third of the water of a bath (though power showers can use more). So replacing your bath with just a walk-in shower will not only create more space in your bathroom but help save the earth and save money on monthly bills too.

Shower in the bath

Walls and Floors

If you can't live without one or the other, combined shower-baths are the practical and cost-effective choice for lower budget bathrooms. As well as straight versions, look out for 'P' or 'L' shaped baths which offer more room for a more indulgent shower space.

Wow with window film

Purlfrost

Privacy from the outside world is a bathroom priority but textured glass can be expensive and sometimes looks dated. Alternatively, a vinyl film is an inexpensive solution. It won't compromise the light and comes in many finishes such as frosted, patterned, coloured and even stained-glass effect.

Love this? Check out these window dressing ideas for every budget

Save water

Victorian Plumbing

It's not just the aesthetics of a bathroom that can be expensive, running costs will take a toll on budgets too. Taps, showers and even toilets with low water consumption will save money in the long run and help protect the environment.

Snap up a complete suite

Victorian Plumbing

Buying a full bathroom suite together not only keeps the look of a bathroom coherent it will also save time and money. Bathroom companies spend a lot of time putting looks together so you don't have to and often there are purchase incentives to take advantage of. For example, you could get a free mixer tap or a percentage off which could make a big difference to the final bill.

Mount a towel rail

Bathroom Takeaway

A heated towel rail may not seem like a bathroom essential but investing in one will have many practical benefits that will cut running costs. They will dry towels and heat the room thus eliminating mould and damp, plus they make a stylish finishing touch and add an air of luxury to a bathroom. Besides, getting out of the bath or shower and wrapping yourself in a warm, fluffy towel is priceless, no?

Makeover the tub

Rustoleum/@threeboysandapinkbath

Give an existing roll-top bath a new lease of life with a fresh lick of colour across the exterior. It's a simple way to transform the look of a bathroom without having to undertake any large DIY projects. @threeboysandapinkbath has collaborated with Rustoleum to create a beautiful sugar-pink focal point in this tropical-inspired blue bathroom.

Experiment with LED lights

Lights4fun

Stick-on LED lights are a cheap and simple solution for adding extra mood or task lighting in a bathroom that only has one main ceiling light. The small individual, battery-powered lights can be surface-mounted or recessed anywhere in the room.

Combine fixtures

SmithsBriten

Space-saving, streamlined and a good option for keeping costs down, a combined toilet and vanity unit is like getting a two-for-one deal. Perfectly petite, it's also a great idea for smaller bathrooms as it allows for storage space both above and below.

Go big on grout

Victoria Plum

Spruce up low-budget wall tiles with contrasting grout. This essential mortar seals tiles together and is most often white to blend in with tiling but with a little creativity, it can be a simple way of transforming the look of a bathroom for almost nothing. For a style shortcut to achieve an on-trend industrial-style bathroom, set white metro tiles into a dark grey or black grouting.

Make it monochrome

IKEA

For an easy way to make your bathroom look smarter, get rid of colourful clutter that doesn’t quite match and stock up on storage items, whether baskets, cupboard or wall cabinets, in simple whites and blacks for a streamlined feel.

Add a splash of colour

Heritage Bathrooms

Breathe life into a plain bathroom with a splash of colour. If you’re up for some DIY, paint your towel rack in a bright matte shade for a fun update. For a simpler solution, buy accessories like stools, towels, trays, jugs and vases in vibrant shades.

Love this? Check out these beautiful white bathroom ideas to spruce up your space

Go big on your mirrors

Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

It’s the oldest trick in the book, but if your bathroom is on the small side, a large mirror will help it look twice as big. Choose a design with a cool border to avoid it looking too clinical.

Install a statement light feature

Nest

Cool lights aren’t just for bedrooms and living rooms. Transform your bathroom with a sculptural pendant lamp that will add an edgy focal point to the space. We love this white architectural fixture from Nest.

Fall for fun storage

Frontline Bathrooms

Shelves don’t need to be in boring shades of cream or plain glass: get inspiration from what’s already in your bathroom to switch it up a bit. If you have a mirrored cabinet, consider mirrored shelves, or if you have hexagonal tiles, opt for funky shelves in the same shape for a 3D effect.

Dispense everything

Caesarstone

Rather than leaving bottles of all shapes and sizes cluttering up your sink, opt for sleek matching dispensers for a streamlined look. For extra style points, do the same inside the shower with smart wall-mounted bottles for shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and moisturiser.

Hang luxe shower curtains

Argos

An inexpensive but effective way to totally transform the look of your bathroom is to change it up with luxe shower curtains. Whether patterned, monochrome or one bold colour, a smart curtain will jazz up your bath on a budget.

Bring in a bath caddy

Thomas Crapper

It's a small detail but a bath caddy is an indulgent, easy touch to elevate your space. Place it in your bath and fill with candles, bath salts, toiletries (and that book you’ve been meaning to finish) for truly self-indulgent bath times.

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Lean a ladder

Caesarstone

If you’re fed up with your boring, uninspiring towel rail, consider buying a standalone ladder. Leant against a wall and safely secured, it’s an effortlessly chic place to hang your towels and bathrobes.

Use pretty jars

Kilner

Rather than keeping necessities like cotton buds and cotton wool in their plastic packaging in a drawer, consider making them a feature. Fill up transparent glass storage jars with your products and put them on display for a luxe hotel bathroom feel.

Use every inch of space

House of Bath

To avoid the bathroom looking cluttered it’s important to maximise the space you’ve got. Install high shelves above the doorway to store lesser-used items, put up hooks behind the door to hang towels, and if there’s a corner that’s not quite big enough for a full cabinet, opt for a slimline organiser: this one has multiple compartments for toilet rolls, bottles and more while taking up hardly any space with its narrow shape.

Lose the shower curtain

Utopia Bathroom Group Limited

It may feel like money is being saved by using a shower curtain but the shelf life of the cloth is by no means as long as a glazed shower door. Mould and mildew will ensure replacement curtains are needed often whereas a shower screen will last years and looks far smarter in a modern scheme.

Open up storage

John Lewis

As a cool alternative to a wall-mounted cabinet, consider a multi-tiered open storage unit. With several shelves on which to store your bathroom items, you can display everything from towels and sponges to dispensers and plants.

Add a feature splashback

IKEA

If a statement wall stretches the wallet a little too much, try a pretty splashback instead. Choose eye-catching colours and patterns that will pop against plain walls or neutral budget tiles. Highlight bold hues with co-ordinating towels and accessories to complete the stylish scheme.

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