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These Small Bathroom Remodel Ideas Are All Budget-Friendly

Use porcelain to imitate marble, or give your vanity cabinetry a new coat of paint.

Headshot of Kelly AllenBy Kelly Allen
preview for 8 Simple Bathroom Decorating Ideas

Remodeling a bathroom—even a small one—can seem like it comes with a steep cost. But it is possible to completely transform your bathroom on a tight budget. From simply repainting your vanity cabinetry and sourcing decor on Facebook Marketplace to using porcelain tile to imitate marble, the options are seemingly endless. Ahead, browse genius ideas designers have made use of for their clients' bathrooms that are sure to inspire your own spa makeover. And if you need extra guidance through the process, we have you covered with bathroom renovation and remodel tips straight from the pros.

1

Before: Outdated Look

bathroom remodel
Courtesy of Unique Kitchens & Baths

The bathroom in a 1908 Victorian home in Washington, D.C., was in need of a loving and timeless refresh. So, interior designer Sara Swabb of Storie Collective, Tanya Smith-Shiflett of Unique Kitchens & Baths, and builder Cann Construction got to work.

2

After: Warm Atmosphere

bathroom vanity
Stacy Goldberg

"While we originally envisioned one single mirror with hand-finished brass trim, it would have been too large to even get into the house," says Swabb. "Instead, we decided to save a little money by doing four separate mirrors with beveled edges which turned out to be one of our favorite design details."

See more of this bathroom here.

3

Before: '90s Desert Tuscan

before
Bari Ackerman

Designer Bari Ackerman describes the previous state of this bathroom as '90s desert Tuscan. "It had a built-in jetted tub with heavy beige tile and a brown steam shower that didn’t work," Ackerman says. "Not only was it dark and dated, but it also appeared the shower had been installed incorrectly so that absolutely needed to be remedied."

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4

After: Modern Art Deco

bathroom after pink
Bari Ackerman

Ackerman updated the bathroom with a pink-and-orange palette for a modern twist on Art Deco style. A small budget-friendly upgrade with a big impact is the patterned shade the designer added to the window.

See more of this bathroom here.

5

Before: Kitschy Nautical

before with blue walls
Marcus Ford

With lighthouse wallpaper trim and sponge-painted walls, this blue-and-white, nautical-themed bathroom looked like something left over from the '90s. Blogger and designer Victoria Ford set out to give it a more refined feel.

6

After: Refined Nautical

bathroom with dark tiles
Marcus Ford

Facebook Marketplace finds—including a trough sink and vintage vanity—give the bathroom character and helped keep the project within budget.

See more of this bathroom here.

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7

Before: Stuffy NYC Bathroom

before bathroom
Courtesy Delia Kenza

Like most New York City apartments, this Brooklyn bathroom has minimal square footage and not much alluring character. The client enlisted designer Delia Kenza to give it a dreamy makeover with a clever rejiggering of the layout, a thoughtful palette, and the right finishing touches.

8

After: Dreamy Oasis

pink bathroom
Nick Glimenakis

"The client came to me wanting travertine, but sometimes when you're on a budget, the travertine you get looks really pink," explains Kenza. "And we wanted the neutral color." The designer settled on porcelain with a slightly pebbly texture that adds subtle dimension. A custom travertine sink satisfies her client's need for travertine.

See more of this bathroom here.

9

Before: Old Rustic Tuscan

before bathroom
Priya McCulloch

The heaviness of the Tuscan theme in this bathroom was too much for the homeowners. So designer Priya McCulloch gave it an airy makeover with two requirements: The project needed to be budget-friendly (the cost of the bathroom was approximately under $35,000) and the bathroom had to be low maintenance and easy to clean.

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10

After: Light Tuscan Inspiration

after bathroom
ERIC KRUK

McCulloch slashed costs by including high-quality porcelain tile to imitate marble, a walk-in style shower without a door, and recycling travertine tile from the home's previous kitchen renovation that went toward the new bathroom floor.

See more of this bathroom here.

11

Before: Dull Environment

before
Eneia White

This bathroom in a Brooklyn townhouse was super dull and void of any character. “The client wanted to bring a personalized feel to the bathroom without making it feel too modern,” says designer Eneia White.

12

After: Moody Yet Fun

after
Nick Glimenakis

White gave the 150-square-foot space a dynamic mix of texture, pattern, and color in a moody pink, black, and white palette. The floor tiles double as art, so no additional decor is needed against the soft rose-colored walls.

See more of this bathroom here.

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13

Before: Spare Room

spare bedroom
Courtesy of Toledo Geller

The Toledo Geller design team was hired to turn a spare room and small bathroom into a Moroccan oasis with plenty of functional details hidden under the design.

14

After: Moroccan-Inspired Bathroom

moroccan inspired bathroom
Jacob Snavely

For a subtle yet textural element, the room's ceiling is covered in a Moroccan plaster finish known as "tadelakt," which the homeowner—a retired woodworker and avid DIYer—actually painted himself. "We looked over a few color samples with him, selected the tone, and then he got a kit and watched a YouTube tutorial," says Geller.

See more of this bathroom here.

15

Before: Bare and Neutral

before bathroom tan with white cabinets
Old Brand New

It couldn't get any more boring than this bathroom. The only redeeming quality may be the tropical print hand towel, but the rest was in need of a major update.

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16

After: Colorful and Lively

bathroom with teal cabinets and fun tiles
Old Brand New

A simple coat of teal paint on the cabinetry and brass hardware boosted the energy in this bathroom by Old Brand New. Gold framed prints and a colorful rug make for easy additions that can certainly be sourced in a budget-friendly way, whether through online retailers or Facebook Marketplace.

Bathrooms

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