Want to add significant value to your home? The experts will tell you to focus on two spaces: the kitchen and bathrooms. But a bathroom renovation can be pricey, and that’s not always in the budget if you’re looking for effective ways to increase your investment in your home.
Fortunately, there are easy, stylish ways to add value to your bathroom without bringing in a professional.
From updating hardware to swapping out a builder-grade mirror, you can tackle these simple, designer-approved DIYs to give your bathroom a modern, new look with minimal cost and major impact.
Paint the Vanity
Replacing your bathroom vanity will run you a few hundred dollars—or a few thousand. And, while an updated vanity can add major value to your bathroom, that investment might not be in the cards right now. Instead, with a little bit of elbow grease and a quart or two of paint, you can get a new look without a new price tag.
“If you’re craving more color, painting the vanity is a perfect weekend project that adds major impact for minimal cost,” says Sarah Trop, interior designer and founder at FunCycled.
Replace a Builder Grade Mirror
When you walk into a bathroom, the mirror is often one of the first things you notice. It takes up major visual real estate, and it’s an opportunity to elevate the look of the bathroom from standard to sophisticated.
“One of the first things I always do is remove the builder-grade mirror that’s glued to the wall,” says Heidi Houdek, founder and owner of Heidi Houdek Interiors. “Replacing it with a more custom-looking option instantly makes the space feel intentional.”
Houdek recommends going with a large framed mirror over a double vanity for a sleek, modern look. However, if that’s out of budget, two smaller meals will give you a sense of symmetry and tradition.
Swap Out the Showerhead
People want a serene experience in the bathroom and, even when a full spa-inspired renovation isn’t in the cards, there are easy DIY upgrades you can make that will channel that sense of calm. One of the easiest projects is to swap out your showerhead for a more wow-worthy option.
“Swap your showerhead for one that offers both an overhead rain feature and a handheld option,” Tropp explains. “Many manufacturers now offer easy-to-install systems in a wide range of finishes to match any style.”
Update the Hardware
Want to give your bathroom a more modern, sleek style in just a few minutes? Look for an easy decor upgrade with hardware.
“This is one of the easiest DIY-friendly upgrades out there,” Houdek says. “All you need is 20 minutes and a screwdriver. Brushed brass, matte black, or even mixed metal hardware can add warmth and personality where builder chrome once lived.”
If you need a more significant update, you can purchase a simple, inexpensive big-box vanity, but elevate it with high-end hardware.
Add New Cabinetry Fronts
Whether your vanity has seen better days or the style of your cabinetry is stuck in a decade that’s long gone, adding new cabinet fronts is often the most cost-effective way to give the impression of a new bathroom makeover.
“You can reuse an existing vanity by sanding and repainting the body of the vanity, then adding new shaker fronts instead of ordering pre-fab, which saves hundreds,” says Brittany Rediger, founder and principal designer at Rediger Design.
Regrout the Tile
Rather than retiling a bathroom, which can drive up bathroom renovation costs quickly and test the limits of your DIY remodeling skills, Rediger recommends regrouting the tile.
This works whether you’re trying to cover up stained white grout or hoping to give a higher contrast, new look to your bathroom.
Replace the Vanity Countertop
If your DIY skills are of the semi-professional variety, then replacing the vanity countertop will instantly add major value to your bathroom.
Whether you have a builder-grade granite or a laminate that saw its best days several generations ago, upgrading to a natural or manmade stone can give your bathroom a sophisticated look.
Rediger recommends going a step further and looking for remnants of high-end stones for the biggest impact DIY.
“Replace your existing countertop with quartzite remnants from a local fabricator. It’s an easy way to save up to 70% on stone while finding unique pieces,” says Rediger.
Install New Lighting
Lighting is the jewelry that gives a room something special, and nowhere is that more true than in the bathroom. In a small space, lighting can add warmth, sheen, and an instant sense of style.
“The right light fixture can completely transform the look and mood of a bathroom,” says Houdek. “Replacing builder-grade lighting with something custom brings an instant layer of polish and ambiance.”