Quality Home Improvement Ideas for Budget Bathroom Remodeling

When homeowners want to start a home improvement project around the home, whether it’s in the kitchen or it’s a major bit of bathroom renovation, they tend to get sticker shock once the research begins. Budget remodeling is key, but that’s doesn’t mean you have to settle on the cheapest goods, materials and labor. It just means smart home improvement. You can use some tried and true home improvement tips to shave money off the cost of your next remodel that will still turn a simple bathroom into something truly unique.

Of course the best way to eliminate budget problems is to plan appropriately. Nothing will blow your home improvement budget faster than going at it without a plan. A general contractor will help you plan accordingly but if you’re doing it alone you definitely need to take the time to develop a game plan for your bathroom renovation and remodeling. Get the big problems drawn up first, figure out your dislikes and target those things that you’d love to update. Here are some great tips to update your bathroom without breaking the bank:

Home Improvement Design Challenge One – Ditching the same tired color scheme

Updating the colors in your bathroom is easy, and there’s really no cheaper way to go about giving your bathroom a new look during the home improvement process. Too many bathrooms are a drab white or come with contrasting “safe” colors that contractors use in the building process. The problem with stark white or contrasting blacks & whites is that they don’t often match the personality of the homeowner. Use softer tones, earth-tones and other simple palette choices to quickly transform your bathroom into a room you’ll find most comfortable.

Home Improvement Design Challenge Two – Shrinking the Vanity

The vanity is the focal point for most bathrooms. It’s not uncommon to have a lot of counter space in master bathrooms with plenty of storage. A small vanity is common in smaller bathrooms. If you can get away with it, don’t replace this with another big cabinet system. Instead, purchase a pedestal sink and open up the floor plan. The style and extra space will definitely enhance the comfort of the room.

Home Improvement Design Challenge Three – Originality in the Flooring

This is where a lot of homeowners try to save money by installing cheaper material like a vinyl floor or cheap replica tile. Instead of getting cheap on the material, do something a bit more unique. If you decide to splurge in one area, this is where you should do it. You want your floor to be durable and last, while also standing up against the moisture. A great idea (and easy to install) is a pebble floor using smooth natural stones or larger glass beads.

Bringing Your Bathroom Remodel Together

If you’re concerned with how budget remodeling will look in your bathroom, remember that decorating and some additional improvements can really accent the remodeling you do in the rest of the bathroom. Custom moulding isn’t expensive, especially in a small bathroom space and it can really flesh out your color in the paint. Likewise, linen shower curtains can help the reach of your linen curtains. It doesn’t take much to create a beautiful new bathroom and you can still get a custom, luxury look even on a budget.

Top Home Improvements That’ll Boost Your Home’s Equity

So you’re looking to build your home’s equity and you’re wondering what will be the best way to go about recouping renovation investments and maximizing your home’s sale price. Look no further, here are the top ten upgrades that can promote your house to a top dollar sale.

1. Paint: A fresh coat of paint and ideally in the neutral color palate, can do wonders to enliven a space. Think about how color can tie in your entire home design. Think about using one one color of paint, or painting within the same family of neutral colors.

2. Flooring: Hard wood flooring has garnered a very general popularity that doesn’t seem to be going away and it is a great way to go, especially in dining rooms, living rooms, bedrooms and even bathrooms. A less expensive alternative is laminate. There are many laminate products on the market to choose from that offer a great look and for a small price.

3. Lighting: Go ahead and replace dated fixtures with new ones – maybe even consider making a statement with a fixture. The dining room fixture is one that you can be creative with. Find a beautiful chandelier or something funky and modern. These touches go a long way to light up your home. Also, upgrade switch plates and electrical outlet covers with the latest versions and install dimmer switches in the main rooms. Energy efficient compact fluorescent bulbs are all the rage.

4. Entrance: Make your entrance bright, clean and sleek. Clear away all excesses and hang a nice light fixture. For accents you might consider a long bench, or demi-lune table.

5. Updated Hardware: If you can’t go for the gusto and re-do an entire kitchen or bathroom, replacing old, dated hardware is a good start. Stainless steel is a very popular choice, and goes well with many styles and colors of cupboards.

6. Curb Appeal: Don’t leave this important aspect of your property unattended to. This is what will draw folks into your home. At the very least have your lawn as green as can be, clipped and tidy. Your garden should be free of dead or decaying growth and should ideally have some annuals planted for a burst of eye-popping color.

7. Screening: This means privacy. Installing a fence that creates a screen and some privacy from neighboring properties definitely adds value to your home. Likewise adding a deck can be a great use of yard space by extending living space into the outdoors.

8. Main Bathroom: Although many older homes have a bathroom on the second floor, a current day essential is a small bathroom on the main floor.( toilet, sink and mirror) See what you can do about converting a main floor closet into a small washroom.

9. The Ensuite: More and more, a full-service spa like bathroom off the master bedroom is a real draw for buyers. Think jet tubs, heated tile flooring, granite, marble, plush white towels, and great storage features.

10. New Kitchen: Last but certainly not least is the renovated kitchen. The most preferred features include stone countertops, stainless-steel appliances, ceramic sinks, and an over-all neutral to earth toned color scheme.