Are you trying to sell your home and get the best return on your home renovation upgrades? Or, simply want to spruce up your personal space without spending a lot? Most realtors, appraisers and interior designers will typically suggest starting with your bathrooms.
Apart from your kitchen, the bathrooms in your home are the spaces that are sure to give you the best return on your home renovation improvements. And even if you’re not looking to sell anytime soon, sometimes a simple bathroom upgrade can go a long way. Better yet, they don’t have to cost a lot.
From tub to towels: 12 tricks to transform your bathroom
While there are some bathroom upgrades that will cost more than others, there are some simple fixes that can be done before thinking about applying for home improvement financing, like a home equity loan or home equity line of credit to cover the costs. However, if you are willing to spend the money, there are some renovations that are sure to give you a significant return on the money you spend.
According to Joanne Cleaver from CBSNews.com who wrote the article, Five Home Renovations that Pay Off, bathrooms typically offer nearly 75 percent return on investment, making them a worthwhile improvement.
Consider these 12 bathroom upgrade options from least to most expensive:
- Grout/caulking – Costing about as much as a morning cup of coffee, all you need to make dingy grout and cracked caulk look new is a heavy-duty grout cleaner or a tube of fresh caulk. While it seems like an insignificant upgrade, clean grout and caulk is a minor fix that is sure to give your bathroom an all-over brighter look.
- Bathmat – For the cost of a fast food lunch, a bathmat is a small way to give old floors a new feel. Put one near the tub or at the foot of the toilet to protect from water damage and bring a pop of color while softening the overall feel of your bathroom.
- Shower curtain – As affordable as your favorite bottle of wine, a new shower curtain is a great way to showcase your personal style. Depending on what style you choose, it can either add some spa-like calm to neutral walls or a pop of color to a youthful color palette.
- Fresh coat of paint – At about the cost of movie night at the theatre, you can give your bathroom a complete color makeover with one bucket of paint. Whether you’re going for a soothing color scheme or a vibrant tint, a bathroom can take on a completely different look depending on the color you choose.
- Towels – If you don’t want to splurge for an entire set of new bathroom towels, even a few fresh accent hand towels can go far in creating a clean bathroom backdrop for guests and even yourself.
- Mirror – Many experts suggest replacing old vanities with a chic framed mirror over your bathroom sink instead. For the price of a dinner date you can replace an outdated vanity with a mirror boasting a sophisticated frame. Plus, the larger the mirror, the more it opens up the space.
- Art – You could spend thousands on art for your home, but you don’t have to. Whatever your budget, there are ways to outfit your walls with items you love; it may just take some time and creativity. Why not search out inexpensive prints from craft fairs and local artists, do a collage of your own photography or even try your hand at making art of your own.
- Showerhead – A high-tech, high-powered showerhead is a bathroom addition that is not only sought after by potential buyers, but always appreciated by house guests. While it could cost more than popcorn and a movie, it’s worth the effort.
- Fixtures – Shiny new bathrooms fixtures are certain to give your bathroom an updated, modern look. From sleek bathroom faucets to efficient tub fixtures, you can end up spending a lot on high-end fixtures, but you definitely don’t have to in order to add a bit of shine.
- Tile – Depending on the size of your bathroom and shower, new tile can be a costly bathroom renovation. While mid-range tile could cost anywhere from $2 to $10 a square foot, if you include labor that could add another $10 per square foot onto the cost. However, if your shower or bathroom floors are old, cracked or worn, this may be a great option to take advantage of, instead of replacing everything entirely.
- Tub – If your tub seems old or outdated, installing a new one isn’t the only option. There are numerous companies that specialize in tub and shower overlays to cover old tubs. Companies also sell tub paint to cover chips and fading in the porcelain. However, if you are considering replacing an old tub, you’ll be pleasantly surprised that tubs with jets and other hot tub features are great selling points for future homebuyers and offer a great return on their investment. They are, however, an expensive improvement. A new tub can cost anywhere from $500 to $1,000.
- Flooring – Flooring is probably one of the more expensive upgrades you can do in a bathroom. From new tile to laminate flooring, there’s sure to be a floor that compliments your space, whatever your budget. There is a large range in flooring costs, but you can estimate spending anywhere from $3 to $10 a square foot if you’re thinking about laminate flooring.
Whether you’re willing to spend $12 or $1,200 (or even $12,000) on your bathroom, you’re sure to delight in your new space while enjoying the fact that your hard work and money are sure to pay off in the long run.
From the 12 tricks above to gutting and renovating the entire space, there are numerous options to change the look and the feel of your bathroom, whatever your budget. However, if you do decide to make a more significant upgrade, think about using home equity to finance the project.