Budget Bathroom Makeovers (Refresh Your Space)
IKEA
This is one of a series of posts with before/after inspiration to decorate various rooms in your home, without breaking the bank or harming the planet. If your bathroom is looking a bit dated and tired but you don’t have much money, here are some inspirational ideas.
If you use plants in the bathroom, know that many (like sago palm and lilies) are not safe near pets. Read more on pet-friendly plants. Also don’t face indoor plants to gardens, to stop birds flying into windows.
Bath Safety Tips (for adults and children)
Run warm water first, then add hot water and test with your hand.
For babies, NHS has a midwife’s video (never leave children alone and run cold water first, testing with your wrist or elbow, keeping babies’ heads out of the water). Don’t bathe straight after feeds (or if hungry/tired) and avoid baby oils, cotton buds (the cause of nearly all ear infections) and talcum powder (linked to ovarian cancer).
Read posts in our bathroom tag for more information and ideas!
Plan and Prep for a Budget Refresh
Before painting, remove and recycle clutter, and give it an eco deep clean (choose unscented products for pregnancy/nursing and near babies/children). Open the window if safe to do so, then leave things to air out and dry, so you have a clean slate from where to start.
Set a Realistic Budget
Decide beforehand how much you can afford. If you can find some bargain eco paint and a few second-hand items, you could realistically makeover your bathroom for £50 to £100, if it’s small. Just put a limit and have a little money leftover for unexpected jobs.
Decide on the Base Colours
Bright white often can look start, but off-whites are nice for small bathrooms, then choose a couple of accent colours, to blend with the accessories you intend to choose.
Fresh natural paint is the quickest way to lift a tired bathroom. Some people prefer light and fresh bathrooms (so choose blue or green to match the sea), others prefer darker and warmer colours, like mustards or orange.
Be sure to choose paint for bathrooms, so it is easy to clean. Before painting, be sure to sand flaking spots and fill nail holes etc, and clean mould with a white vinegar solution.
Here are a few ideas from eco-friendly brand Graphenstone paint:
Refresh Tiles with Primer & Paint
Graphenstone Primer paint
You can change tiles, but often it’s simpler to just paint them on a budget. Ensure tiles are squeaky clean before you begin, by using sugar soap or a degreasing cleaner to remove soap scum and grime.
Eco Accessories and Other Nice Things!
Invest in some nice organic cotton fluffy towels, and a few luxuries like stone bath mats (won’t slip and last forever).
Photos are likely not good for bathrooms as the humidity could ruin them, but you could display a couple of framed pretty pictures to inspire.
Add a wicker basket full of recycled paper toilet rolls and indulge in a few quality eco bathroom beauty products, and recycle empty bottles at kerbside or at your local Boots store.
Read our dental tag to find eco toothbrushes and toothpastes (never use xylitol brands near pets).
