Updating a bathroom is one of the best investments you can make in an older home. Here are six tips to save cash on a bathroom remodeling project.
- Comparison Shopped Online for Savings
- Bought a Granite Remnant for the Countertop
- Scouted My House for Accessories
- Kept Some Features Intact
- Used a No-Interest for 6 Months Credit Card
- Shopped Facebook Marketplace
Here’s a quick look at the final bathroom!
When we bought our 1968 ranch style house we intended for it to be our “starter home.” Fast forward 22 years later and I’m approaching empty nester status!
Our hall bathroom had retro blue tile, a water damaged vanity cabinet, original tile floor and an acrylic bath/shower liner over the old retro blue tub that was collecting water. Plus there was a random half wall that made the room dark by obstructing natural light. The half wall also made the small space seem even smaller. There was also an odd drop ceiling above the vanity and a really ugly ceiling light!
I had put this project off for years but with my older daughter in college it seemed like a great time to get the remodeling project going.
After researching local contractors and getting a few bids/options (one of which included simply having the existing retro tile cleaned, painted and sealed), I opted to have the bathroom totally redone. We did leave a few things intact — the original storage cabinet and laundry “bin” drawer (which we use for towel storage.)
The overall final budget came in at under $10,000 and I am thrilled with the results.
Here is a closer look at the 6 ways I saved money on my bathroom remodeling project.
- Comparison Shopped Online
I made a list of everything I needed and primarily shopped via Home Depot. I created a project board in my Home Depot account (a neat feature). There were a few items I was able to find elsewhere for less. For example, a silver three-light fixture for mounting above the wall mirror was at minimum $75 to $100 at Home Depot. But I found a beautiful clearance fixture on another website for just $40!
2. Bought a Granite Remnant for the Countertop
Granite for the countertop was on my wish list (and was a major upgrade from the faux blue vein “marble” 1969 countertop.) But granite is pricey. My contractor recommended a local granite store that sold remnants. It was a great savings and it is beautiful!
3. Scouted My House for Accessories
I wanted a natural wicker basket for the back of our toilet and had one in another room. It has a nice pricier look and I believe it was a thrift store find! While I didn’t save a ton of money, any dollar amount savings was a bonus. It’s always great to “shop” your current home decor. You never know what you can utilize.
4. Kept Some Features Intact
Most of our bathroom ended up being completely gutted. I was not planning on this (the subfloor, for example, had extreme water damage near the tub and basically had to be completely rebuilt.) Bonus tip: budget for extra time and money for the “unexpected,” especially if you live in an older home.
5. Used a No-Interest for 6 Months Credit Card
While I don’t advocate using credit cards I signed up for a Home Depot card as I knew I would be making the majority of my purchases there AND they were offering 6 months no interest. My contractor was able to pick up the heavier items for me (like our tub) and I was able to easily return and exchange items like the floor tile I originally selected (which made a great backdrop to our shampoo box in the shower but not a great flooring option)
6. Shopped Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace is one of my favorite places to find home decor items. I greatly utilized it during 2020 when I was redoing my front formal dining room into more of a music/reading room. Seriously, I have found a Restoration Hardware lamp, a beautiful painted cabinet, a coffee table and a reading chair on Facebook Marketplace. It’s a great way to find home decor deals as people are often selling gently used furniture and decor because they are moving or downsizing. You can also sometimes find deals listed by home stagers. When I priced mirrors I was not thrilled with the expensive prices. I found a beautiful silver frame mirror for $40 on Facebook Marketplace!
Serene tropical spa was the theme in this bathroom remodeling project. I also shopped around for inexpensive accessories like a modern palm leaf design shower curtain on Amazon and a palm leaf candle. I also found a great faux potted tropical looking grass at Big Lots (!) for the countertop.
And here’s a look at the before! Lots of memories in this 1960s bathroom (and we updated the blue toilet and sink when we bought the house in 2000). But it needed an upgrade!
Have you ever taken on a bathroom remodeling project? It’s a huge undertaking (our project took about 6 weeks to complete), but it’s a great way to add value to your home.
Amazon affiliate links used.
