Tips for Quick and Easy Bathroom Renovations

Colors and Styles

Decide on a color palate and coordinate your renovation plans around various shades of the same color family. When adding accessories, consider gold, chrome and glass accessories to add a modern, sleek look. If your tastes run toward a more traditional look, consider brass, cast iron and brushed metal. Whatever your decorating scheme, don't be afraid to mix and match materials and finishes.

Appliances

If you're handy with tools, you can update a bathroom sink without the need to redo any plumbing by replacing an outdated vanity cabinet. As an alternative, remove the vanity cabinet altogether and mount the sink on a side table or another cabinet of a suitable height. Paint the side table to match the sink, or allow the natural grain of a wood table to provide a striking contrast. Installing new faucets and fixtures for the sink and bathtub is another inexpensive do-it-yourself weekend project to update your bathroom without tearing out your sink and bathtub. Replace your shower head with a "rain" shower head or a hand-held shower fixture to convert your daily shower to a spa-like treat.

Space-Saving and Organization

Install wall shelves to save valuable floor space. Replace your medicine cabinet with an updated model. Add brightness and color your bathroom by painting the walls or hanging wallpaper. Toilet seat covers come in a wide array of colors and are another inexpensive, yet easy to install addition to enhance your bathroom decor.

A bathroom étagère or space saver with shelves and an enclosed cabinet placed over the toilet is an easy, low-stress way of adding shelving and preserving floor space even if you are all thumbs. Many bath étagères require no tools and can be assembled in minutes. Think outside the box and seek out small cabinets, tables, carts and other vintage pieces to stash linens and toiletries. Pre-assembled, narrow-depth shelves that rest on the floor are another easy means of adding storage space to a bathroom without the need for any carpentry skills. Paint the pieces to match or coordinate with your overall bathroom color scheme.

A multi-tiered rack over the bathroom door is another inexpensive and easy means to keep towels and washcloths close at hand. Add shelves mounted on a tension rod in your shower or a shelf mounted over the edge of your tub to hold soap, shampoo and other essentials. Stash colorful baskets or sturdy plastic storage bins under your sink for linens or cleaning supplies.

Lighting

It's possible to update the lighting in your bathroom without rewiring your home by replacing outdated fixtures. Consider energy-efficient lighting to add brightness while you trim your electric bill. Turn the power off at the main circuit breaker before you begin doing any work to avoid possible electric shock. If you don't want to tackle that task, try wall-mounted lights that plug into available outlets, although these should be located well away from the toilet, sink, shower or bathtub. If you have sufficient counter space and enough outlets, small table lamps provide a warm, soft glow.

Additional Ideas and Decorating

If your bathroom has a window to the outside, consider blinds or a shade to match your color scheme while enhancing privacy. As an alternative, treat your bathtub or shower as a "window." Replace a drab, worn vinyl shower curtain with a luxe valance and panels matching or coordinating with your overall bathroom color palate.

If you have enough wall space, hang pictures, photos or wall decorations to your bathroom, but be sure that any wall hangings are resistant to water damage and mold. Fluffy towels of thick 100 percent Turkish cotton, plush throw rugs, upscale soaps and fresh flowers add a luxury touch to your bathroom while requiring only a modest financial investment and nearly no effort.