Simple Bathroom Renovations
Inexpensive Ideas for Buyer-Friendly Bathroom Upgrades
Is your bathroom standing in the way of selling your house? It's no secret that many buyers rate bathrooms and kitchens as two of the most important factors in making a buying decision. Upgrades may rate high, but they don't always have to come with a high price tag.
Often even the smallest changes will make a big difference to the perceived value of your home, so if you are on a budget and looking to give your bathroom a quick and easy facelift, here are some tips on how to go about it.
In a main bathroom, two sinks are more desirable than one, but if you are only plumbed for one, just changing out the sink or installing a new vanity, will add immeasurable value to your home.
As mentioned above, a vanity serves dual purpose to support the sink and provide additional storage and counter space.
If you intend just to replace the sink, you can easily set the tone of your entire décor vision with your choice. A raised box or square sink will lend a more contemporary feel to your room, which can be played up with other contemporary accessories and colours.
Vessel sinks have proven to be extremely popular in guest washrooms in recent years. Look for cracked glass or stainless steel for a design twist and make your sink the focal point of the washroom.
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Vanities & Sinks
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$99.99
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Canadian Tire Corp
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$149.74
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Vintage Tub & Bath
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from $1,144.28
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stores
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Often, all a bathroom needs is a new coat of paint and fresh bath linens for a complete overhaul. Although you may not often have the option to purchase your paint online, there are handy tools available like Home Depot's "Think in Colour" tool. Paint pickers like this one give you a visual on what your room will look like before you commit to the cost and exercise of painting.
A couple key notes to remember before you start painting is to use oil-based paint and to stay away from rich, dark, saturated colours. Oil-based paint provides best results in bathrooms because of its water resistant properties. Many Canadian bathrooms are built with small windows, or no windows at all, causing the space to look and feel small. You can lighten the space of your bathroom and make it appear more spacious by choosing neutral, softer colours.
Towels are a great way to compliment or accent the walls and floor in your bathroom. A complimenting colour will tie in with your colour scheme, whereas an accenting colour or design will pop against your walls and floor.
Towels are made from 3 types of cotton – Egyptian, Supima, and standard. Egyptian is considered the most soft and absorbent and is the most expensive, while Supima is more durable and a little less expensive. Standard cotton is of even lesser quality but is absorbent and lasts a long time.
When buying bath linens, consider size: many will be happy with a standard bath towel but nothing beats being completely wrapped up in a big fluffy towel after a shower, and for most of us, this means upgrading towel size to a bath sheet.
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Towels
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$9.59 
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The Home Depot
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$12.00
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The Shopping Channel
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$5.56
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Sears Canada
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Even though your things may seem to you to be sorted in an orderly fashion, anything lying out on countertops, in the shower, on top of the toilet, or around the bath clutters your bathroom, drawing attention to inadequate storage and organization.
Storage modules are becoming more space efficient and affordable as the years go by. The beauty of many organizational units is that they themselves can become an element of design in a small area, like a bathroom.
The easiest way to create storage area in a small bathroom is by installing a vanity with built-in cupboards or shelving, or a mirror-fronted medicine cabinet. Both serve dual purposes without taking up any extra floor space.
Another alternative is toilet vanities or toppers. Each fit around and above the toilet working as a smart, space-saving storage solution.
Baskets are an attractive way to store rolled up towels, toilet paper, bath treats, and cosmetics. If you are feeling really creative, you could further dress a basket up by tying a fabric ribbon around it to match your colour palette.
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Organization
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$59.29
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The Home Depot
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$56.98
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The Home Depot
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$9.99
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Canadian Tire Corp
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Although brass will ultimately make a comeback, it is considered to be a bit outdated in today's design world.
Just like an upgrade in your bathroom sink will add to the over all value of the room, so will improved hardware.
Hardware refers to anything from faucets in the sink, shower and bath, to towel racks and toilet paper holders. You can take your bathroom from frumpy to fabulous with a good hardware makeover. Click here to for a full guide on buying bathroom faucets.
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Hardware
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$119.99
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The Home Depot
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$221.81
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The Home Depot
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$715.84
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The Home Depot
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Never ignore the value of wall hangings just because you are in a bathroom. Many of us spend more time in our bathrooms than we do in the formal sitting areas of our homes where art traditionally hangs, so why not put the same energy into decorating them?
Mirrors give the illusion of a larger space, and can also make a room appear lighter if they are able to reflect natural light.
When choosing art for your bathroom, keep in mind that it should not be susceptible to moisture. Ceramics are often popular in bathrooms, as are acrylic prints.
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Mirrors & Art
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$134.98
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Vintage Tub & Bath
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$59.99
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Canadian Tire Corp
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Vintage Tub & Bath
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The term bathroom accessories is wide reaching – they can be anything from a wall-mounted heated towel rack to a toothbrush holder. For the purpose of this article, they are the finishing touches that you have probably been happily living without for a long time.
Garbage cans, toilet brushes, tissue box covers, toothbrush holders…do yours match? This may seem insignificant, but these details are what pull the décor in your room together.
Bath mats should match your towels, and soap dishes in the shower, bath and sink should tie in together.
Lastly, take a look at your shower curtain and rings. If it looks at all ratty or mildew-ish replace the curtain immediately. Same goes for shower curtain rings.
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Bathroom Accessories
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$22.99
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Canadian Tire Corp
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$204.26
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Faucet Direct
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Faucet Direct
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