Budget-friendly ways to brighten your bathroom

IF YOU’RE not feeling flush enough to spend a lot of money on your bathroom, there are plenty of ways to brighten up that smallest room with the smallest amount of cash, say bathroom design experts.

All it takes is a bit of imagination and a few colourful but inexpensive accessories, promises bathroom designer George Holland, of Victorian Plumbing (victorianplumbing.

co.uk), who says: “After the kitchen, the bathroom is probably the second busiest room in the house, treading a fine line between practical and relaxing. If your bathroom’s seen better days, a few budget-friendly updates can make a difference. Simple changes such as new towels, replacing the showerhead or even resealing the bath can really freshen up a tiredfeeling space.”

And Paul Tarbard, owner of Watertight Bathrooms (watertight

bathrooms.com), adds: “Accessories and soft furnishings really can make all the difference, and brighten up bathrooms new and old.”

Here are their ideas to spruce up a tired-looking bathroom on a budget...

■ TRANSFORM YOUR TILES

REVAMP dated walls with peel-andstick adhesive tiles, which start at around £7.99 for 24. It’s an affordable alternative to retiling the whole wall, says George, explaining that you simply measure the area and cut to size, making sure your tiles are free from soap, dirt and water before starting.

■ SPLASH ON A COAT OF PAINT

REFRESHING any bathroom paintwork can really uplift your space, says George. Opt for mouldresistant paint for walls, and if you’re planning to paint your tiles or radiators, make sure you buy the appropriate paint.

■ ADD A LITTLE GREENERY

PAUL says plants always inject a bit of life to a bathroom – with the added bonus that many plants thrive in the humidity of the room.

■ WALL-MOUNT A TOILETRY DISPENSER

REDUCE clutter in your bathroom with a smart-looking wall-mounted shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel dispenser, suggests George. Simply affix to the wall closest to your shower and press a button to dispense. “As well as looking good, dispensers are also more ecofriendly, as you can buy toiletry refills, rather than a new plastic bottle each time,” he says.

■ USE A WINE RACK FOR TOWELS

INSTEAD of forking out for a heated towel rail, simply buy a wine rack and fill it with towels that match your bathroom colour scheme, suggests Paul. Make sure any accessories are in matching colours .

■ SWITCH THE SHOWER CURTAIN

A NEW shower curtain will instantly change the look of your bathroom, promises George. “It’s a great way to experiment with colour and pattern, especially if you match your towels and accessories to them,” he says. He also suggests replacing curtain hooks with gold or brass ones, for a budget-friendly but effective look.

■ LIGHTEN UP “Changing the lighting can transform a bathroom from dull to wow!” Paul says. New bathroom wall lights can cost from around £30, and new ceiling lights are a similar price, although there’s the cost of having them fitted on top of that.

■ DO YOUR OWN SINK AND BATH REPAIRS

IF there are unsightly chips or scratches in your bath, sink or shower tray, just buy a scratch and chip repair kit, which costs from around £20 at a DIY shop.

“Compared to replacing the full unit, it’s a cost-effective way to get that brand new feeling back to your bathroom,” explains George.

■ BUY SOME SHINY NEW TAPS

REPLACING the taps, which can cost from around £19, will give a fresh and unique look to a tired sink or bath, says Paul.

■ ADD A SHAVER POINT

PAUL adds that putting a good shaver point in the bathroom “screams quality” – and you can use it to charge your electric toothbrush.

■ DON’T FORGET THE FLOOR CHANGING

the flooring if it looks tired, maybe to vinyl, Karndean, or even a feature tile, can lift the whole room, suggests Paul – although what you pay obviously depends on how big your floor space is, as well as the type of flooring you choose.

If you’ve already got wooden floorboards, why not spruce them up by sanding, priming and painting them.