A Bolder Floor
About $240 if self installed
Vinyl flooring remains the most popular bathroom floor, due as much to its truly wide style and color varieties as to its low cost. Plus vinyl is much easier to install than the second-most popular choice for bathroom floors, ceramic tile. Even better: vinyl flooring can be laid directly on a pre-existing vinyl floor as long as the original is well-adhered to the subfloor. Vinyl floor comes in tiles or sheets; installing tiles is much easier, but because bathroom floors get wet, you should choose a single sheet if you can.
A Colorful Tub
About $40 if your tub is in good shape
A freestanding clawfoot tub is a classic and if you're lucky enough to have one, make the most of it! Start by painting the exterior of the tub a bright color. If it's in good shape (smooth, no peeling or cracking with the existing paint), you can paint over what's there with a good-quality enamel. Consider a red, gold, or deep green color. If the current surface is rough or flaking, you'll need to prep it for painting. Steel brushes take care of big flakes and chips; use electric sanders if you need to smooth finer bumps and gaps; get it professionally sandblasted if you need to go down to exposed metal. The more old paint you remove, the greater the need to use a primer before applying your new color.
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Feature Tiled Wall
About $400
Mosaic wall tiles reflect light and make a space appear bigger. For a small bathroom, go for a mixture of pale, complementary shades. Tile comes in sheets, usually about 13-inches square, so you'll need a box or two to cover a wall. You'll also need spackle to attach the sheets to the wall and grout to fill between the tiles. Tiling is messy work, but with practice and care you can do it yourself and save a few hundred dollars.
Mirror Tiles
About $120 for a 4-ft. x 6-ft. space
Mirror tiles make a small bathroom appear larger by reflecting light around the room. They're also a decorative alternative to a single mirror above the vanity. Square tiles can be arranged in a square, rectangular or diamond shape, and are easier to position on the wall above an existing tile splashback. They're easy to install on your own; you'll need a glass cutter though, and lots of heavy-duty, two-sided tape. Protect your hands, and be sure your first tiles are aligned exactly right. For inexpensive mirror tiles, try Target. A six-pack of 12-in.-square tiles runs just $19.99.
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Decorative Mirror
About $75
A large, artistic mirror can act as a focal point in your bathroom, just like a large painting. Most every home-decor store sells both framed and unframed mirrors, and we often love the exotic-framed mirrors at Pier 1 Imports. But for an unusual size or treatment (such as etching, sandblasting, tints or curves), go to your local glass shop and get a price for your personal design. It could be cheaper than you think.
Stenciled Patterns
About $40
Stenciling is a terrific decorating technique. Design your own pattern and cut it out of acetate sheets, or buy stencils from craft and hobby stores (they'll range from $10 to $50, depending on complexity). We suggest, simple, graphic, natural designs such as those based on the Arts and Crafts movement. Create a pattern around the top edge of your walls, or if your bathroom has tile halfway up, apply right above the tile. Use artist's acrylic paint; it has a thick consistency and dries quickly, and is ideal for repeating patterns. Use just one to three colors; more than that and stenciling work gets truly complex and the art starts taking over the room.
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Built-in Storage
About $250 for a 6-foot-wide unit
Tell the truth: Who doesn't like to read in the bathroom? We love the idea of lots of shelving in a bathroom, be it for magazines, towels, candles or shells brought back from vacation. You can build your own, using marine-grade lumber and anti-mold paint. Or attach ready-made shelving and bookcases to wall studs. For a smart and inexpensive solution, use Ikea's Billy line of clear-lacquered birch-veneer shelving units. A single 15-in. wide by 79-in. tall unit is $69.99. A 30 1/2-in. wide unit is $89.99. It'll take just a handful of cuts and adjustments to build around a toilet.
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Upgrade Lighting
$50-$250 depending on the number of lights
No need to add new lighting; merely upgrading your current fixtures to a more contemporary design can instantly change the personality of your bathroom. We particularly like many of the new wall-sconce designs that feature surprising shapes, glass color and textures. A terrific new sconce can be had for as little as $20; get to the $50-100 range and you'll be getting unique art glass and top-quality materials. For a wide range of wall-mounted lights, try shopbathroomlighting.com.
Cabinet Doors
About $175
Renew worn cabinet doors by topping them with handsome wood veneer. Sheets are sold either 2-ft. or 4-ft. wide, and usually 8-ft. long. Some come with peel-and-stick backing. Costs range from $4 to $8 per square foot, based on the wood type. In addition, you'll need veneer edging for the sides of the doors. Cut your veneer sheet to match the existing doors, and apply as instructed. Use an iron to apply the veneer edging. Remove the overhang and apply three coats of finish, just as you would with any wood.
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