Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links which I can earn a small commission off if you click and purchase the item, at no extra cost to you.
I took my bathroom from outdated and drab to coastal farmhouse chic! I did it all for under $500 and I’m going to show you exactly how you can do it too. This DIY bathroom remodel is affordable and easy.
The top rooms that people renovate first are bathrooms because they are small and usually more inexpensive to accomplish. While most people think they have to spend between $20,000 and $100,000 to renovate a room, you can get the same look for a whole lot less. I’m talking thousands less!
For under $500, I did a few updates that made all the difference. I went for farmhouse coastal bathroom decor and think it turned out spot on. It has settle hints of both and it comes together really well.
Trust me, it’s easier than it seems to DIY a bathroom remodel. You don’t have to spend a fortune! Just keep reading for my 3 bathroom hacks to instantly upgrade your space.
DIY Bathroom Remodel Cost
The main thing people ask when they see my bathroom remodel is how much did it cost? Well, it was under $500 to completely transform my guest bathroom. Broken down, here is the price list.
Paint: $22
Sink: $40
Faucet: $32
Mirror Frame: $20
Grout Pen: $9
Rustoleum Tub & Tile Kits (2): $50
Handles: $16
Countertop Epoxy: $25
Peel and Stick Tiles
Drain Face Plate: $9
Drain Cover: $5
Escutcheon Plate: $18
Shower Tub Diverter Spout: $23
LED Ceiling Light: $35
Shower Head: $0 – c/o Zoro.com. It cost $40 but you can find them cheaper.
Total DIY Bathroom Remodel Cost: $476
*Since we painted the bathroom Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace at the same time we painted the entire house the same color, I don’t know exactly how much the paint cost for just the bathroom so I estimated. Also, I used extra paint from my front door for the vanity so I didn’t factor that in since it wasn’t an additional cost to me. I already had the knobs so I included the price of a pack of handles.
How To Tackle a Bathroom Remodel Yourself
To make the process run smoothly and quickly, you should do a few things to get yourself organized. The first thing I always like to do when tackling a project like this is to make a list of the items I want to change and any touches I want to add. I knew I wanted to paint everything white, with the exception of the vanity, and I wanted to have a scalloped tile shower wall. Then I went from there. It helps to choose a theme as well so you can stick to items that compliment your theme.
Next, I like to put together a mood board. I usually just do this on Picmonkey since it’s easiest. You could do it on Photoshop or a design software if you’re fancy. To see some examples, check out my mood board post.
To find the best prices (and quality), take to the internet. I always, always check Amazon first. I love being able to read reviews of real people and seeing photos. I also like to see if there are gently used items for better prices too, a great feature of Amazon. I actually bought my sink used for $15 cheaper than it was available new and it looks brand new! Same thing with the faucet.
You can go to Home Depot or Lowes but just know that you will probably be spending a lot more for what you could get on Amazon or another site online. I got all the shower and tub face plates and covers online for a fraction of what I would have spent at Home Depot.
On the other hand, if Home Depot is having sales then it’s important to take advantage and see what you could get. I got our light fixture on sale for $35.
If you are trying to save money on a bathroom remodel, do these things:
- Make a list of what you want to update or change
- Choose a theme
- Make a mood board
- Price out items on the internet and in stores
- Stick to your plan!
Buy: House Tissue Box
DIY Bathroom Remodel Hacks
With every DIY bathroom remodel comes a few hacks to keep the costs down. I didn’t totally gut my bathroom and then recreate it for under $500. I got creative.
You have to get creative if you want to save money.
As much as I wanted to remove the entire tub and tile, I knew it would cheaper, easier, and quicker to just paint it. Same thing goes for the bathroom vanity.
Hack #1: If you can’t remove it, paint it.
Paint makes a world of difference! So often is painting something overlooked. People think that it’s old and can’t be saved but the fact is that you can bring a piece back to life with a little love and paint.
Since I couldn’t remove the tub, tile, vanity, and flooring, I used paint! I painted the vanity with the doors left on, it was just easier and looked good anyways. Then I painted the tub and tile with an epoxy kit. Can you guess what else I painted? The grout! I painted it with a grout pen and it gave the flooring a whole new look.
The countertop was something I reallllllllly wanted to remove but it was just easier to leave it so I got creative. I painted the countertop and then put epoxy over it. It was a CRAZY good transformation and you can see how I did it here.
Oh, and I painted the walls. Painting walls can really transform a room.
Hack #2: Frame the mirror.
Mirrors are a PAIN to remove. Especially if they are large and in a tight space. Framing a mirror is an easy way to make a builders grade mirror look custom. Our mirror was really in there good with who knows what kind of gorilla, elephant, or monster glue the previous owners used. It was really stuck on there! Even the ugly, outdated frame the mirror had before we removed it was stuck with super strength glue. It was a pain to remove but I have a video tutorial on how we removed it here. The new frame was cheap and looks so much better. See how we did it here.
Hack #3: Change the trim kits and face plates in the shower and tub.
Another quick and easy update is changing out the face plates and trim kits in the shower and bathtub. I’m talking about the drain cover, the bath faucet, shower head, and any other face plates or handles. Our house was built in the ’80s and it looked like all the original hardware was left on. The items I replaced were rusted, stained, and disgusting. I tried to clean them all, I really did, but sometimes it’s better to just replace.
For $55 ($95 if you include the cost of the shower head I got for free), my shower looked brand new.
I got all matching in polished chrome and tried to stick with the same brand for everything but if I found something for a lower price and still good quality, I went with whatever brand that was.
TIP: It can be a little tricky to search for the exact parts you are looking for. It look me a while to figure out the shower dial face plate is called a escutcheon plate. You can buy all the items you need in a set called a shower or bathtub trim kit.
Making It Yours With Bathroom Decors
Ha, see what I did there?
A bathroom remodel is never really complete without the decor and little touches you add to make it yours. The towels you choose, the handles you install, the soap dispenser you buy, these are the things that make it unique.
Since the sink faucet I chose is brushed nickel, I went with brushed nickel knobs and handles to match. I also went with a marble and brushed nickel soap dispenser. A plant and candle on the windowsill just felt right. It completes the space and gives it a refreshing look. As for the towel rod, I switched it with the towel rod that was in our master bath already.
On the countertop, I decorated with glass bottles and lavender I had leftover from my wedding. I have a monstera leaf in a vase with water that I cut off my plant when we first moved into the house. It’s very much alive and has been there for 5 months!
Bathroom Remodel DIYs
- How To Paint A Bathtub & Shower for $50
- How To Make Old Grout Look Like New
- DIY Faux Marble Countertops
- How To Frame A Bathroom Mirror
- DIY Peel & Stick Shower Tile
- Change Your Bathroom Hardware For An Instant Upgrade
I’m insanely proud of my DIY bathroom remodel. It came out 100x better than I thought it would. It’s amazing how a few simple changes like painting and changing out hardware can have such a huge impact. To see what the before looked like of our house, go see this post. We have come a long way, my friend. Now that you have seen my finished bathroom, I’m going to show you exactly how I did it. Over the next few weeks, I’ll share piece by piece the DIY projects I did to my coastal farmhouse bathroom.
Save this post
You did a peel and stick tile back splash. That is a TERRIBLE idea and I don’t think you should be red recommending that to readers.
Yes, I did do a peel and stick back splash over top of the tile. We don’t usually use this shower since it’s our guest bathroom. I don’t think it was a terrible idea, I think it was a great way to add a detail wall without having to remove and lay new tile! I’ve had it up for a year now and it still looks great. Obviously, you should read the instructions on a product before doing it yourself and make the decision on if it would work for you since everyone’s situation is different.
What was your source for the scalloped tile. Would make a world of difference in my bathroom.
It’s the peel and stick tile from Wallpops!
why is the peel and stick a terrible idea in the bathroom? what about the kitchen?
The peel and stick could be problematic in an area that constantly gets wet but I haven’t had any issues. It’s actually marketed to be in kitchens so I’d say it would work great there!
For the peel and stick tile, is it safe to get it wet? I wanna try it for my daughters bathroom but wanted to see how well it’s held up with use? Thank you.
It is safe to get wet. I wouldn’t put it in an area that gets very wet constantly though. We don’t use this bathtub/shower much so that’s why I felt safe putting it there. We have taken showers (maybe around 30 total?) in this bathroom and the peel and stick has stuck though!
Hi, love the ideas! I was wondering how you painted the cabinet and what material is the cabinet. Did you sand and prime it before and what materials? Thanks in advance!
Hi! It is a laminate material. I did not sand or prime before I painted. I just used a leftover paint I had from when I painted my front door. I used a foam roller to paint the cabinet. Chalk paint is great for painting cabinets too and you don’t have to sand or prime beforehand. I used a Amy Howard paint for my kitchen cabinets and it worked great as well.
Hi there!!! Love every single thing about this article.
What about the flooring?
Jenny this is FABULOUS!!! From drab to fantastic. I was wondering about the scalloped backsplash and saw the comment about “it’s a terrible idea”. I think it’s a wonderful idea to add dimension and interest to the painted white tile. It’s not as if you’re using it as “tile”…it’s simply an installation over the tile. As long as that’s in good condition there shouldn’t be any problems. GREAT JOB.!!!
Hi question. After using the tub/tile paint. What is the texture of the tiles/tub like now?
It’s a smooth, glossy finish.
I’ve been wanting to do my guest bath forever. I think you have inspired me to tackle this project. I’m wondering what did you do to the floor? Have I missed that post?
I actually only used a grout pen and it made the flooring look completely new! Here is the post: https://sweetteal.com/2020/01/how-to-make-old-grout-look-like-new/