Skip to content

Top Navigation

Midwest Living Midwest Living
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Home
  • Garden
  • Holidays & Entertaining
  • Videos
  • Sweeps and Contests

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Email Preferences
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Win Your Dream Getaway!
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Magazine Issues
  • Destinations
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Midwest Living

Midwest Living Midwest Living
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 40 Favorite Comfort Food Recipes

      Macaroni and cheese, Amish apple dumplings and chicken pot pie are among our Midwest comfort food favorites. Read More Next
    • 50 Romantic Midwest Getaways

      Romance, of course, can be wherever the two of you are. But wonderful surroundings help. We found some of the most romantic places anywhere in the Midwest—in the city and country. All you have to do is get away together! Read More Next
    • 50 Decadent Chocolate Dessert Recipes

      Chocolate lovers, these are for you: 50 of our best rich-and-gooey chocolate dessert recipes, including pie, pudding, cake, cookies, fondue and brownies. Read More Next
  • Travel

    Travel

    See All Travel

    50 Midwest Resorts We Love

    Our favorite Midwest resort destinations range from cozy lakeside lodges to indoor water park behemoths. Dive in to check out our top picks for a fabulous Midwest getaway.
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Michigan
    • Minnesota
    • Missouri
    • Nebraska
    • North Dakota
    • Ohio
    • South Dakota
    • Wisconsin
    • Around the Region
    • Free Travel Info
  • Food

    Food

    See All Food

    Midwest Living November/December 2020 Recipes

    • Comfort Foods
    • Desserts & Baking
    • Breakfast
    • Quick & Easy
    • Chicken
    • Soups & Stews
    • Midwest Favorites
    • Fruits & Vegetables
    • Fish
    • Grilling
  • Home

    Home

    See All Home

    50 Quick and Easy Holiday Decorating Ideas

    Give your home holiday style in a flash with these simple yet creative decorating projects.
    • Quick Decorating
    • Featured Homes
    • Organizing & Storage
    • Outdoor Living
    • Seasonal Decorating
    • Room Decorating
  • Garden

    Garden

    See All Garden

    14 Cheerful Winter Container Gardens

    Create bountiful outdoor winter arrangements with a little help from Mother Nature.
    • Container Gardens
    • Flowers
    • Featured Gardens
    • Midwest Gardening Calendar
    • Garden Ideas & Inspiration
  • Holidays & Entertaining

    Holidays & Entertaining

    See All Holidays & Entertaining

    40 Easy Christmas Crafts

    Decorate your home, make a gift or create an ornament with our 40 ideas for fun and easy Christmas crafts.
    • Christmas
    • Valentine's Day
    • Easter
    • July 4th
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
  • Videos

    Videos

    See All Videos
    • How to Make an All-Butter Pie Crust
    • How to Make Pumpkin-Spice Icebox Cake
  • Sweeps and Contests

    Sweeps and Contests

    See All Sweeps and Contests

    Warm-Weather Getaways Sweepstakes

    • Winter Getaways Sweepstakes
    • Warm-Weather Getaways Sweepstakes

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Email Preferences
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Win Your Dream Getaway!
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Magazine Issues
  • Destinations
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Midwest Living
  2. Homes
  3. Decorating Ideas
  4. Update Your Bath on a Budget

Update Your Bath on a Budget

By Written by Carol Schalla
June 01, 2012
Skip gallery slides
Pin
Create a serene retreat that's organized, comforting, and easy on the pocketbook. We show you how.
Start Slideshow

1 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Thrifty makeover

If you're not ready to spend the big bucks for a total bath renovation, what's the next best thing? Improving what you have, and letting the little things make a difference.Here's how our home editor remade her own bath, adding style, some much-needed storage and a few indulgences, all for under $900 (bubble bath included)! Her easy, cost-saving ideas will work for you, too.

1 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Planning a redo

Our basics for a budget bath makeover: -- Play up the positives; minimize the negatives. -- Work around existing fixtures. -- Update fittings. -- Hide the clutter. -- Find a way to pamper yourself.Pluses for this bath before its redo: It's roomy and has a window, a separate shower stall and tub, and a large vanity cabinet. Negatives: Orange-stained oak woodwork that limits wall color choices, a nondescript single-lever faucet, a dated light fixture, and a sheet mirror covering one wall.

2 of 10

3 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Update your paint

Milk-chocolate-brown walls add warmth to the formerly all-white bath. Far less expensive than patterned wallpaper, the paint creates visual calm and contrast. A collection of old mirrors also gives a warm, personal touch to the walls. White paint covers the oak woodwork and matches the existing fixtures.

3 of 10

Advertisement

4 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Add a decorative frame

A decorative picture frame placed in front of the large wall mirror lends the vanity area a more intimate look without the expense of removing the mirror. Other inexpensive improvements include Victorian-style faucets, cup-style drawer pulls and a chrome light fixture.

4 of 10

5 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Inexpensive new storage

The existing wide single-sink countertop allowed space for two new storage cabinets (under $200 each) to flank the basin. The glass-door cabinets provide pretty display storage of bath products.

5 of 10

6 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Pamper your tub area

You'll get a spa feel by adding indulgent (but inexpensive) extras to your bathtub. Outfit the tub with a bath tray to prop a book or support a beverage or snack. Line the tub surround with numerous scented candles for relaxing aromatherapy. Adding a terry-cloth neck roll will promote long, leisurely soaks. And for on-the-spot massages, install a pulsating showerhead.

6 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Soothing collection

Keep a group of soothing bubble baths, bath oils and lotions near the tub to add to your pampering routine. You can transfer them to matching apothecary bottles to create a less cluttered effect.

7 of 10

8 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Flea market find

A repainted $75 floor cabinet from a flea market provides room to hide and organize bath clutter. And because it's a free-standing piece, it adds to the room's new, more personal style.

8 of 10

9 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Add a chair

Furniture pieces in a bath also make it look less antiseptic. Here, a wire chair holds towels within easy reach of the tub.

9 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Finishing touches

Accessories complete this bath's transformation. White 3-inch wood blinds control privacy or let in the sun. Simple curios in glass, white porcelain and silver keep the new look classic. And displayed collections of prized seashells, like the old mirrors on the wall, make it personal.

10 of 10

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Written by Carol Schalla

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 10 Thrifty makeover
2 of 10 Planning a redo
3 of 10 Update your paint
4 of 10 Add a decorative frame
5 of 10 Inexpensive new storage
6 of 10 Pamper your tub area
7 of 10 Soothing collection
8 of 10 Flea market find
9 of 10 Add a chair
10 of 10 Finishing touches

Share options

Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Login

Midwest Living

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • Contact Us
  • Help
  • Free Newsletters this link opens in a new tab
  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Customer Service this link opens in a new tab
  • Renew this link opens in a new tab
  • Advertise this link opens in a new tab
  • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
  • Affiliate Program
  • Free Travel Info this link opens in a new tab
  • Special Promotions this link opens in a new tab
  • Sweepstakes this link opens in a new tab
  • Video
  • Home Advisor this link opens in a new tab

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en EspaƱol this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
  • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
Midwest Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.midwestliving.com

View image

Update Your Bath on a Budget
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.