We all know the bathroom is a private sanctuary; a place where we do our most intimate business alone and unbothered (usually--sorry, moms).  Yet our bathrooms are generally an area of the home that is often thought of last when it comes to home renovations and home remodels.  But did you know?  According to the National Association of the Remodeling Industry ("NARI"), if a bathroom remodel is tackled properly, homeowners will recoup 50% of the cost put into the project!

If remodeling your bath is not a possibility at the moment, all is not lost.  There are still ways to treat yourself to an easy peasy, super affordable bathroom re-do.

7 Steps To A Luxurious (Yet Affordable) Bathroom Upgrade

1.  Decide The Look Your Going For

Much like any other room in your home, the bathroom should have its own decor style.  If your home is contemporary, then having this style flow into the bath makes logical sense.  Same with farmhouse, modern or traditional.  However, what you do to decorate the space once your style is determined is totally up to you.

Bathroom trends today lean toward clean, minimalistic design with a sense of purpose.  This means simple fixtures, sufficient lighting and adequate storage and organization.
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2.  Empty Out Everything

The best way to tackle any room makeover project to completely empty out the space.  Tables, hampers, carpets and mats, shower and window curtains, trash can, knick knacks and cleaning supplies--in other words, if it's not fixed to the floor or the wall--remove it completely.
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3.  Give It A Thorough Deep Cleaning

Strap on those rubber gloves, folks, because it's time to get down and dirty.  Or should I say down and clean?  In any event, you're going to start your bathroom makeover by giving this space a thorough once over with your favorite, effective cleansers.  Starting from the top of the room and working your way down, wipe down walls, shelves, trim and baseboards.  Next, use a tile cleanser wherever you have tile.  Has your grout seen better days?  Practically Functional has a great tutorial for cleaning grout.  Continue by scrubbing the tub or shower surround, and clean shower doors, if you have them. 

Scrub both the inside and outside of the toilet and toilet tank, as well as your sink bowl and vanity.  Wash your floor as you normally would.

Depending on the size of your bathroom and how ambitious you are, deep cleaning your bathroom should only take a couple of hours.
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4.  Choose Paint and / or Paper

The bathroom seems to be the one room in the home where it's still perfectly acceptable to paper the walls.  This is probably because it's a much smaller area to cover and is generally easier to remove and replace.  Whatever you decide to do, whether it be paint or paper, be sure to find a color or pattern that is neutral and pleasing to the eye.

Again, take into consideration the style of your home.  If your home is country / farmhouse, a faux shiplap wallpaper might look great in the bath.  If you have a more traditional home, a deep burgundy or sandy beige might be more appealing.  Of course no matter what the style of your home is, you can't go wrong with white.
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​5.  You'll Need New Linens & Other Soft Goods

No bathroom makeover would be complete without the addition of brand new linens.  Luxurious towels (like those from Richard Haworth) can make a huge difference in your bathroom experience.  Bathrooms have become mini spas, a place to relax and indulge, so why scrimp on quality of your linens? Add a new shower curtain, window treatments and coordinating bath mats to complete the look of your new bath.

​6.  Turn Up The Heat

Underfloor heating and a heated towel rack are the perfect addition to an updated bathroom, especially in colder climates.   You can even add a heated toilet seat for uber luxury!
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7.  Chose Decor Wisely

As mentioned, bathroom trends today tend toward minimalist.  This means a tastefully decorated bathroom, with a focus on eco-friendly decor.  Consider bamboo accessories, artwork that complements your color scheme and plants that thrive in low-light, steamy conditions, 

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We hope these seven steps to a luxurious (yet affordable) bathroom upgrade inspires you to transform your bath from oh, no to oh, yeah.  Are you considering a bathroom re-do?  Let us know what you're considering in the comments below, we'd love to hear from you!

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