Bathroom DIY Ideas: luxury bathrooms on a budget

Bathroom DIY Ideas: luxury bathrooms on a budget

Recent years have sparked a surge in home DIY; due to the pandemic, coupled with the current cost of living crisis, and the rise of TikTok tutorials, homeowners are rolling up their sleeves to tackle home improvements themselves. As we continue to spend more time at home, creating a personal sanctuary has become a priority. Although the costs of a renovation of our ‘home hubs’, such as the kitchen and bathroom, can quickly soar, it’s important to continue prioritising quality in these spaces that we use day in, day out - that drippy tap or stubborn drawer might feel minor at first but can soon disrupt your daily comfort! 


So, how can we explore DIY projects for our bathroom without compromising on quality, when it comes to our bathroom taps and brassware? This guide offers easy-to-follow DIY tips to enhance your bathroom design, that ensures a high-quality finish that doesn’t sacrifice style. Say goodbye to quick-fix rustic or shabby chic looks; it’s time for DIY renovations that rival professional quality! 

refresh your surfaces with bathroom wall paint

Begin your DIY journey with an entry-level bathroom revamp by refreshing your walls with a fresh lick of paint. Why not add a personalised touch to your space, by exploring fun hand-painted designs, or getting creative with stamping and stencils. Whimsical, organic patterns are a key focus for 2024 interior design trends and lend beautifully to the unique imperfections that can only be achieved through hand painting.Neutral interiors have captured the hearts and homes of interior design enthusiasts worldwide. The muted colours create a calming, serene space that creates an unequivocal allure, that appeals to so many.

 
High-end and luxurious finishes can also be imitated with paint and the right tools. If you’re feeling creative and want to take on a challenge, why not explore using paint to re-create the look of marble, stone and limewash plaster – just like we have in our Arrondi and Brushed Bronze bathrooms, which were all created by hand using only paint!  

paintED woodwork and ceilings

Embrace trends such as painted woodwork, or the 5th wall trend like we have in our Cameo creative cloakroom and boutique bathing bathroom, by painting your skirting board, doors, windowsills, or ceiling in an unexpected, complementing colour to achieve a striking look. A painted ceiling gives the impression of a taller space, seamlessly tying your design scheme together from top to bottom. 


For lasting results, use bathroom-friendly paint designed to withstand moisture, we love Valspar as an affordable option that offers high-quality water-resistant finishes and the option to formulate a completely customised colour. Always be sure to use product-specific paints for specialised finishes, such as grout and tile paint for those looking to give their current tiles a temporary makeover.  

Brushed Bronze Round Button Flush PlateBrushed Bronze Round Button Flush Plate

RENTER-FRIENDLY WALL COVERINGS AND SURFACES

 
Another way to transform your bathroom surfaces is by exploring temporary materials, such as removable wallpaper and sticker tiles. A boost in popularity due to their affordability and renter-friendly nature means they’re now available in many high-quality and on-trend designs, offering a luxury appearance without the hefty price tag.

Go beyond your walls and floors by exploring removable vinyl for various bathroom applications. In our terrazzo bathroom interior featuring our premium Brushed Bronze brassware, we dressed our shower screen with a luxurious fluted vinyl. Boasting a stylish look and feel, this offers a simple and affordable solution to upgrade your current shower screen, whilst adding a feeling of privacy to your space.

PLAYFUL & PRACTICAL BATHROOM HARDWARE

Enhancing your bathroom design with hardware pieces adds both style and practicality without creating unnecessary clutter. Enter this trend by exploring options like curtain ties, robe hooks, toilet roll holders, towel rails and bathroom shelves, offering functional and easy-to-install solutions for any DIY enthusiast.  

For compact bathrooms where functionality is key, opt for multifunctional pieces. Our modular Muse shelf offers tailored versatility, doubling as a towel rail and a shelf with additional storage space for toothbrushes or a soap dispenser. For an elevated look, choose finishes coordinated perfectly with your bathroom taps and brassware. Our bathroom accessories are designed to perfectly match all VADO finishes for a seamless bathroom design.

 

Brushed Bronze Towel Shelf with RailBrushed Bronze Towel Shelf with Rail

BRING THE OUTSIDE IN WITH BATHROOM PLANTS & FLORALS

Incorporating greenery and florals into your bathroom design is an affordable and attainable way to transform your décor. While not your typical DIY, you can get creative with arrangements, and repurpose old containers as pots. 

Whether you want to create an eco-friendly inspired design or a romantic floral sanctuary, plants can be colour-coordinated to your scheme while adding a natural, organic touch to the space by bringing the outside in. There are many bathroom-friendly house plants, like spider plants or peace lilies that thrive in moisture-filled areas; acting as natural air purifiers and helping to control humidity, as well as enhancing both the ambience and air quality of your bathroom.  

 

UPCYCLED BATHROOM FURNITURE

Bathroom furniture, or a new bathroom suite doesn’t have to be costly. If you love a vintage or eclectic look, and enjoy an upcycle project, you can repurpose thrifted pieces to create something new. There’s a never-ending flow of unique pieces that can be found at charity shops and online marketplaces, sometimes even for free!  
Waterproof vessels can be carefully transformed into a bathroom basin, while a chest of drawers or cabinet can be reworked for use as a bathroom vanity unit.

 
For our Brushed Bronze launch, we repurposed a basin and chest of drawers for our terrazzo bathroom design, featuring our copper taps and brassware throughout. Reviving old furniture pieces is the perfect opportunity to get creative and add personality to your space, whilst being a sustainable practice to give a new lease of life to pieces that would otherwise be discarded. 

3 Outlet Thermostatic Shower Valve with All-Flow + Square Single Function Slide Shower Rail Kit with Square Wall Outlet3 Outlet Thermostatic Shower Valve with All-Flow + Square Single Function Slide Shower Rail Kit with Square Wall Outlet
3 Outlet Thermostatic Shower Valve with All-Flow + Square Single Function Slide Shower Rail Kit with Square Wall Outlet3 Outlet Thermostatic Shower Valve with All-Flow + Square Single Function Slide Shower Rail Kit with Square Wall Outlet

FUNCTIONAL BATHROOM WALL PANELLING

Once seen as a job only for the professionals, the revival of traditional bathrooms and interiors means DIY bathroom panelling has taken the do-it-yourself community by storm; with brands even offering pre-made wall panelling kits to make the process even easier. With people leaning towards traditional décor and cosy home interiors, panelling offers a simple approach to add depth, texture, and visual interest to empty walls. 


With endless styles to draw inspiration from, you can explore designs to create a look that’s both unique and an easy way to achieve a high-end, customised feel. For additional functionality, opt for a style as we have in our cottagecore bathroom design featuring our Brushed Gold bathroom taps and brassware, incorporating a small ledge that can be used as a handy bathroom storage solution, or used to display pictures, dispensers, and decorative items. A perfect addition for small bathrooms or cloakrooms!  
 

AESTHETIC SHOWER CURTAINS AND TEXTILES

Finally, elevating your bathroom's textiles can make a big impact with minimal effort. Start with refreshing your towels by exploring unique statement combinations displayed on towel rails to add areas of visual interest. Coordinate them with a matching bath mat, or consider upgrading your shower curtain to an aesthetic and stylish option that complements your bathroom design.

Using textiles in the bathroom adds warmth and depth to a room that can sometimes feel cold and empty; so why not finish your space by incorporating curtains or fabric blinds to dress your windows, like we have in our peach Booth & Co. bathroom design, for an extra cosy feel. 


There are so many projects you can explore to begin your DIY journey, including handmade decorative items, such as DIY bath trays made from recycled wood and piping, or hand-turned ceramic storage containers made of clay - The opportunities are endless! You can have fun exploring a new creative outlet whilst building a personalised bathroom interior that is sustainable and kind to your bank account!