17 Budget Friendly Bathroom Upgrades You Can Complete In A Weekend

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A full-scale renovation isn't always necessary to upgrade your home's bathroom. Even small projects that take little time to complete greatly impact a bathroom's functionality and design. These budget-friendly changes give a room a glow-up without breaking the bank or taking weeks of work. In fact, many of these methods cost less than $50 and can be completed in one weekend.

If your cabinets, countertops, floors, lighting, mirrors, walls, and windows need an upgrade, there may be a simple and affordable solution. Plus, these projects don't require a hefty investment, specialized labor, or any expert-level skills. Many of them don't involve any extra supplies aside from popular DIY tools you likely already own. So, learn how to alter your outdated bathroom decor on a budget and within a few days.

One of the most budget-friendly ways to upgrade floors is with peel-and-stick tiles. No special tools are needed, and the tiles come with adhesive backing. A utility knife may come in handy for trimming the tiles to the exact proportions of a bathroom. Many peel-and-stick tile designs are both washable and water-resistant, making them ideal bathroom additions.

It doesn't take long to upgrade dated bathroom tile with this stunning budget-friendly fix. Expect to spend about 2.5 hours tiling a regular-sized bathroom if working on your own. Water-resistant peel-and-stick tiles, such as FloorPops x Chris Loves Julia Floor Tiles, are only about $25 for a pack of ten. This set covers ten square feet of space, making small bathrooms very budget-friendly. However, larger bathrooms with more floor space may exceed a $50 budget. In this case, purchase peel-and-stick floor tiles in larger bulk packs or look for sales to get a better deal. 

Peel-and-stick tiles can also elevate bathroom walls at a fraction of the cost of a true remodel. Hold back from tiling the entire wall, and use a single pack of tiles to design a small backsplash. Like the floor tiles, these require no additional tools to install, aside from a utility knife for edge trimming. Peel off the adhesive backing, stick them to a dry, clean wall, and the impromptu renovation is complete.

If you want a more elegant look, the Baixing House Peel-and-Stick Tile Shower Waterproof Marble Tiles are less than $20 for a ten-pack. For a more rustic ambiance, the ten-pack of SYYKDEF 3D Peel-and-Stick Wall Panels is about the same price. Both peel-and-stick tiles should take under an hour to apply. Just wait at least 30 minutes after completing them before using the shower, so they have time to fully adhere. 

Replacing countertops costs anywhere from $1,000 to $9,000 on average. Even if you have a small bathroom countertop, this renovation can be far out of budget. Instead of spending thousands, wrap countertops in decorative vinyl paper that emulates a pricey stone slab. All you need is a roll of removable vinyl paper and a utility knife. No extra tools are necessary, but a Felt Squeegee Vinyl Wrap Tool is helpful to smooth the edges and conform the paper for a professional finish.

Wrap a bathroom countertop for about $40 or less using Veelike's Granite Countertop Contact Paper. If covering a standalone bathroom vanity, it'll cost you even less, as the smallest roll of this contact paper goes for around $13. The best part is that, unlike traditional countertop installations, this won't take days to complete. Covering a full countertop in contact paper takes a couple of hours, so doing a single vanity or small area should only take 15 to 30 minutes.

A bold paint choice is a quick and easy way to upgrade a space. Picking a new bathroom wall color completely changes the vibe. Gather a paint roller and mildew-resistant paint, and roll it over the former paint color. This project takes more time if you have to paint over a dark shade with primer or tear down wallpaper before you begin. If the room is less than 400 square feet and you use two coats, it'll likely just require one gallon of paint.

The Valspar 2000 Satin Pastel Tintable Interior Paint and Primer is about $27 and has the primer mixed in. It takes roughly four hours to paint one coat over a 400-square-foot room. If you're applying multiple coats and a separate coat of primer, plan on doubling or tripling the time. Since there's also drying time involved, the job can take days, making this a great renovation project you can do in a weekend.

Staining or restoring the grout lines between your bathroom floor tiles can have a huge effect on the room's overall appearance. One 20-milliliter pen covers roughly 100 square feet, so you may only need one pen for an average-size bathroom. There are no special skills or preparation necessary to recolor the grout lines. Remove the pen cap, test the colorant on a test sheet, and color in the lines.

The Rainbow Chalk Markers' Grout Pen is a single white marker pack. It costs $13 for a narrow tip or $12 for a wider tip. Another option is the $15 YaoQiYou 10-Color Tile Grout Pen Pack. These pens are smaller than the white grout pen, so the individual colors won't cover as much space, but can be helpful if you want to color-match. No matter which pen you choose, it'll dry quickly, making this an easy project to complete in a day.

Why not upgrade outlets with a cute solution that embellishes an unlikely space? Swap out plain white outlet covers with options that add depth to your walls and complement other bathroom features. You can DIY these covers or order them from a home improvement store or big box retailer.

It only takes a couple of minutes to unscrew the old ones and replace them. Plain white covers are the best deal, but decorative choices are still within an affordable range. Try Miowjals' Electrical Decorative Faceplates for unique floral or geometric patterns. In comparison, Lider's Stainless Steel Outlet Covers are more minimalistic. They're also corrosion-resistant and come in several metallic finishes that can be matched with nearby metal fixtures. Both outlet cover brands have several designs to choose from, with many costing $15 or less.

There are unique cabinet hardware options you may not know about that transform cabinet doors and drawers. Unscrew the original handles, knobs, or pulls accenting your cabinetry and replace them with something more stylish. Cabinet knobs are sold in many colors, sizes, and shapes. Depending on the design, they'll enhance a bathroom's aesthetic or have an ergonomic shape for function.

The process for changing out hardware is similar to swapping out outlet covers and takes minutes to complete. A set of 12 vintage-esque Eleet Assorted Ceramic Cabinet Knobs is only about $20, and has plenty of knobs for a standard bathroom setup. They come in six color scheme options and have a polished finish. If you prefer a sleek, metal look, Homdiy's Brushed Nickel Drawer Knobs are under $25 for a 12-pack, making this a low-cost upgrade from builder-grade hardware.

Aside from paint, you can also wrap bathroom cabinets in affordable vinyl paper. Rolls of vinyl come in a variety of colors and designs, and can even emulate natural materials like wood and stone. Wrapping cabinets protects them from scuffing and adds another layer of waterproofing. While this is a cheaper option, keep in mind it may be difficult to wrap doors with paneling or other etchings on the surface unless you work slowly and meticulously. A flat door is much easier to adhere vinyl to.

This process takes approximately the same amount of time as wrapping a countertop. It's easier to flatten the vinyl around the cabinet door if it's disassembled first, but this adds about 20 to 30 minutes of assembly and disassembly per door. Rwraps™ Satin Metallic Rose Gold Bathroom Cabinet Wraps are about $20 for a 5-by-1-foot roll. Measure your cabinets beforehand to ensure there's enough material to cover the entire surface. Smaller bathrooms are naturally cheaper to remodel, as there's less surface space to cover.

Paint has uses beyond recoloring walls. You can also use cabinet paint to change up a bathroom vanity. This is a great option for cabinets with paneling or other embellishments that are hard to wrap vinyl over. Just ensure you choose the right sheen for painting bathroom cabinets. There are several steps to ensure the finished look is professional. Remove the hardware and disassemble the doors and drawers. Clean everywhere you intend to paint, and tape off surrounding areas. Primer is also necessary for darker cabinets. Many projects will take a quart or less of cabinet paint, making this a very budget-friendly project.

Since it requires cabinet assembly and drying time, this project will take eight hours or more, potentially over the span of two days. Keep it cheap at about $23 a quart by using Behr Premium Satin Enamel Cabinet, Door & Trim Paint. With any luck, you'll also have paint leftover for necessary touch-ups.

Mirrors have a bigger effect on bathrooms than you may realize. Hanging up a new wall mirror can be a major upgrade, especially if you pick an option that reflects current trends with an asymmetrical, arched, or rounded shape. The exact instructions for hanging will vary depending on the strength of your bathroom wall and the mirror's weight. As a general rule of thumb, it should be hung at eye level between a sink vanity and overhead lighting.

It shouldn't take more than thirty minutes to properly level the mirror and mount it onto a wall, making this an easy project to complete during downtime on the weekend. Scour flea markets and online marketplaces for an ornate mirror at a discounted price. There are also low-cost yet fashionable mirrors, such as the BeautyPeak Arch Bathroom Mirror, which comes in black, gold, or silver and various sizes for under $50.

Many bathrooms are victims of dated window treatments like white vinyl blinds. Switch these out with a more modern choice to change your bathroom's ambiance. A carefully chosen pair of curtains or roman shades can filter sunlight while providing privacy. Many shades and curtains come with a mounting method included, but if it needs to be purchased separately, it will increase the overall cost.

Replacing window blinds takes less than an hour but greatly impacts the look and lighting of your bathroom. While some window treatments are expensive, it's possible to make this upgrade without breaking the bank. Try an affordable window treatment like the TwoPages Linen Roman Shades For Windows. These roman blinds befit modern trends and come in over 30 colors to match your bathroom interior. They're also about $30, making them a low-cost way to create attractive-looking privacy.

Even with curtains or shades, a window can feel bland in a well-decorated room. So, add a little color and personality using stick-on decals. These products are usually straightforward to install. Some have adhesive backing, while others stick to windows using static cling. It just takes patience to smooth it out without any bumps or bubbles. Use a utility knife to trim extra edges, and a small squeegee to flatten the decal as you go.

Smoothing a temporary decal over a window takes a couple of minutes, making it one of the quickest upgrades for your bathroom. It's easy to find premade options in a budget-friendly range. Decals like Volcanics Window Privacy Film with Installation Tools are around $8 for a small roll. Depending on the size of your windows, you may need a larger roll. So, make sure you measure before ordering.

Glass windows aren't the only places you can add embellishment with decals. Give your glass shower door or wall the look of fluted or etched glass without spending hundreds of dollars. There are two types of decals: stickers and static clings. Flatten stickers by pinning them under heavy objects, peel off the backing, and slowly press them against the glass. When unrolling static cling, use water to help affix it to the glass. In both cases, a clean and flat surface is easier to adhere to.

This is another project that takes less than an hour to complete, and it takes a fraction of the time it would take to replace shower doors. A static cling like Niviy Static Cling Frosted Glass Bathroom Door Decoration costs around $30 to cover a standard-size shower door. If you don't want to cover the whole door, stickers like Supzone Floral Window Decals can be arranged in a corner or anywhere else you'd like a decorative touch.

Pedestal sinks have a retro look, but are often eyesores in modern bathroom designs. Hide the visible pipes and hardware using a stylish sink skirt. Sink skirts add a cozy effect, softening the look of your bathroom. The easiest way to hang them is using peel-and-stick velcro, like Navona's Hook and Loop Strips with Adhesive. Attach one strip to the underside of the sink and one to the edge of the skirt. Some sink skirts even come with their own adhesive, so they're ready to go.

Outfitting your pedestal sink with a skirt is far cheaper than upgrading an entire sink. Plus, it takes less than 30 minutes to attach the skirt. The Velcro is $13, and the sink skirt price varies depending on the size and customization. Amazon has options like the Windkream Fabric Sink Skirt that comes with its own adhesive (so there's no need for Velcro). This is a budget-friendly option at around $10.

You don't have to replace an entire light fixture to change the vibe and brightness of your bathroom. Simply swap out the globes for a new design to transform it without doing any electrical work. Keep in mind that this can change both the overall look and how light filters through. A darker shade will darken a bathroom's ambiance, while a paler colored shade allows more light to pass through.

Installing a premade set, such as the AHDWDW Store's Glass Green Tulip Lamp Shades, takes only a couple of minutes, costs around $30, and adds a pop of color. For a clean and modern look at a similar price point, swap dated frosted globes for sleek new ones like Canomo's Bubble Glass Cylinder Shades. However, you may score a better deal by looking for lampshades at a flea market, thrift store, or on a secondhand marketplace.

Decorating with a small bathroom shelf will maximize your space and upgrade your interior design. Create a shelf that complements the rest of your bathroom style, and use it to hold commonly used items and decorative pieces. This creates extra space for candles, hand towels, and organizers stuffed with bathroom essentials. Most furniture pieces take around an hour to assemble, making it a practical weekend endeavor.

Pick a beginner-friendly shelf design that's budget-friendly and doable in a short timespan. The $40 RÅGRUND Corner Shelf is made of moisture-resistant bamboo and stands inside or outside of showers. Another affordable storage option is the Aepoalua Store's Bathroom Storage Cabinet. It's slightly pricier at $45 but provides enclosed and open storage. This cabinet doesn't belong in a shower space but is narrow enough to fit in compact bathrooms. According to reviews, both options take about an hour to assemble.

Showerheads don't usually have a large impact on a bathroom's appearance, but they do impact the functionality. Replace a basic one with weak pressure and no adjustable options with a luxury model instead. You don't need a professionally-installed rainfall shower head to have a more spa-like experience. There are plenty of options that befit smaller budgets and are self-installable.

Lower-priced options are available with convenient features like multiple modes and handheld functionality. For example, AquaCare's High-Pressure Shower Head can be found for about $30 and in finishes like black, bronze, and nickel. To emulate a high-end rainfall shower, look for similarly-priced options like SparkPod's Adjustable Rain Shower Head. Many of these replacement units are designed to be simple to install using your existing plumbing, making it an easy project to fit into an afternoon. Plus, you just need basic tools like a wrench or pliers and thread seal tape to prevent leaks.