Small Bathroom Makeover on a Budget: Paint & Lighting Hacks

Bathrooms are the most expensive room to renovate per square foot. But if your plumbing works, you don’t need to rip out the tiles to get a fresh look.

I recently refreshed a 5x8 guest bath for under $200. Here are the three “high-impact, low-effort” changes that made the biggest difference.

1. The Power of Paint (Tile & Walls)

If you have ugly pink or beige tiles from the 80s, you don’t have to demo them. Tile Paint exists, and it works.

• Prep is Key: You must scrub the tiles with a heavy-duty degreaser and sand them lightly.
• Epoxy Paint: Use a specialized tub & tile epoxy kit (like Rust-Oleum). It smells strong (open a window!), but it dries rock-hard and glossy white. It looks brand new.

2. Lighting: The Mood Maker

Old bathrooms often have that dim, yellow “dungeon” lighting.

• Daylight Bulbs: Swap old bulbs for 5000K (Daylight) LEDs. This instantly makes the room feel larger and cleaner.
• Vanity Fixture: Replacing the light fixture above the mirror is surprisingly easy. Turn off the breaker, unscrew the old one, connect white-to-white and black-to-black wires, and screw in the new one. A modern matte black fixture costs less than $50.

3. Hardware & Mirrors

This is the “jewelry” of the room.

• The Mirror: If you have a glued-on builder-grade mirror, you can frame it! Glue wood trim directly onto the mirror edges for a custom look. Or, pry it off (carefully) and hang a round mirror for a modern vibe.
• Handles: Swap out cabinet knobs and the toilet paper holder. Matching metal finishes (e.g., all brushed nickel or all matte black) pulls the design together.

Mike’s Rule: Don’t move the plumbing. Once you move a toilet or sink, the budget triples. Work with the layout you have!