Designer tips for a budget-friendly bathroom refresh

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Since 2020, building materials and labour costs have shot up, resulting in homeowners looking for creative, cost-effective ways to renovate their homes, says interior designer Rima Martinez of Rima Martinez Design Studio.

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Here, she shares some tips on how to renovate your bathroom on a budget.

Microcement for wet locations

Microcement can be effectively used on walls, floors and ceilings in wet locations, as long as you use proper waterproofing underneath, like a Schluter-Kerdi type system, says Martinez. “An ambitious DIYer can pull this off with some practice runs on offcuts. Overall, this product saves you the cost of tile.”

Limewash paint for texture and depth

A perfect complement to microcement is limewash paint, such as Bauwerk Colour, says Martinez.

“This is also extremely DIYable, even by an amateur, as the beauty of this paint is the built-up layers, which give texture and depth,” she says.

Cost-saving shower designs

If you have the space for it, you can create a pony wall (a short wall that doesn’t extend to the ceiling) or deep walk-in shower, saving you the cost of a glass enclosure, which often costs around $2,000, says Martinez.

“Including a large shower niche for toiletries is a functional and esthetic must-have.”

Plumbing trends and choices

You can get high-quality plumbing products at a reasonable price point at places like Cantu in Vancouver. Martinez recommends brands like Phylrich, Watermark, Riobel and Kohler.

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“The trend for the past few years has been black. But it seems lately that we are looking at more textured silver finishes such as brushed nickel, aged nickel, bronze, natural brass is still in the running.”

Chrome is often the most affordable option and hardest wearing, she says.

“Try to use as high a quality of plumbing as you can,” says Martinez.

Repurposing bathroom vanities

You can repurpose an antique cabinet for your bathroom vanity to add texture and character and save you a lot of money, says Martinez.

Another option is to create floating shelves out of framing wood and Kerdi, with microcement on top and a vessel sink. Depending on the size, you may want to reinforce it with steel. This is a question you’ll want to ask a professional.

“Alternatively, you can find a solid surface vanity through a custom fabricator or through a bathroom supply company,” she says.

Corian is a durable and minimalistic choice

Another excellent, cost-saving material for bathroom renovations is Corian, says Martinez. It provides an excellent solid surface, is easy to clean, and is long-lasting. She says this material is resurgent in modern, minimalist spaces.

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You can use Corian on your floors, walls, shower walls and vanities. It’s easy to cut and fabricate (in comparison to stone or quartz) and is repairable if you have damage or a mistake.

Martinez recommends using an experienced installer for this, but if installed correctly, it will look good for years and stand up to wear and tear better than higher-priced materials like marble.

Affordable lighting solutions

One way to cut your budget for bathroom design is to use LED strip lighting in a recessed ceiling area, under a vanity or on your wall.

“Make sure to choose a light that is 2,700k, with a dim-to-warm feature, which means your mood lighting will set a soft candlelight mood and not a washed-out grey pallor,” she says.

Also, try to avoid pancake pot lights because, in small spaces with low ceilings, they can be quite blinding, says Martinez.

Accessorize for personality

You can add a lot of character to your bathroom with affordable accessories, like fun mirrors, baskets and colourful towels, from places like Zara Home and Etsy.

“Moving into fall, we are seeing a lot of jewel tones in furniture and accessories, as well as wavy lines. You can pull that easily into a minimalist space,” says Martinez.

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