Maybe it’s because I’m a ‘bath’ person, but I’ve always been a bit fussier about our master bath than most. It seems for so many, the master bath is an afterthought, often cluttered with hair and makeup products on the counter and wet towels on the floor. A master bath should be a retreat and a relaxing space to unwind, and as such deserves special attention. A while back I wrote a post about romantic bathrooms where you can see what our former master bath looked like in our home of 26 years, as well as the master bath at the cabin. Click here if you’d like to take a peek.
Being such a bathroom aficionado, how could I resist this guest post idea from Sue, who will share with you some of her fabulous ideas on how to create the bath of your dreams on a budget. Take it away Sue!
Hi, this is Sue Jason and I am a blogger at My-bathrooms blog, where I talk about my passion for sharing ideas which include home improvement and decor.
How to Have a Classic Bathroom and Stay Within Your Budget
Working your décor on a strict budget can be heavy going and you may even begin to entertain thoughts of just choosing the cheapest bathroom suite that you can find, just to make sure that you stay within your financial grasp. But do not panic: there are some great tips to help you have the bathroom of your dreams while still staying within your budget.
Accessories!
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Make your accessories work well in the bathroom, choosing cheerful and attractive pieces that will enhance your bathroom’s whole appearance. Bathroom accessories are cheap and easy to find in supermarkets, home décor outlets and even at flea markets and car boot sales.
Fancy a Light Fitting?
Invest in a fancy or ornate light fitting – perhaps even a chandelier if your bathroom is tall enough to carry it off. The addition of a matching and equally sumptuous mirror will ensure that the bathroom oozes classic elegance and glamour.
Buy the Best Bath Suite
Do not be tempted to skimp on your bathroom furniture by buying the absolute cheapest set that you can find. Always buy the best suite that fits into your budget as this will give your bathroom an underlying air of class. Whichever bathroom set you choose can be transformed and reworked using accessories and soft furnishing. This elegant freestanding bath from My Bathrooms will instantly upgrade any bathroom, inspiring you to match the surrounding décor to its elegant lines and sleek contours.
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Do not forget to give careful thought to your taps too, as these can really complete the idea begun by the basic décor elements.
Wood Always Works
Wooden panels always look great, and give an air of expensive luxury to every bathroom. If the budget does not allow you to buy ready-made widen panels, you can practice a bit of DIY. Purchase the wood as cheaply as possible and work and varnish it yourself. The end result will look amazing as well as giving you a real sense of achievement when you see the finished product.
Treasure Hunt!
Attend salvage sales regularly, and train yourself to spy the hidden treasures lurking under heaps of dirt and grime. You must be prepared to invest some elbow grease and TLC, but you will be astonished at how wonderful such treasures can look, once cleaned up and placed properly.
Appearance is all
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Decant hand-wash and shower gel into pretty containers and jars, rather than leaving them in the drab supermarket packaging. Even something as humdrum as cotton buds look attractive and appealing when seen nestled into a gorgeous floral ceramic container!
Thank you Sue, and you’re so right! There are so many beautiful containers there is no reason NOT to have a pretty home for everything.
I’m curious…do you think bathrooms are important, or are you among the many who don’t really give it much thought? Fess up ;).
Al says
I struggle with bathrooms! Ours is a mess of hair products and toiletries, although no wet towels on the floor. I just can’t seem to find a way that allows easy access to stuff I use on a daily basis but doesn’t look messy. I love the look of the third picture but where would you keep your stuff? Maybe it’s hidden on the floor behind the tub. 🙂
Doreen says
Do you have a medicine cabinet, or drawer or cabinet space in your vanity? Most bathrooms have all of the above, so why not use them? If some items absolutely have no place to go except for the counter top, consider trays or better yet, baskets. It makes it look neater and infinitely easier to clean.
If you click over to the link to my baths, you’ll see I have a slipper tub. I agree it’s not as convenient for storing things. I use a shower caddy for shampoo and soap, and if have a small stool near the tub I can use for whatever else I might need. You could also use a tub caddy to have soap, etc. handy if you take a bath.
Nana Diana says
Those are gorgeous bathrooms. We put in a wonderful master bath when we redid this house and it is like a little mini-retreat for me, too- xo Dana
Magali@TheLittleWhiteHouse says
The bathroom is a very important part of the house… and I can’t wait to redo mine!
Cecilia says
I guess I’m somewhere in between…love a pretty bathroom but usually have to go with what’s there…hm, maybe I’ll rethink that for the future bathroom at the farm! Thanks for the inspiration! And Doreen, I like your post on your baths and what has worked and not worked. Great advice!
Denise says
I live in a house that was built in 1935. The bathrooms are small, but functional. My wish is for my next house to have large luxurious bathrooms. My husband thinks that’s a complete waste of space. I plan to build him an outhouse! xxD
Cynthia says
I will still focus heavily on our new master bath but this go around there will be no tub. I am such a bath person but it is very difficult for me to get in and out. I used soak in a bubble bath once a week. Now it is function for me but I want it to be a beautiful place at the same time. Great inspiration.
Cynthia
Doreen says
Hi Cynthia, I’m sure you’ve seen tubs that have ‘doors’ that open so you don’t have to step in or out? Might be something to consider.
Hope all is well and the builder can get started soon!
Cynthia says
I am way too stubborn for those. I want a pretty tub or no tub at all. That is why I made the decision to just with no tub. We will have an extra deep tub in the guest bath. Here’s to hoping things get moving on t he outside of our house!!!
Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow says
When I bought this old bungalow about 14 years ago, the bathroom had some weird green marlite ( ?) around the tub and the tub was ancient. I had a local plumbing company give me an estimate on fixing that…they said 3000.00. Yeah, right. My oldest son told me this should only cost about 1500.00, tops. So..bearing in mind that this is a tiny bathroom, not much larger than the size of the tub, I just waited for a tax refund year and hired out a young guy and his buddy to put in a new tub and tile above it, paint the walls with some sort of stuff that hid the cracks…all for around 1500.00
There was a sort of tin medicine cabinet above the sink …hideous. I replaced that with a mirror from TJ MAXX within six months. Some nice curtains / decorative shelf. That’s it. Old floor and sink and commode still remain. The plumbing works! LOL !
Poppy says
Amazing tips and lovely images, especially the oval bathtub and the last pic. I wanted an oval, claw foot tub, but it was too costly to be shipped from a shop in England, the only place at the time that carried them. I love both my bathrooms, and like you, they are top priority in my opinion, for the reasons that you have mentioned, and thus, they deserved a post, which was written soon after I started blogging. Plenty of sunlight, practical musts, neutral shades, and buying the best you can afford re: fixtures, plumbing, etc., are, I believe, integral to good design.
Lovely post, thanks for sharing, my friend!
Poppy