This article appeared in Thursday's Edmonton Journal and is full of great info for quick and inexpensive updates for your bathroom, a perfect February project. And you'll notice our Porcelain Tub Treatment is mentioned!
Fresh paint, new hardware change the look without breaking the bank
Can't afford to gut your ensuite and install a luxurious spa retreat?
Breathing new life into a tired bathroom doesn't have to cost thousands of dollars and take weeks of messy renovation. Here are 10 easy and affordable ways to improve your bathroom's look and efficiency without breaking the bank:
- -Lighting: Bye-bye, ugly light bar above the mirror and hello sleek, streamlined wall sconces. "Updating the lighting is a quick and easy way to rejuvenate a bathroom," says designer Dean Large. Besides adding a stylish look to the room, he says fixtures on either side of the mirror provide more even light, which is useful when applying makeup or shaving.
Cost: from $200
- -New faucet: Often referred to as the jewels of the bathroom, replacing old taps with gleaming new faucets gives a custom, personalized look to the bathroom. The hot, new trend is square, angular, single-lever faucets in white or black matte finishes.
Cost: $100 to $1,100
- -Adjustable shower: A rain shower head may be relaxing, but not a practical choice for daily use because it doesn't provide enough water pressure. Large recommends pairing a fixed shower head on an adjustable bar -- to accommodate the heights of all family members -- with a handheld shower to make it easy to wash down the tub or rinse off your legs.
Cost: from $200
- -Bathtub liner: If your bathroom is a throwback to the 1960s, the tub is likely a gaudy dusty rose, mint green or mocha beige. Rather than rip out it and all the surrounding tile, Bath Fitter ( bathfitter.com)sells a moulded, acrylic tub and wall liner that fits right over the existing eyesore. The best part: it can be installed in a day.
Cost: $2,200 to $3,200, depending on style, colour and ceiling height
- -Anti-slip protection: Rubber bath mats are designed to prevent nasty spills in the tub or shower, but they're also a breeding ground for mould and bacteria. The Porcelain Tub Treatment from Home Hardware is a liquid you apply to the bottom of the tub or shower to make it slip-resistant.
Cost: $19.97 for one-application kit
- -Quality flush: To save money on your water bill, get rid of that clunky, water-guzzling toilet. Available in low-or dual-flush models, new toilets are smaller, sleeker and higher off the floor.
Cost: from $350 for low-flush; $450 for dual-flush
- -Fresh paint: To make a big impact for little money, try a splash of colour, says bath store owner Cyndie Carruthers. "A good coat of paint is a great place to start -- on the walls or the vanity."
Cost: $30 to $100
- -New hardware: Something as simple as installing new pulls or handles on the vanity can transform the look of the cabinet doors and drawers.
Cost: 99 cents to $20. Some stores, including Lee Valley Tools ( leevalley.com),offer discounts when you buy larger quantities.
- -Curved over straight: Gain extra elbow room in the shower by replacing the straight curtain rod with a curved one. "The shape of the rod gains about (23 centimetres) in the shower so you don't have to touch that slimy shower curtain," Carruthers says.
Cost: less than $50
- -Decorative tile: Dress up the shower wall with tumbled marble or replace the ugly backsplash behind the sink with tiny glass mosaics.
Cost: from as little as $1 a tile
No comments:
Post a Comment