9 Ideas for Decorating a Bathroom on a Budget

Updated October 28, 2019

Bathtub in custom designed unfurnished bathroom. — David Papazian/ Getty Images

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If you dread walking into your dated bathroom and dream of a change, we’ve got a fresh list of bathroom decorating ideas that are inexpensive and simple to do. The most important project you can do for a bathroom makeover is a lighting upgrade. A Swedish study found that lighting, paired with the right color, affects mood. Changing out your lighting can be easy and affordable, plus it makes a small bathroom look bigger and more beautiful. Older lighting fixtures and fluorescent lighting cast unattractive shadows and unflattering color hues on your skin. If changing a fixture isn’t possible, you can upgrade your light bulbs with new fluorescent bulbs that have the color warmth of light cast on a bright, sunny day. Once you’ve upgraded the lighting quality of your bathroom, paint is the next quick and easy update. Pick light colors for large surfaces like the walls and save the darker, richer tones for accents. Check to see how your color choices look in your new lighting before you paint since the color temperature can change a color’s shade. Set a weekend aside, invite friends over, and try a few of these DIY bathroom decor ideas to give your bathroom a facelift. For more bathroom do's and don'ts check out our guide.

Here is an overview of our quick and easy bathroom decorating ideas:

DIY Fresh Bathroom Paint

A general interior view of within a home affordable bathroom décor — John Keeble/ Getty Images

Improve your bathroom wall decor by painting your walls with the perfect color. It's a quick and easy DIY bathroom decor idea that can immediately transform your bathroom. Light colors will make a small bathroom look bigger. Dark or vibrant colors add a touch of drama to any size bath.It’s no longer necessary to choose gloss paint in a bathroom to combat moisture. Ask the paint shop to mix in an additive to matte paint to keep it from getting mildewed.Don’t stop with painting the walls — purchase an eggshell or semi-gloss paint and paint the cabinets, too!

Budget Friendly Lighting Fixtures

This images shows a modern bathroom with all new white paint and new marble tiles. affordable bathroom décor — Mark Lopez/ Getty Images

Replacing outdated lighting fixtures can be a less expensive option for transforming your bathroom decor. There’s a wide variety of affordable lighting fixtures available in stores and online. Remember, major electrical projects are best left to professionals. However, with some guidance, switching out lighting fixtures is an easy DIY bathroom project you can do in a day. Don’t be afraid to try trends when changing your powder room lighting. Modern bathroom lighting includes hanging pendants and light bars that diffuse light in a room. It’s smart to choose LED lighting fixtures since they’re the most energy-efficient and don’t add extra heat to your bathroom.

Affordable Bathroom Wall Art

There’s no need to stare at blank walls in your bathroom. Treated canvas prints are water-resistant and affordable. Go for oversized proportions to get the best visual impact. For a unique look, have a local printer blow up a favorite photo into customized wall art. Nowadays, custom printers can create canvas prints and even laminate them for water resistance. When brainstorming bathroom decorating ideas for art, think beyond a canvas print. A wall gallery of favorite objects like starfish or baskets can be a personal and refreshing way to decorate your bathroom walls. You can also look into making your own artwork or shopping at budget-friendly stores like Home Goods and Burlington Coat Factory.

Bath Tile Dupes

tiled bathroom affordable bathroom décor — Carlsson, Peter/ Getty Images

If your tile is boring, try covering it with removable adhesive tiles like the ones shown above. They’re easy to cut and install and they look like the real thing. The big win is that they can be removed whenever you want without damaging the surface behind it — perfect for updating the bath in an apartment or rented house.

Hardware and Faucet Upgrades

bathroom new features affordable bathroom décor — Martin Barraud/ Getty Images

Here’s a quick and easy bathroom decorating idea — change out your bathroom’s hardware.New drawer pulls, towel bars, toilet paper holder, and faucet will completely change the look of your bath. Replacing your bathroom fixtures can even make your countertop look fresh again. Especially if you have a small bathroom that’s “adorned” with gold brass circa 1978.Replacement is as simple as unscrewing or popping off the old hardware and adding a new one. To keep this project quick and easy, be sure you are replacing old hardware with similarly-sized screw hole spacing, especially on bar style drawer pulls that require to screws. You’ll make fewer new holes the cabinets and walls.

New Powder Room Flooring

Luxury white bathroom in modern large house affordable bathroom décor — sl-f- Getty Images

There are DIY budget-friendly flooring options today that are modern and easy to work with. Affordable, resilient vinyl floor planks are available at most home improvement stores and come in a variety of wood species and patterns. They’re really looking (white-washed oak shown above) and include texture and imperfections on the surface, much like a real wood floor or stone tile would. Installing is as easy as scoring with a blade, peeling and sticking. The best part is that vinyl floors tend to be waterproof and come with long warranties against wear and tear. You can also add a woven vinyl floor rug by Chilewich. The rugs are industrial strength, can be ordered in custom sizes, and have a rubber backing that adds padding and comfort to your bathroom floor.

Multi-functional and Storage in Your Bath

Modern bathroom interior design in gray and sand colors affordable bathroom décor — Jacek Kadaj/ Getty Images

Decluttering and organizing your bathroom will instantly give it a fresh look. If you have a small bathroom, think about how you can improve on existing storage. Adding pull-out drawers (that sort item easier) into a cabinet is an easy weekend upgrade. Standard sizes of pull-out drawers are available at most home improvement stores. Other ways to maximize storage include:--Floating wall shelving--Wall-mounted baskets--Small furniture-style storage cabinet. If you're pressed for space in your home, consider adding your home washer in the bathroom. With an easy water connection, most washers can fit under the skink like the image above.

Inexpensive Updates to Towels and Rugs

Bathtub in the modern interior affordable bathroom décor — asbe/ Getty Images

Now you’re in the last leg of the bathroom decorating stages. This part's like adding a giant bow to a present. Donate or throw away your old, mismatched towels and buy soft, fluffy ones that match your new bathroom decor. Throw in an accent color or pattern for a modern bathroom design touch. Shop for these key textiles to update your powder room style:--Towels. Try fresh textures and shades of color--Floor mat. Look for comfort and unique materials.--Shower curtain. Choose a patterned or a printed shower curtain that coordinates with your towels and mats. This is most likely the cheapest part of bathroom decorations but can make the biggest impact.

Repurposed Accents and Accessories

Designed bathroom with stylish blue cabinet, blue wall tiles and big round mirror affordable bathroom décor — in4mal/ Getty Images

Ready to put the final touches on your bathroom decor? Add a few more custom accessories and accent pieces to complete your DIY bathroom design. Here are some ideas to get you started:--Wastebasket--Bathroom soap dish or soap scum--Live houseplants, like orchid towels. Try fresh textures and shades of color--Candle or room diffuser for a fresh scent. The best part is you may have these items already laying around in your house. Repurpose accent pieces from other rooms that may be cluttered or going in a different direction. Starting from scratch on decoration? No problem, ask your family and friends for donations or shop your local Facebook marketplace for slightly used but affordable products.

The Bottom Line

You don't have to complete a whole bathroom remodel to bring life to your bathroom. A few budget-friendly expenses can instantly add new life to your bathroom. These simple bathroom decor ideas are a sure fire way to help change up your bathroom's visual plane while being easy on your wallet. Bathroom décor on a budget is now more doable than ever with bargain shopping stores and repurposing elements from other parts of your home. After all money-saving ideas are the perfect way on how to decorate a bathroom.

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