How to Save Money on Bathroom Renovation: 9 Tips

Usually, bathroom renovation costs a significant amount. We asked a designer how to save money without compromising quality.

Karina Nedelya, Designer, Founder of Bazilik Interior Design Studio

Don't Extend Tiles to the Ceiling

Before purchasing tiles, consider their functional purpose—do you really need them up to two meters high? When taking a shower, pay attention to where the water splashes. Areas above can be painted with moisture-resistant paint. This way, you reduce costs and in a couple of years, you can easily update the wall color without a full renovation.

Before purchasing materials, calculate how much you would spend if you used only tiles and how much if you combined tiles with paint. This will help you make the right choice.

Design: Bazilik Interior Design

Abandon the Mosaic

Work on laying mosaic and small-format tiles is always more expensive, so evaluate not only the cost of the tiles but also the scale of the work. Also, keep in mind: the smaller the tiles, the more grout joints, and thus, higher costs for grout.

If you must use mosaic, try to reduce its area—for example, by using it only in a niche with open shelves. Compare prices from manufacturers to select affordable materials.

Design: Bazilik Interior DesignPaint Walls Behind Furniture Items

If you know in advance where furniture will be placed in the bathroom, paint the wall areas behind furniture items (e.g., behind a vanity or mirror). To estimate savings, calculate the total area of furniture items and multiply by the cost per square meter of tile.

Design: Bazilik Interior DesignInstall a Suspended Ceiling

This type of ceiling is easy to install and won’t break the budget. Modern suspended ceilings also allow for built-in lighting fixtures and track lighting systems.

Design: Bazilik Interior DesignChoose Standard-Size Items

Opt for standard sizes and avoid custom-made furniture or fixtures. Items in stock are often available at a discount, whereas custom orders are usually more expensive and require advance payment (80–100% of the cost).

Don't Buy the Cheapest Materials

Pay attention not only to price but also to quality. Cheap tiles can’t be cut at 45 degrees—they will crumble, develop chips, and the edges will be uneven.

Design: Bazilik Interior DesignRemove Part of the Old Tiles

If you want to refresh your bathroom’s existing look affordably, remove a few rows of old tiles and paint the walls. The key is to be careful not to damage the tiles you plan to keep.

Eliminate Unnecessary Elements

On a small space, there shouldn’t be unnecessary items that only serve decorative purposes and take up space. Try to strike a balance between the beauty of items and their functionality.

Design: Bazilik Interior DesignUse a Bathtub Screen

Of course, you can tile the bathtub area, but it involves material costs, preparation of a Gypsum Board structure, tiling, purchasing and installing a maintenance access panel.

Calculate the expenses and compare them to the cost of a ready-made screen. Today, many beautiful options are available from manufacturers.

Design: Bazilik Interior Design

On the cover: design project by Buro Vnutri

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