Where to Save Money When Renovating a Bathroom

When decorating a bathroom, it's important to consider not only aesthetics but also functionality. It's definitely not worth cutting corners on built-in fixtures and mixers. Everything else we learned from experts.

Natalia Moshnina and Irina Drotenko — experts and founders of the design studio Verba Design

On Wall Finishing

Usually, ceramic tiles come at a high cost. You can look for leftovers from past collections sold at a discount. Fearlessly combine different item numbers: the key is that the tiles match in color palette and size.

A creative approach can make the process of decorating walls enjoyable and almost free of charge. Surely you have friends or acquaintances who recently did a renovation. If they have leftover tiles, you can create a composition in the style of Gauda, adorning the walls with mosaics made from broken tiles.

Another option: instead of tiling the walls all the way to the ceiling, combine them with paint or wallpapers.

On the Ceiling

In our opinion, the bathroom is the only place where drop ceilings are appropriate. This solution not only reduces your expenses but also saves time: ceilings can be installed in just a few hours.

On Lighting

A small room can be lit by just one light point. A regular chandelier that fits the bathroom's style will do the job. You'll also save on wiring.

Design: Verba Design

On Plumbing

Feel free to buy an inexpensive sink if it suits your design preferences. Don't listen to those who criticize manufacturers — you can find decent options at affordable prices. If you keep an eye on sales, you can save even more.

By the way, you can order a sink base at any carpentry workshop — it's not only budget-friendly but also stylish.

You can also do without expensive shower cabins if you finish part of the room with glass. Instead of a tray, you'll need to provide a slight slope in the floor for water drainage into the drain. This needs to be arranged with builders in advance.

On Engineering Communications

Instead of expensive metal-plastic or cross-linked polyethylene pipes, use inexpensive polypropylene pipes. They are not inferior in quality and, with proper installation, will last more than a decade. In addition, fittings (connection parts) for them are much cheaper.

In a small bathroom, you can do without installing collectors (manifolds) in favor of individual corner valves for each fixture. This reduces the number of pipes and threaded connections.

Is it worth installing expensive filters with backflush in urban apartments? No, it's simpler and cheaper to install regular sediment filters. They do an excellent job protecting plumbing fixtures from large particles in the water supply.

Design: Verba Design

On the cover: design project by Inna Velychko