Five Cost Effective Bathroom Updates for First-Time Buyers

One of the most thrilling steps for a first-time buyer is making the house a home. It’s easy to get caught up in all the excitement and forget about the financial side. After overcoming the total cost of moving and buying a home, the next stage is to make it your own with what you can.

The bathroom is an important part of any house and might at first seem expensive to update. But it really doesn’t have to be! Sometimes a simple dose of elbow grease can be exactly what you need. However, for those who want to make further renovations, the first step should be to set a budget. Calculate how much you are willing to spend and then split the plan into sections so you know your budget for each individual area.

This is the fun part of owning your new home, so relax and enjoy the process! In this post, our friends at top house-moving comparison site Compare My Move have provided 5 cost-effective updates for improving your bathroom, so read on and take in those top tips…

Sometimes All You Need is a Coat of Paint

Start simple. A great way to spend little but add more is by choosing the colours yourself. It is a cheap yet very personal detail that brings every room to life. It is an inexpensive way of upscaling what you already have and tailoring it to your taste. Freshen the bathroom with a new coat of waterproof paint or even add a feature wall for a more daring design.

Paint is a simple way to work wonders in making a house your own. Once you’ve painted it to your preferences, you will immediately see a difference. It is a quick way of making it feel like yours without spending too much.

Quality Over Quantity

When choosing items for your bathroom, whether it’s furniture or accessories, always look at what will last. Look for resilient, hard-wearing tiles and fixtures and don’t be afraid to shop around. Plank-style tiles will widen narrow rooms, whilst durable tiles reduce the need for any future costs as you won’t have to continually spend money on their upkeep. You don’t always have to pay more to get the best results, so do a little research before you make any final decisions.

Consider the major pieces in your bathroom. If you’re looking for a new shower or bath, think before you buy. Shower baths are more cost effective, allowing you the luxury of both but in a more confined space. Quality over quantity!

Be Creative with Storage

Something that improves any bathroom is the illusion of space. Mirrors are a cheap and popular way to improve this by opening the room and allowing in more light. But another way to maximise space is to be creative with your storage. You could touch-up a few boxes or drawers you moved in with, or you could look for cheap second-hand options online. Perhaps install a towel rail to save space. There’s no need to clutter your bathroom with unnecessary items that will only increase your total spending costs. Little, quirky details make it personal to you but don’t go overboard.

If you’re replacing the fixtures and fittings altogether, you may want to consider purchasing a shorter bathtub to extend the room and add a touch of elegance. Again, if you want the option of both a shower and a bath, you could always combine the two to save space and money.

Think About Lighting

Another simple idea (but one that is often overlooked) is to change the light fixtures in your new bathroom. You don’t have to opt for expensive lighting, just find the ones that fit your taste and makes the room seem brighter. Dull, dark rooms can seem boring and unappealing. Create your own atmosphere by finding light fixtures that perfectly match your colour scheme and make your bathroom homely.

The perfect part of this idea is that even candles can be included. Candles are an inexpensive purchase that transform your bathroom into a home spa, immediately producing a calm and relaxed atmosphere.

Go Large On The Tiles

Large format tiles have become a popular trend in homes recently, especially for first-time buyers. They are exactly as described – large tiles that are bigger than the average 300x300mm form-factor usually associated with floor tiles. Using larger tiles means fewer grout lines making them appear neater and less busy. Fewer tiles need to be fitted and so they are relatively easy to install, cutting the overall cost.

For bathrooms especially, large porcelain tiles are more hygienic and durable than wood or (heaven forbid) carpet, as they are easy to clean and the fact that there are fewer grout lines means fewer sections for dirt to hide. Less maintenance is needed to keep them in tip-top shape – just a wipe down with a mop every now an then is all that’s required, meaning that you spend less time cleaning and more time enjoying the space.

These tiles work in any size bathroom as they create the illusion of space making smaller rooms feel more inviting. Tile Mountain has a variety of large format tiles to choose from; from subtle, elegant designs to those more textured and striking. Stronger and more durable, they will require less maintenance saving you from future unexpected costs.

Compare My Move is a comparison website that allows UK users to save on the cost of moving, providing them with local and reliable removal companies, RICS Chartered Surveyors, and Licensed Conveyancers.