If you have a small bathroom and want to give in a new look, you don’t have to spend much. All you need is about $150 and some basic power tools, like a circular saw, miter saw, some inexpensive materials, basic hardware, and some paint. You don’t have to rip out everything in the bath to freshen up the space and give it a fresh look. Sometimes, the small details can make a big difference in the look and feel of a small bath. Even if you have a limited budget, there are some minor improvements that can have a major impact. Below are some suggestions on how you can give a small bath a new look, without making a huge investment.
1. Bead board and trim If you want to add a pop of color, some texture, or break up the wall color, try beadboard. A 4 foot by 8 foot panel can cost as little as $25, depending on what wood you use and the type of finish you want. For a very small bathroom or half bath, you may be able to get away with buying 3 or 4 panels. Of course, beadboard will look best with trim at the bottom and on top. But, you will create a polished look that can help create an inviting space.
The trim you choose will depend on the look you want to achieve. Wider trim will look best with formal or traditional decor in the bath. Narrower trim works well for contemporary bathrooms. You may even want to find trim with some extra detail. Regardless of what you choose, adding beadboard and trim breaks up solid walls and creates more interest in the room.
When and how to use beadboard For most baths, you will want to use beadboard on the lower half of the walls, up to about 3 or 4 feet. You may need to work around the sink and toilet. But, beadboard is not hard to cut with a simple power saw. It can easily be attached with either the right adhesive or small nails and a nail gun. You don’t have to have an entire workshop of tools to install the panels. If you plan to cut out areas for light switches or outlets, you may want to use a jig saw. You will also want to consider a level, particularly in an older home where walls are not always square. Aside from these considerations, installing beadboard should only take a couple hours with proper measurements.
Beadboard is suitable for all types of paint. It can look good with any existing wall color and may work with wallpaper as well. You don’t even have to remove the old wallpaper to install beadboard, if you plan on making it a permanent feature in the bath.
Choosing paint colors When choosing paint colors, most people like to go with light and bright in the bathroom. For small baths and half baths, dark colors can make the space look and feel smaller. However, you can try using a lighter color on walls and a darker color on the panels, for a customized look. You can go with coordinating colors for the upper and lower portion of the walls. You may also want to go with a lighter shade on the upper walls and a slightly darker shade of the same color on the lower portion.
Tools required Installing beadboard doesn’t require an entire workshop. You can probably get the job done with a circular saw, a basic sander, and a nail gun. If you plan on using adhesive the nail gun won’t even be necessary. You may still want to use a nail gun for installing the trim. The only other tool you may need is a jig saw, for cutting out the areas for outlets.
Renovating a small bath can be fun and inexpensive, if you plan ahead and choose colors that are suitable for the space and the style of the decor.
