8 Small (But Impactful) Bathroom Upgrades To Do This Weekend

Dabney Frake

updated May 4, 2019

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Kristen & Michelle’s Modern Bohemian (Image credit: Adrienne Breaux)

Does your bathroom need an upgrade? For not a lot of money, and without outside help, you can dramatically boost your bath’s appearance in a weekend — without the need for a full renovation. Small improvements (as your time and wallet allow) are a manageable alternative to full-scale remodeling, but have a transformative effect that’s refreshing and gratifying. Try one of these 8 small-scale projects yourself…

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(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

1. Revamp your bathroom vanity. The easiest way to do this is with paint, but you can also try something more ambitious like wallpaper (as seen above in this chic bathroom from HGTV).

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

2. Add texture and interest to the walls, or at least one feature wall. Wood beadboard is easy to install, or you can achieve the same look with beadboard-style textured wallpaper (as seen above from Better Homes & Gardens). If you need a tutorial for the real deal, head over to to the DIY Network.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

3. Cover all the walls with art, gallery-style, and you’ll change the whole feel of the room. This bathroom design has frames hung on already textured walls for an extra layer of style. The result is super cozy. Design by Domestic Arts.

(Image credit: Carolyn Purnell)

4. Remove your dated shower doors and install a fresh new curtain instead. The space will open up, and you’ll no longer spend time scrubbing soap scum off of plastic or glass. We did a step-by-step tutorial awhile back to help you out with the project.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

5. Build built in shelves into an existing wall, and use it for towels and extra storage. Stacy of Not Just a Housewife shows you her process, and the clean and functional result.

(Image credit: Hazardous Design)

6. Add detail to the bathtub with a surround or enclosure. This remodeled bath, seen on Hazardous Design, has added crown molding for a custom look that matches the detail on the rest of the walls. But you could also use wood, stone, tile or (again) breadboard.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

7. Stencil your plain floor to add color and pattern. The DIY Showoff created this painted “rug” in her bathroom several years ago, and the look still holds up really nicely.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

8. Customize your bathroom mirror to make it more in keeping with the rest of the decor. Many vanity mirrors are plain, frameless affairs, but it doesn’t take much to create something that looks like it was made for your space. Try “framing” yours with molding, wrapping it in rope for a nautical effect, or adding subway tile like this one from House of Earnest.

– Re-edited from a post originally published 8.23.2014 – CM