Budget Bathroom Renovation - What About Inexpensive Ideas?

Renovating a bathroom on a tight budget means carefully choosing materials, especially considering that luxury or high-end items can drive up costs and become financially draining. While it may be tempting to see things through rose-coloured glasses, selecting suitable materials within your price range will, in no way, hinder your goals.

What affordable materials can you use without compromising your bathroom’s aesthetic? How can you balance a limited budget with your renovation goals? What are the most cost-effective and sustainable options?

This guide offers practical advice to help turn your project into reality while staying on budget, ensuring satisfying results.

How to Renovate a Bathroom on a Budget

Source: MTL Contractors

Traditional Sink Materials

When it comes to new sink options, enamel-coated ceramic or porcelain are great choices, especially for their value for money. Although similar in composition, both materials are available in a wide range of colours.

These materials can withstand extreme heat and scratches, making them ideal for bathrooms. Their low-maintenance nature ensures that your cleaning routine will be efficient. However, keep in mind that they're prone to chipping over time, so take care to avoid physical impacts that could damage the surface.

For more information, check out our article: What Type of Sink Should You Install in Your Bathroom?

Dual Control Bathroom Faucet

When choosing a bathroom faucet, a dual-control model is your best option. This standard design features separate cold and hot water valves. While a single-handle bathroom faucet may seem appealing, it often comes at a higher price with only minimal improvement in ease of use.

Find an Affordable Shower

When it comes to choosing materials for a new shower, ceramic remains the ideal option due to its excellent value for money and its impressive resistance to stains, scratches, and heat. By opting for ceramic, you can avoid hiring an industry professional for installation. Plus, with the wide variety of tiles available, you can easily personalize the design.

For more information, check out our article: How to Choose Your Shower.

Select a Budget-Friendly, High-Quality Bathtub

Avoid blowing your entire budget on a bathtub, as it's already a significant investment in and of itself. Instead, focus on acrylic models, which offer good insulation and retain heat at a low cost. However, it’s important to choose an acrylic model that's between 6–8 millimetres thick. For money-saving purposes, opt for a size-appropriate model with clean lines to ensure a comfortable bathing experience.

Here’s an article to help you find a bathtub suited to your needs: How to Choose a Bathtub.

Opt for Low-Cost Toilets When Remodelling

Don’t get us wrong, choosing between the extensive range of toilet models can be quite tricky. You can opt for a wall-hung model (without a base or visible tank), a one-piece toilet (with no visible division), or a traditional two-piece model (separate bowl and tank).

Unsurprisingly, the two-piece model is the most affordable option. While a one-piece toilet reduces dirt build-up at the seam between the two parts, you can easily manage this little annoyance with more frequent cleaning.

For toilet efficiency, look for a model with a MaP rating over 500, which measures the grams flushed per litre of water. There’s no need to go far above this rating, as 500 is sufficient for regular use.

What Is the Cheapest Bathroom Countertop Material?

Laminate Counter

Laminate is typically the most affordable countertop material, costing between $12–$45 per linear foot, depending on quality and finish. It comes in an extensive range of colours and patterns, often mimicking high-end materials like wood or marble, while remaining low-maintenance and budget-friendly. That said, it’s a cost-effective choice for homeowners looking to remodel their bathroom without overspending.

Ceramic Counter

Ceramic counters are another affordable option, ranging between $1–$36 per square foot, depending on the tile selection. Available in a wide variety of colours, sizes, and patterns, ceramic tiles offer nearly limitless options for personalization. This makes them an affordable and aesthetic choice for homeowners seeking a customizable alternative to more expensive materials.

For other material costs, check out our article: What Material Is Best Used for a Bathroom Countertop?

How to Remodel Bathroom Flooring on a Budget

Source: Construction et rénovation ImmoZen Inc.

Ceramic Makes for a Low Maintenance Option

When it comes to flooring, there are several options available that can help you stick to a budget. First, you can always opt for ceramic tiles. A fan-favourite, this type of flooring allows you to design off the beaten path with the sheer amount of patterns available. Ceramic tiles are also water-resistant and durable, withstanding heavy foot traffic.

Thanks to their smooth surface, ceramic tiles are easy to clean and require little effort to maintain their sheen. However, industry professionals recommend applying a sealant periodically to help protect the grout joints.

Below are information-rich articles to peruse about ceramic floor tiles:

• The Advantages and Disadvantages of Ceramic Floor Tiles

• Cleaning a Ceramic Bathroom Floor

• How to Renovate a Ceramic Bathroom Floor

Laminate Floors for a Unique Aesthetic

Laminate flooring not only has a low retail price but can also convincingly mimic the look of natural wood and ceramic tiles. Its easy installation makes it an excellent choice for DIY enthusiasts.

Maintenance-wise, a mop and a broom will suffice, which is quite appealing for daily cleaning. Laminate flooring is especially resistant to scratches and scuffs, allowing it to withstand the daily wear and tear caused by pets and boisterous children.

Nonetheless, note that the material’s hollow aspect won't muffle footsteps or the sound of objects falling. Additionally, it's important to waterproof laminate flooring to protect it from water spills and wet feet.

Vinyl Makes for Affordable Bathroom Flooring

While vinyl flooring is the most affordable option featured here, its main drawback is durability, which should be considered before making a choice.

Although the variety of patterns offers an impressive number of design options, it's important to note that vinyl flooring needs to be replaced after about five years. This porous material requires a coat of wax or polish to prevent fading.

Unfortunately, dirt and debris can easily scratch the surface. Vinyl isn’t very resilient and risks tearing and fading from constant sun exposure. Due to its tendency to curl, some tiles may need to be replaced throughout its lifetime. As such, while it's an affordable flooring option, it's best suited for short-term use.

What Is the Average Cost of Remodelling a Bathroom?

For a full remodel, expect to spend between $15,000 and $50,000, depending on the room’s square footage, chosen materials, and bathroom fixtures and amenities. For more detailed information on the costs of a bathroom renovation, check out our Price Guide 2024: Bathroom Renovation Project.

For a sneak peek at bathroom renovation projects completed by RenoQuotes.com affiliated contractors, check out our article 10 Examples of Bathroom Renovation Projects.

For even more information, check out our bathroom renovation reference guide, an in-depth article complete with a handy checklist.