Bathrooms can be one of the more expensive projects to take on in your home. Materials and fixings for this space are often pricy, and enlisting the services of a plumber can cost a pretty penny too. But don’t fret, these budget bathroom updates will help you cheat your way to a cheap and cheerful makeover that looks expensive…

1. Choose bathroom wall panels over tiles

Tiling is probably the most common choice for a bathroom, and while you can find some great-value tiles out there, labour costs are likely to scupper your bathroom budget unless you’re willing to have a go at DIY tiling. Bathroom wall panels, also called shower panels, are a great alternative though and have come a long way in terms of design and durability over recent years. Marble-style designs will give your bathroom a luxury look for much less. It’s also easier to install. This Linda Barker Calacatta Marble shower panel, measuring 2,400 x 1,200mm, is priced just £265 from Victoria Plum.

If you want to have a go at fitting it yourself to save even more money, here’s a video from Victoria Plum showing you how to fit shower wall panels:

2. Pick affordable vinyl flooring

Sure, geometric floor tiles look fantastic, but they are not cheap to buy, nor to get professionally fitted. Vinyl flooring is a great – and much cheaper – alternative, and like bathroom wall panels, it’s come a long way in terms of quality, water-resistance and the variety of designs available. It’s also quick and easy to lay, making it ideal for a budding DIYer. This Mehndi Dark vinyl flooring from Lifestyle Floors costs around £29.49 per sqm.

3. Or peel and stick vinyl tiles

B&Q’s Poprock Blue Geometric Mosaic vinyl floor tiles are a wonderful way to update your bathroom floor quickly and cheaply. The peel-and-stick self-adhesive vinyl tiles are easy to remove later down the line – perfect if you’re a renter looking to make non-permanent changes to your bathroom. Plus, they’re just £18.20 for a pack of 14 (or £14 per sqm).

4. Focus on storage

Storage is a great investment for a bathroom – relatively low-cost but completely transformative in terms of clearing up clutter. Ikea’s Vilto range includes shelving for all the families toiletries, ladder storage for hanging towels and accessories, and a stool with storage tucked away underneath.

5. Get creative with paint

Painting is a quick and easy makeover idea for any room that most homeowners can tackle themselves if needs be. Why not opt for something bold to give you bathroom a more exciting look? You’ll need a paint that’s resistant to moisture and mould, or else you may find yourself having to re-paint rather quickly. You could even paint your bath to match your scheme. Annie Sloan paint works on wood, metal, laminate, concrete, indoors, outdoors and beyond.

6. Upgrade your shower

Exposed valve bars usually conform to universal dimensions to make replacing them easier, plus the wall inlets are usually behind decorative caps that will hide small differences in size. That means you should be able to install a more impressive shower set up, such as this Mode shower from Victoria Plum (£259), yourself.

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