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Adam and Daniella’s $3,000 coastal bathroom makeover

Your step-by-step guide to DIY.
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Can you make a big difference in your home without spending a lot of money? Tonight, Adam and Dee combine their DIY and design talents to transform a tired old bathroom into a modern coastal spa-inspired space. But how do they do it without ripping the place apart and a budget of only $3,000?

WATCH: Adam and Daniella’s bathroom makeover

Want to DIY?

Follow our step-by-step guides to each project.

How to build window shelves

Bathroom window shelves
Up the luxe factor with a window display. Build bespoke boxes with shelves to fit inside the frame, then go all out with greenery. (Credit: Sue Ferris) (Credit: Sue Ferris)
Bathroom window shelves
(Credit: Sue Ferris) (Credit: Sue Ferris)

Transform a bare window into a green wall with custom shelving. Split into three parts for ease of installation, it turns an expanse of glass into a stylish showpiece without blocking the light. Click here for your step-by-step guide.

How to paint tiles

How to paint tiles step 6
(Credit: Greg Fahey) (Credit: Greg Fahey)

With a bit of elbow grease and patience, you can transform your bathroom using a budget renovator’s favourite products – paint. Click here for your step-by-step guide

How to make a towel rail unit

bathroom rail
Love the plants? Go for a combo of maidenhair fern, devil’s ivy and succulents, with bird of paradise cuttings for extra wow. (Credit: Sue Ferris) (Credit: Sue Ferris)
rail
(Credit: Sue Ferris) (Credit: Sue Ferris)

Need more storage room in your bathroom? Get the look of a day spa with shelves above the bath and a dowel towel bar. Click here for the step-by-step guide.

Instant vanity upgrade

Bathroom vanity
(Credit: Sue Ferris) (Credit: Sue Ferris)

Give your vanity a facelift by swapping out your old water-damaged doors with replacements made out of plywood.

Cut the doors to the same size as the existing, then stain them – here, to match other timber installations – and leave to dry.

Give the stained doors a few coats of clear varnish to seal. Drill holes for the hinges using a Forstner bit. Screw new hinge blocks onto the cabinet, then click doors in place. Add new handles to finish the job.

Get the look

Decorate your bathroom with shades of blue and white to introduce a coastal theme. 

carafe
J’ai Soif carafe set in Teal, $89, Maison Balzac
Castile soap
Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Soap, $21, Adore Beauty (https://www.adorebeauty.com.au/dr-bronner-s/dr-bronner-castile-liquid-soap-baby-mild-473ml.html) (Credit: https://www.adorebeauty.com.au/dr-bronner-s/dr-bronner-castile-liquid-soap-baby-mild-473ml.html)
Coral
Finger coral, $140, Alfresco Emporium
Jug
Poet’s Dream jug in Natural, $59.95, Robert Gordon Australia
Plant
Dilim galvanised/brass planter extra small, $19, Saarde
Shell
Clam shell, $14.95, Alfresco Emporium
Towels
Living Textures face washer, $14.95; hand towel, $24.95, in Misty Teal, Sheridan
Blue vases
Droplet vase small, $59; medium, $89, Bison Home

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