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3 things you need to know about designing an affordable bathroom

Tips and tricks - by Laura Barry
  • 26 Jul 2018

In order to keep a bathroom renovation or re-design within budget it’s essential that you start the project not only with a plan, but a few tricks up your sleeve. Here are three things you need to know about designing bathrooms, and some of them might surprise you.

1. Minimalist bathrooms are never cheap

While sleek, simple bathrooms may look like an affordable option for a bathroom renovation, they can actually end up being one of the more expensive styles. Specifying large single sheets of material such as stone, large tiles, no joins in benches, no handles on cabinetry and no grout lines in the tiles (which are common to this aesthetic) are all costly design features because they usually require professional installation, custom cuts of materials and custom cabinetry.

ohwhataroom View Profile
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Oh oh oh, hier ist zurzeit ja wirklich nicht viel los. Tut mir leid, ihr Lieben! Hauptsächlich lag es daran, dass meine Instagram App gestreikt hat. Dazu kamen die Hitze, die mich gern mal in eine lahme Ente verwandelt sowie ein sehr spezielles Projekt, das mich auch ziemlich vom Posten abgelenkt hat (dazu demnächst mehr). Heute gibt es daher auch nur ein Bild aus dem Archiv, nämlich ein weiteres aus meiner Badezimmer-Tour, die ich vor einiger Zeit (oh oh oh) auf meinem Blog gezeigt habe. Es gibt aber auch gute Nachrichten: Mann und Sohn sind ausgeflogen und ich habe genau *jetzt* Zeit, meine richtige, große Home Tour vom ganzen Haus zu fotografieren. Juhu, los geht's! #unserwaldhaus #bathroom #badezimmer #minimalbathroom #zickzackstrauch #myhome #interior #interiorinspo #simplicity
centropoznan View Profile
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wszystkie łazienki w naszych apartamentach są jasne i przestronne #centropoznan #centrodesignapartments #hotelpoznan #apartamentypoznan #apartamentyhotelowe #wyjazdy #podroze #podrozesluzbowe #lazienka #bathroom #bathroomdesign #marblebathroom #minimalbathroom #luxurybathroom #travel #poznan #polwiejska #noclegi #bookingcom #airbnb #aparthotel #suitcasetravels

2. Don’t DIY your tiling

Even if your brand-new bathroom cost a small fortune to design, all it takes is badly done tiles to cheapen the end result. Conversely, an expert tile job can elevate a cheaper bathroom. When it comes to planning and undertaking tiling, it’s better to leave it to the professionals so they get the tiles perfectly straight and fitted to your space correctly, especially if you plan to use contrasting grout. A good tiler can tile a space in a short amount of time and disguise uneven walls, and provide a waterproof barrier between your bathroom and the structure of the house without the risk of leaks. As an added bonus, tiles can also act as the style statement in your bathroom.

steelesandiegohomes View Profile
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Blue + Hex is 🔥 right now - I'm living for this bathroom!
huntingforgeorge View Profile
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What do you think of the use of vertical tiles in this dreamy green bathroom? It's the little details that can make all the difference. 🙌 Green bathroom goals with all the trimmings from the Moving House by clever cats @architectseat 🌿⚡️️💦 📷 @derek_swalwell #bathroomgoals

3. Think big

If you’re on a tight budget and have chosen a more practical, economical bathroom, adding drama by way of oversized handles on cabinetry or a statement-making pendant light can to draw the eye towards the more directional design features of the room and make it feel more expensive. Another trick is to pick a shape and use it repetitively. For example, if you’ve got round tiles, pick a rounded basin, rounded tapware and a round mirror. You can do this with any shape, and it’ll make the space look high-end.

roomandboard View Profile
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Whether it's his & hers, his & his or hers & hers, we could all use our own space to get ready in the morning! Shop all bathroom vanities and decor with the link in bio. #bathdecor #bathroominspo #bathroomremodel
decor.loves_style View Profile
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M O M EN T | Can we please just take a moment to appreciate this sleek design and the fact that the tap is mounted on the mirrored surface!🔥 . . . Credit: @mckimm #notanad #justloveit #bathroominspo #bathroom #dailyinterior #interior #interiors #interior123 #interior125 #reno #renovation #interior4all #luxuryhomes #luxurydesign #copperlight #copperpendantlight #marble #blacktaps #seamlessdesign #architectandinteriordesigner #architecture #housebeautiful #beautifulhomes #newbuild #whitebathroom #bathroomideas #interiordesign #interiordesigner
katherinerosario View Profile
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¡Todos los días deberían terminar aquí! 🙌 . ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Design by @bradswartzarchitects 📷 @tfadtomferguson

You might also like:

Top 5 tips for renovating your bathroom

How to transform your bathroom in a weekend

Six ways to upgrade your bathroom essentials 

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