Chic but Cheap Bathroom Design Tips

Orange Ya Glad You Saved Money?

It's no surprise that David suggests a pop of paint on a wall or fixture as a low-cost, low-risk way to refresh a tired bathroom. In fact, paint is so inexpensive ($40 per gallon on average) and easy to change, allow yourself the freedom to go bold - just like the owners of this vivid-orange bathroom did. "[Paint can] elevate your space, giving it a custom look with a price point that will leave a little love in your bank account for later," David declares.

Photo by James Ray Spahn

A Vanity Refresh is Not in Vain

"Creating a big impact at a place where your eye goes - like a vanity - will change the whole mood of a space without gutting an entire bathroom," David advises.

This integrated stone sink is a tad more expensive than a standard, pre-fab fixture, but you can keep the cost down with the level of stone you choose. Plus, it affords the opportunity to custom-craft to your storage needs - a huge benefit, particularly in the primary bath where you're bound to have an array of toiletries.

Photo by Ryan Hainey Photography courtesy of Deep River Partners

Metal Mania

Traditional thinking requires all the metals in a room to match. Not only does David question this golden rule, he suggests that mixing them is an easy and economical way to add a little design alchemy in a bathroom. "Mix it up by changing styles and metal finishes, creating eye candy instead of doing the matchy-matchy thing, which is expected," he says.

When most people think of mixing metals, they focus on drawer pulls, towel racks and light fixtures. But this powder room is next-level metal mania. 

On their own, none of these finishes is pricey, especially in a space this small. Silver corrugated tin wainscoting (about $10 per 2-by-3-foot panel) is the base for burnished board-and-batten copper (ranging from $3 to $11 per square foot, depending on gauge), complemented by a hand-hammered copper sink. Together they make a jaw-dropping statement. 

Coventry Log Homes photo by Mark Sorenson