The bathroom is one of those well used areas of the home that tends to look dated before too long as the months and years pass silently by. But fortunately, the bathroom is also one of the simplest of rooms to makeover when you're on a budget and to give a fresh, new look in a relatively short amount of time.



First of all, if the bathroom has any wallpaper you've grown tired of, remove it rather than paint over it and run the risk of the paper bubbling up, causing a rather messy appearance. Or, since you'll more than likely be painting the whole room, which is the easiest and cheapest way of making over any type of space, you may want to consider some type of decorative texturing technique to camouflage imperfections on the walls such as leftover wallpaper so you can quickly move on to the next task.

When choosing your overall colour scheme, remember to include all of the variables such as the window treatments, the shower curtain, the carpeting or throw rugs, the towels, and the accessories like the cups, soap dishes or toothbrush holders. If your bathroom is a bit on the small side, instead of choosing a colour that may be too overpowering for the area, opt for a lighter shade and add interest later with more colourful accents.

If your bathroom has windows, bargain window treatments can be found in countless numbers and in all colours, patterns or styles imaginable. If you also have a shower, of course you'll want the curtains or drapes to match the shower curtain or at the very least be complementary of one another. New blinds are another option as they're easy to clean and install and will also help to give the room a whole new look.

Before heading to the stores or shopping online, check first to see if you have any window treatments in storage that could be revived. You could also add decorative trim or other embellishments to a plain pair of curtains that used to hang on other windows in the house.

A decorative wicker basket could serve as a container for holding toiletries, wash cloths and magazines, whilst simple shelves could be installed on any open wall space to add not only interest but functionality to the room. And, instead of adding new carpeting or a new floor, spruce up this part of the room with inexpensive, but durable, bath mats.

Also remember the light fixtures and outlet coverings as both can be quickly and inexpensively replaced but have a great effect on the room's appearance.

After all of these ways of saving, invest money in new taps for the bath and or basin, or a vanity or cabinet, items that will get plenty of use as well as be highly visible. If you have the know-how or can follow a few simple directions, there are faucet taps for just about any budget provided you can do the installation yourself.

And finally, finish the bathroom's new but carefully budgeted look with some fresh towels, a few scented candles, and a nice piece of artwork for the wall. All will add to the homely and comforting feeling of your bathroom without leaving you out of pocket at the end of the project.