Bathroom Basics
10 quick fixes to boost the look and function of the home's busiest room
Karen Turner • January 16, 2010 • The Ottawa Citizen
The Ottawa Citizen has 10 quick fixes to boost the look and function of the home's busiest room. Photograph by: iStock Photo.
Can't afford to gut your ensuite and install a luxurious spa retreat with all the fancy bells and whistles?
Breathing new life into a tired bathroom doesn't have to cost thousands of dollars and take weeks of messy renovation.
Here are 10 easy and affordable ways to improve your bathroom's look and efficiency without breaking the bank:
1 Lighting: Bye-bye ugly light bar above the mirror and hello sleek, streamlined wall sconces. "Updating the lighting is a quick and easy way to rejuvenate a bathroom," says designer Dean Large of the Astro Design Centre on Old Innes Road. Besides adding a stylish look to the room, Large says two fixtures on either side of the mirror provide more even light which is especially useful when applying your makeup.
Cost: from $200
2 New faucet: Often referred to as the jewels of the bathroom, replacing old taps with gleaming new faucets gives a custom, personalized look to the bathroom. The hot new trend is square, angular, single-lever faucets in white or black matte finish.
Cost: $100 to $1,100
3 Adjustable shower: A drizzling rain showerhead may be relaxing, but not a practical choice for daily showering because it doesn't provide enough water pressure. Large recommends pairing a fixed showerhead on an adjustable bar --"to accommodate the heights of all family members" -- with a hand-held shower to make it easy to wash down the tub or rinse off your legs while shaving.
Cost: from $200
4 Bathtub liner: If your bathroom is a throwback to the 1960s, the tub is likely a gaudy dusty rose, mint green or mocha beige. Rather than rip it out and all the surrounding tile, Bath Fitter (bathfitter.com) sells a moulded, acrylic tub and wall liner that fits right over the existing eyesore. Best part: It can be installed in just one day.
Cost: $2,200 to $3,200, depending on style, colour and ceiling height
5 Anti-slip protection: Rubber bath mats are designed to prevent nasty spills in the tub or shower, but they're also a breeding ground for mould and bacteria. The Porcelain Tub Treatment from Home Hardware (homehardware.ca) is a liquid you apply to the bottom of the tub or shower to make it slip-resistant.
Cost: $19.97 for one-application kit
6 Quality flush: To save money on your water bill, get rid of that clunky, water-guzzling toilet. Available in low-flush or dual-flush models that are smaller, sleeker and higher off the floor.
Cost: from $350 for low-flush; $450 for dual-flush
7 Fresh paint: To make a big impact for little money, Cyndie Carruthers, of Westend Bath and Kitchen Centre, recommends a splash of colour. "A good coat of paint is a great place to start -- on the walls or the vanity."
Cost: $30 to $100
8Hardware replacement: Something as simple as installing new pulls or handles on the vanity can transform the look of the cabinet doors and drawers.
Cost: 99 cents to $20. Some stores, including Lee Valley Tools (leevalley.com), offer discounts when you buy larger quantities.
9 Curved over straight: Gain extra elbow room in the shower by replacing the straight curtain rod with a curved one, says Carruthers. "The shape of the rod gains about (23 centimetres) in the shower so you don't have to touch that slimy shower curtain," she says.
Cost: under $50
10 Decorative tile: Dress up the shower wall with tumbled marble or replace the ugly backsplash behind the sink with tiny glass mosaics for instant colour and texture.
Cost: from as little as $1 a tile depending on the style and material
Sources
Astro Design Centre, 1260 Old Innes Rd., 613-749-1902 astrodesigncentre.com
Westend Bath & Kitchen Centre, 1660 Woodward Ave. 613-226-7701 westendbathandkitchen.com
Home Depot, homedepot.ca
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