How to Renovate Your Bathroom for $2,000 or Less

If your bathroom vanity has just one sink (or you have a sink without a vanity), determine whether you have the space to add a vanity to include two sinks. A double vanity usually measures between 60 and 72 inches.¹

A new vanity can cost as little as $415 for a pre-made type.² If you're handy, you can install the vanity yourself to save money. It typically costs between $300 and $3,800 to have one installed.²

Considered the ultimate luxury, it was once trendy to carpet the bathroom floor. But because of the moisture level in bathrooms, carpet isn't a good choice—but tile is. Even if you don't have carpet, new tile floors and tile backsplash in the shower or on an accent wall can transform the space.

One designer trend is large-format wall tile, which is generally between 12 and 36 inches.³ There is less grout with large tiles, and the look you get is cleaner and more open. The cost of large-format porcelain tiles is between $10 and $40 per square foot installed.³

All pink- or blue-tiled bathrooms might have been the rage in the 1960s, but today, this look screams “Grandma's house." A modern option is to add iridescent glass tile in bold colors and patterns to your shower or an accent wall. Depending on materials, you can expect to pay between $3 and $30 per square foot.³ Note that if you plan to sell your house soon, you might not want to go with bold colors, as your favorite shades may not appeal to as many people as a neutral palette would.

For an on-trend color scheme, choose black and white floor tiles with a hexagon, octagon, dot or basket-weave pattern. This look is based on times gone by but works well in a modern bathroom. You can get black and white marble mosaic tile sheets for $3 per square foot. Black and white marble tiles cost $20 to $30 per square foot.³

A bathroom mirror can add both functionality and design. Regarding size, a good rule is for a mirror to be shorter than a double vanity by 4 inches (2 inches on either side). If the mirror is the same width as the vanity, it can appear too big.⁴

If you have a smaller bathroom, consider adding a mirror with an attached medicine cabinet for your toiletries. A mirrored medicine cabinet can be wall-mounted or recessed. Both can be DIY projects, but the recessed version is more labor-intensive since it involves cutting drywall.

You can get a mirrored medicine cabinet for around $200 to $500.⁵ The average cost of installation for a bathroom mirror is between $260 and $758.⁶

There are many faucet styles that can spruce up a bathroom. Here are some options to consider:⁷

• Widespread faucet: Three pieces with a central faucet spout and separate hot and cold handles. Expect to spend between $225 and $1,050.⁷
• Centerset faucet: A single unit with a central faucet spout and separate hot and cold handles. Expect to spend between $50 and $150.⁷
• Single-hole faucet: Installed through a single hole, the faucet spout includes a handle to control the water temperature. Expect to spend between $50 and $1,350.⁷
• Wall-mount faucet: Mounts on the wall to save counter space. Expect to spend between $60 and $650.⁷
• Touchless faucet: Includes motion sensors that activate through hand movement. Note that you typically need to adjust the water temperature under the sink beforehand. Expect to spend between $70 and $1,500.⁷

Although there are more than a dozen choices of kitchen countertop material, almost 60% of homeowners pick one of three types: quartz (32.9%), quartzite (17.4%) or granite (9.4%).² Tile countertops come in last place, with less than 1% of homeowners choosing that material today.²

• Light bars: These LED bars can be hung horizontally or vertically. You can buy them in pairs to vertically frame a small vanity or medicine cabinet mirror, or you can buy one to hang horizontally over a mirror. Expect to spend between $100 and $580 per bar.⁸
• Ceiling light fixture: For a "wow" feature, hang a light from the bathroom ceiling. The styles are practically endless. Expect to spend between $100 and $440.⁸
• Wall sconces: Like the light bars, sconces are versatile. Hanging them around your vanity is a good option. Expect to spend between $100 and $200 per sconce.⁸
• Vanity lights: These hang over the vanity and are typically single sconces on one bar. For a triple-sconce light, expect to spend between $160 and $260.⁸

Last on this list, but not least important, is the toilet—the reason bathrooms exist. Most toilets need to be replaced after about 25 years.⁹ If yours isn't that old but is showing signs of age (like cracks or constant clogging), consider replacing your toilet with either the same kind or one with new features like low-flow for water conservation or dual-flush with two settings for energy efficiency.¹⁰

With a few upgrades, you can spruce up your bathroom without undertaking an expensive home renovation.

Looking to renovate your bathroom for $5K or less? Read on to learn more.