Sometimes a bathroom really could use a complete remodel — but that doesn't always mean tearing everything out is the best option for the budget.
That was definitely the case with this bathroom.
It was dated and needed quite a bit of work, but instead of gutting the entire room, we tried to figure out what we could keep, what we could update, and where we could save money.
We kept some of the original vintage features, painted instead of replacing what we could, found a few inexpensive clearance pieces, and made some bigger cosmetic changes that completely changed how the bathroom felt.
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Before and after: we updated this older bathroom without completely remodeling it.
Would you have updated this bathroom — or completely remodeled it?
Our Bathroom Before the Makeover
This bathroom had a lot going on when we started, including older finishes, brown vanity cabinets, plain mirrors and features that definitely showed the age of the room.
But it also had some things that we decided were worth working with instead of automatically replacing — including the existing green wall tile and green sinks.
.jpeg "Bathroom Before the Budget Makeover")
Before: the older bathroom we started with.
Watch the Budget Bathroom Transformation
The Reel gives you a quick look at just how different the room looks now:
Keeping Some of the Original Vintage Features
One of the biggest ways we kept this project from becoming a complete remodel was by not assuming that everything old had to go.
We kept the existing green sinks and the green wall tile. The tile got a really good cleaning, and rather than trying to make the bathroom look like a brand-new modern bathroom, we worked with some of its older character.
That became part of the direction for several of the other choices we made. Even when we replaced something, I tried to choose finishes that could still work with the vintage feel of the room.
.jpeg "Vintage Green Bathroom Features We Kept")
We worked with several of the bathroom's existing features instead of replacing everything.
Painting the Brown Vanity Cabinets White
The vanity cabinets were originally brown, but replacing the entire vanity would have added a lot more expense.
Instead, we painted the cabinets white.
That was one of those changes where paint did a lot of the work. We were able to keep the existing cabinetry while making that whole side of the bathroom feel lighter.
.jpeg "Budget Bathroom Vanity Cabinet Update")
One of the biggest ways we saved: before replacing something, we asked whether we could clean it, paint it or work with it instead.
Using the Same Vinyl Plank Flooring as the Rest of the House
We did change the bathroom flooring.
Instead of keeping the old floor, we continued the same vinyl plank flooring that runs throughout the rest of the house into the bathroom.
Besides updating the room, using the same flooring helped the bathroom feel more connected to the rest of the house rather than like a completely separate space.
.jpeg "Vinyl Plank Flooring in Budget Bathroom Makeover")
Turning a Damaged Closet Into Open Shelving
There's also a small closet right when you walk into the bathroom.
The closet door was ruined, and because it was such a small, unusual door, replacing it would have been surprisingly expensive.
So we didn't.
We took the door off and turned the closet into open shelving instead. It was easier, less expensive and gave us useful storage without paying for a custom-size replacement door.
We also replaced trim where it was needed as we cleaned everything up.
.jpeg "Budget Bathroom Renovation Progress")
Clearance Gold Mirrors and Updated Lighting
The mirrors are one of my favorite examples of not needing to spend a lot to make a noticeable change.
The original mirrors were plain. I found gold-trimmed mirrors on clearance somewhere for really cheap, so we used those instead of spending a lot on new bathroom mirrors. I don't have a link to our exact clearance mirrors anymore, but I found some similar gold mirrors at a good price.
We also updated the light fixtures above the mirrors.
I don't remember now whether those particular fixtures were painted or replaced, but either way, updating that area along with the mirrors helped change the whole look of the vanity.
.jpeg "Gold Mirrors and White Vanity in Budget Bathroom")
Clearance mirrors were another way we updated the room without spending a lot.
Changing the Faucets Without Losing the Vintage Look
We also changed the sink faucets.
Because we were keeping the original sinks and tile, I didn't want the new faucets to make everything around them suddenly feel out of place. We tried to choose replacements that still had a vintage-looking feel and worked with the older character of the bathroom.
That's something I like about updating older spaces: new doesn't necessarily have to mean ultra-modern.
Removing the Old Shower Door
The old shower door was another thing we decided not to replace with a new version of the same thing.
We removed it and used a curved shower rod with a shower curtain instead.
We also added this shower head while we were updating the shower area.
These were relatively simple changes that helped freshen up the shower without turning it into a much larger renovation.
.jpeg "Budget Bathroom Shower Update")
Then Came the Wallpaper
The floral wallpaper was definitely one of the biggest visual changes.
We were trying to get this bathroom finished without spending a fortune, and at the time this was the wallpaper I chose.
.jpeg "Floral Wallpaper in Budget Bathroom Makeover")
Looking back at it now, the wallpaper is actually one of the things I might choose differently if I were doing the bathroom again today.
But I also think that's part of sharing real projects. Not every design choice has to become something you would choose forever.
Would I choose the same wallpaper today?
Probably not. We were in a hurry and that's what I went with at the time. I still think it's interesting to look back at the choices we made rather than pretending I'd design every older project exactly the same today.
The Finished Budget Bathroom
Once everything came together, it was hard to believe how different the bathroom felt without doing a complete gut renovation.
.jpeg "Finished Budget Bathroom Makeover")
After: the finished bathroom after our budget-friendly update.
We didn't replace the sinks. We didn't tear out all of the tile. We didn't replace the vanity cabinets. We didn't pay for a new custom-size closet door.
Instead, we put the money and work into the changes that we thought would make the biggest difference.
What We Changed in This Bathroom
- Installed the same vinyl plank flooring used throughout the rest of the house
- Cleaned and kept the original green wall tile
- Kept the original green sinks
- Painted the brown vanity cabinets white
- Changed the sink faucets while keeping a vintage-inspired look
- Added inexpensive gold-trimmed clearance mirrors and found similar gold mirrors for anyone wanting the same look
- Updated the light fixtures above the mirrors
- Removed the damaged closet door and created open shelving
- Replaced trim where needed
- Removed the old shower door and added a curved shower rod and shower curtain
- Added a new shower head
- Added floral wallpaper
More Bathroom Ideas
Some of the things we used in this bathroom were inexpensive finds I picked up on clearance, so I don't have an exact link for every item.
I did put together an Amazon Bathroom Ideas List with more bathroom finds and vintage-inspired options if you're working on a bathroom of your own.
Budget Makeover or Full Remodel?
I think older bathrooms are a good example of why that answer isn't always as simple as it seems.
If we had been designing this bathroom completely from scratch, there are things I would have done differently. And if I were making some of these choices today, there are things I'd choose differently too.
But that wasn't the goal of this project.
The goal was to take an older bathroom, work with some of what was already there, and make it feel dramatically better without spending the money on a complete remodel.
Sometimes that's enough.
What would you have done?
UPDATE what was already here — or completely REMODEL it?
More Unlikely Flips Makeovers
If you like seeing what we can do with older spaces, take a look at some of our other projects:
Another Bathroom Makeover Before & After →
Living Room Makeover Before & After →
Screened Porch Makeover Before & After →