Our DIY Bathroom Remodel

How to do a bathroom remodel on a budget

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We mapped out every product and purchase for our bathroom remodel before we did any demo. In short, the vanity, hardware, mirror, bathtub, tile, wallpaper, and shelves were all chosen before a hammer was taken to any walls. Bathroom remodels are notorious for being expensive so we knew we wanted to do the tile ourselves. By “we”, I mean Parker haha.

How did we save money?

We saved money in a few specific areas like the tile and bathtub because we relied on our skills and got professional estimates and opinions. When a contractor did an estimate for us and encouraged us to do the tile work ourselves if we wanted to save money we took it to heart! If you have been here for a while then you know that Parker has already tiled our fireplace and kitchen backsplash.

What to watch out for when it comes to bathtubs

Going into the remodel we planned to totally replace our old tub. However, that changed once we had a contractor come look at the bathroom. He encouraged us to keep the tub and instead get it refinished in white. I had no idea that removing a cast iron tub can be super expensive because they are so heavy and hard to deal with. By getting our bathtub refinished we spent $600. In comparison, purchasing a brand-new bathtub and getting it installed is about $3,000.

What we splurged on for the bathroom remodel

I love Rifle Paper Co. wallpaper and decided on a navy and white color palette for the bathroom remodel. We decided to buy the peel-and-stick product and it turned out beautifully. Although, I wouldn’t say it is best for your marriage to install wallpaper together in a small space until 1 AM.

We went with marble tile for the shower. This is on the pricier side but white marble is timeless and really completed the look we were going for. Clean, simple, and classic.

Where to look for bathroom products

I was able to find our vanity (similar) at Lowe’s and the toilet at Home Depot (similar), great options if you have a small space. Then we picked out our tile for the shower and floor from Floor & Decor. Lastly, the wallpaper was purchased through Anthropologie.

How long does it take?

Overall, the entire project from start to finish took about 10 months! It is not a small job to take a bathroom down to the studs and then rebuild it piece by piece. Therefore, my number one piece of advice is to be patient. It always takes longer than expected. Be okay with that and have an extra bathroom that you can use in the meantime!

What I would do differently next time

All things considered, I honestly love how it turned out! The navy wallpaper really packs a punch against the white marble and the gray tile on the floor has held up really nicely. Nonetheless, if we do it again I would shift my expectations and prepare for delays. They always happen and it is not the end of the world. My husband was amazing and spent many late nights and weekends working in the bathroom. I guess it’s time to think about our next project!