Creative Bathroom Renovations Ideas to Yield a Higher ROI

April 29, 2016

A simple upgrade can make a big difference in a bathroom. New tile, shiny chrome fixtures, and a stylish vanity can make a plain bathroom look brand new. Some homeowners spend a lot of money on bathroom remodels, but there are many cost-effective options. Here are some creative bathroom renovations ideas home sellers can undertake to entice spring home buyers.

Paint the Walls

Peaceful and inviting, bathrooms need light paint colors to make them look large and airy. Home buyers do not love dark, bold bathrooms. Advise your home sellers to paint their bathrooms to make them look clean and bright. They should choose paint colors that match the existing flooring. If the existing flooring is colorful, they can paint the walls white.

Choose the Right Tile

The surfaces in a bathroom determine the overall aesthetic. They endure a lot of abuse hence must be chosen with care. Many designers like to use porcelain tile on floors and walls. Tell homeowners on a budget to find less expensive versions that look like natural stone. They should also get bigger tile sizes to reduce grout lines and ease the upkeep.

Homeowners can take tile beyond the floor. They can install backsplashes of glass or mosaic tile above their vanities. They can also use the unique tile as a border or randomly in the tile pattern. Accent tiles don’t come cheap but they can add lots of style to a bathroom.

Install a New Vanity or Pedestal Sink

Homeowners with simple bathroom layouts can easily replace their sinks and vanities. Tell them to get pieces that aren’t much bigger than the existing ones or they may have to change the plumbing, lighting, and other fixtures. Those whose countertops are in good condition should simply paint the vanities. Pedestal sinks look good in bathrooms because of their classic style. However, they lack storage. If storage is a necessity, the best thing to get is a new vanity.

Home sellers can install floating vanities to update the style of their bathrooms and to make the rooms look spacious. Floating vanities allow the flooring to extend up to the wall, producing an open feeling. What’s more, they come in a myriad of designs: there are solid planks of wood with vessel sinks and even thermofoil vanities with storage.

Add Storage Space

Storage never seems to be enough in bathrooms. Home sellers can tackle this problem by adding more storage space. They can add shelves above sinks to store everyday items. They can also install deeper medicine cabinets, shelves above toilets, and modifiable shelves in linen closets. If there isn’t space for towel racks, they should be fixed to the back of the door. Sellers with vanities can install pull-out shelves. They should make the most of vertical space and extend cabinetry up to the ceiling. Functional storage never goes out of style.

Add an Upgraded Shower

The days of using bathtubs are gone. People now prefer showers which are convenient. Home sellers should get rid of tubs and install modern showers that come with exceptional features like body sprays and his and hers showerheads. They can enclose their showers with glass to give their bathrooms a luxurious look. No-threshold showers are also popular. They make a bathroom look bigger, are easy to clean, and allow people to age in place.

When buyers inspect homes for sale, they take a close look at bathrooms. Most buyers want move-in ready homes they can settle into quickly. Luxury doesn’t have to come in the form of overpriced features, even simple upgrades can make a big difference. Advise your sellers to try these creative bathroom renovations ideas and they’ll be sure to recoup their money when they sell.


By Ronique Gibson

Ronique Gibson is an Associate Architect and a LEED Accredited Professional, who has been in the design industry for over 13 years. She started her design blog in 2009 and today it has become a premier destination for helping homeowners with everyday lifestyle challenges. Her readers check in daily for help with their homes, DIY project ideas, recipes, crafts, and inspiration to beautify and enjoy their homes.