9 DIY bathroom renovation projects that look anything but amateur (plus a crapload of nasty toilet and barf-worthy BEFORE shots of our bathroom projects)
Please excuse the potty-humor post title. I’m not very mature, but I am MAD about bathroom renovations. If you’re considering selling your home, perhaps you’ve heard that kitchens and bathrooms are the two spots in your home that you should look to update before your house hits the market.
And I know from experience that statement is very much true. But renovating a bathroom doesn’t have to mean hiring contractors and spending a ton of money.
In fact, we’re going to show you our own bathroom renovation projects. ALL of these are 100% DIY. No bathroom contractors were used (and thousands and thousands of dollars were saved).
Why You Should Consider The DIY Route
Sure, DIY isn’t for everyone. But you don’t HAVE to go all or nothing. If you don’t have super-duper DIY chops, then consider hiring out a portion of your bathroom remodel, but saving a portion for yourself to DIY, as well! It’s kind of best-of-both-worlds scenario.
You’ll learn a little, save a little, and still lean on the pros for the parts of the project that are beyond your comfort level (think: plumbing/electrical).
Some great parts of a bathroom project to hone your DIY skills? Here’s a short list:
- Demolition (here’s a great demolition garbage chute idea if you do this part)
- Hanging drywall
- Painting (walls and/or tile)
- Wallpaper
- DIY Accent Wall (Here are a bunch of fun accent wall ideas)
- Installing Cabinet Hardware
- Installing Bathroom Accessories
- Update a cheap bathroom mirror
- Make a TP holder
- Make a Towel Rack
9 DIY Bathrooms
For the DIY details of each bathroom project below, simply click to the associated post that is linked in the descriptions that follow! Ready to dive into some DIY bathroom ideas? Let’s go!
1. DIY Kids’ Bathroom (for under $2000)
An all-time favorite bathroom renovation for us is this kids’ bathroom, which cost us a whopping $1838, TOTAL. Just click on a photo, or the links included to see any of the AFTERS, and all of the DIY details for each project…
2. French Country DIY Bathroom Renovation
This kind of terrible before becomes a french country style bathroom, which we affectionately call “Napoleon’s throne room”…
3. Cottage-Style Bathroom Remodel
In our 1950’s cape cod home, we had a single bath on the main level, which had to function as both our master bath, as well as the bathroom for the main level of our home…and we had only a small footprint to work with.
4. Dungeon Bathroom Renovation
The other bathroom in our cape cod was in the basement. And it was a DUNGEON before gutting it…
5. “We May Never Be Royals” DIY Powder Room Makeover
Our previously purple-people-eating-privy may be one of my fave bathroom makeovers we’ve done…
6. Master Bathroom Mini-Makeover (for $0)
And even when we didn’t have the budget to fully gut a space, we tried to use some decorating tricks to “put lipstick on a pig” so they say:
7. Travel Trailer Bathroom Project – “Small Fry”
I’ve never blogged about our adventures in renovating campers, but there’s lots about them on Instagram, so if you want more details about these projects, head that way!
Here are a couple of shots of our first camper bathroom project BEFORE:
Here are some AFTER shots of this bathroom makeover!!
8. “Big Stinky” Camping Trailer DIY Bathroom Remodel
Renovating a camper bathroom is a lot different than remodeling a bathroom in a traditional home. But the gist is the same. You’ve got flooring, lighting, plumbing, etc. The good news is that camper renovations are much more budget-friendly to tackle than a traditional bathroom. But based on my personal experience? They are a LOT stinkier and gross to get through 🤢 (but perhaps that was just our campers).
This project was on a HUGE travel trailer, over 30′ long, and it was in ROUGH shape when we picked it up. But nothing that a little a lot of elbow grease couldn’t fix!
Here’s how the bathroom in our big rig looked before the gut job…
And after a lot of blood, sweat and tears, here’s how it turned out…
9. Master DIY Bathroom Total Gut Job
Our most recent DIY bathroom project was completely gutting the bathroom just shown above. It was several years before we had the budget to do it, but our $0 makeover was able to tide us over well until that point!
Here’s another BEFORE shot of this space, and I think you’ll be stunned to see the after!
In fact, here’s a fun time-lapse of the project from beginning to end if you want to check out the transformation happening on your screen…
Pin these DIY bathroom ideas for later!
Pssst…before you go, I sure would love to hang out with you again really soon! Sign up now and get a FREE copy of “Builder-Grade To Beautiful: 10 Totally Transformative Home Decorating Solutions, All Under $100!” Click here to enter your email or on the image below. Your copy will be sent right away!
Poulin Design Center says
Awesome……every thing was Great!!!
North East Factory Direct says
Wow! You really did a beautiful job! I love how bright & fresh everything looks. What an improvement.
Maryann @ Domestically Speaking says
What a bathroom makeover!