Share
An old bathroom completely overhauled with new vanity unit, mirror, tiles and shower.
The project
Both my partner and I have been working on my mum's bathroom renovation over the last month. It was a budget-friendly bathroom as she didn't have the funds to go all out, however, she desperately needed it renovated. Her shower was leaking due to the drain having tree roots damaging the pipes from underneath.
It was a full demolition, however, we kept the existing plumbing where it was and just moved the shower in place of where the bath used to be to save money.
Lots of Bunnings items were used during this bathroom renovation. The mirror was something I made with a frame.
The embroidery hoop décor and greenery wall art opposite the shower is something else I made using Bunnings artificial plant grids. I also used Kmart flowers and a picture frame to add a bit of texture and a pop of colour.
We were extremely lucky to have scored the bathroom vanity from our local Bunnings store. It was on clearance for just $70. However, I wasn't happy with how plain it was, so I took the door and drawers off, sanded it back and applied a texture paste to hand create a unique texture design, which I then painted afterwards.
The texture on the door and drawer fronts was also something I'd never done before. I just knew it needed something to make the vanity more interesting. After preparing the door and drawers and sanding back, I used a texture paste in which I used different rollers and a brush to create this look. Once the paste hardened, I continued to sand and paint. I love texture and the texture on the vanity and walls add interest to the room. I didn't want to make it too overwhelming, hence the reason I painted it white.
In total, this bathroom renovation cost $6000. We did demolition and everything else ourselves. However, we did hire a plumber, waterproofer and tiler (for just the shower bed) as we didn't want to make any mistakes during this process and later have water damage problems.
We spent about two months researching and planning this bathroom before jumping into it, which helped us smash this out in five weeks. (Keep in mind I'm six months pregnant, and both my partner and I work full-time). We spent every weekend or sometimes after work doing things to get it done as soon as possible.
My biggest tip: Research and plan. Communication between tradies is a big thing to make sure everything runs smoothly.
Mum was very happy and so were we. We love the use of timber as it definitely adds warmth to a space.
Before and after
How to plan a bathroom renovation
Experienced Workshop member Adam compiled How to plan a bathroom renovation with helpful tips for planning, including the sequence of works and tradespeople you may need.
More inspiration for your bathroom project
Community member raceytrace has given a detailed, step-by-step account of her budget bathroom makeover with painted bath and tiles for just $300.
Workshop member Sallie completed a bathroom refresh with upcycled timber vanity.
Check out our Top 10 most popular bathroom projects for more inspiration for your home.
