How to renovate a bathroom without a builder, easily and with tips!

How to easily and effectively renovate a bathroom on a budget and without builders. Tips, ideas, and advice for DIY bathroom and toilet makeovers. Top Guide!

✎ Autor:  Pau Segui

How to remodel a bathroom easily

Even a clumsy person can remodel a bathroom in a home completely; walls, tiling, floor, and fixtures, are actually easy repair jobs, you’ll see!

And if you learn how to remodel a bathroom, besides saving money, you’ll avoid arguments with builders… Are you thinking about remodeling your bathroom? Do you want to renew your personal hygiene space to make it more modern?

We explain everything to you and guide you through the process of bathroom remodeling, from initial planning to the final touches.

Bathroom planning and design

This will be one of the key points both to avoid problems during execution and to not waste time or spend more money than we had planned.

renew and remodel bathroom
Via OVACEN

In planning, the steps to follow to renew a bathroom yourself are:

1.- The plan

Before starting with the masonry repairs in wet areas, we must first measure the entire room; remember to measure the height, window, and door. Make a small sketch to have a clear perspective of both measurements and shape.

The more detailed the plan, the better! And taking photos with your phone is always helpful

Apart from the measurements, you need to indicate on the plan the drainage points (Bathtub, bidet, and toilet), the cold and hot water outlets (Whether for bathtub, sink…etc), and the ventilation grille.

bathroom plan sketch

If it’s large enough, we can make a division of the shower area, sanitary area, and sink area.

2.- Assign a budget for bathroom remodeling

Secondly, before starting the work to renew the bathroom, you need to decide how much budget you have… Why?

This way, we avoid overspending, and you’ll better control the money you spend. You must set a limit, no matter what!… (At the end of the article, there’s a calculator to see the bathroom remodeling price).

But… How much does it cost to remodel a bathroom? A bathroom remodel with medium-quality materials of about 6 square meters costs around 6,914 Euros without considering the profit of the remodeling companies or VAT (Price updated in 2024 for Spain).

bathroom remodeling calculator
Via IVE
Bathroom remodeling element Cost (euros)
Sanitary Ware (Toilet, bidet, sink, shower tray, faucets) 1,880
Tiling-Cladding 1,347
Flooring 799
False Ceiling (Painted) 82
Installations (Plumbing and Electricity) 2,359
Demolitions 447
Total 6,914

🟧 Note: The previous cost does not include the company’s profit (Minimum 15%) + VAT. Normally, if the material accounts for less than 40% of the final remodeling cost, then the VAT will be 10%; otherwise, it would be 21%.

If you want to calculate the cost yourself, we have an article to show you a new free online tool to calculate the cost of remodeling a bathroom or kitchen it’s easy to use and accurate!

In the previous information, we have not included the bathroom mirror or any furniture. There is a wide range to choose from in both design and quality. Consider the following tips for changing the bathroom according to budget:

  • Sanitary Ware: At a minimum, sink and toilet (bidet optional) are the main ones. Besides, include the bathtub or shower tray (Remember the screen issue).
  • Tiling – Cladding: At a minimum, shower area on walls. Almost better if you want to save money.
  • Flooring: This includes all types of ceramic flooring, even slate or smooth concrete. Remember that you can lay the flooring over the existing one, raising the floor, be careful with doors and toilet due to height.
  • False Ceiling: Depending on the height characteristics and installations, it may or may not be advisable to include a false ceiling, although it is generally recommended.
  • Installations: For renewing the sanitary ware, this section is a delicate matter, especially plumbing and electricity. If you listen to us, hire a plumber and electrician by the hour, it’s the best option.
  • Furniture: This would include possible complementary furniture and different accessories. We could say this is a complementary item.
toilet offers
Via Materialesdefabrica.com

To buy cheap bathroom materials, we first advise looking at online stores to get a general idea of prices. Then, ask in stores; Leroy Merlin, Bricomart, Bauhaus, Ikea, Bricor, Bricodepot, etc.

[article ids=”40842″]

From here, to save a little more, we can go directly to manufacturers for construction materials and even in large stores, they often have leftover tiles and flooring that are enough to renew a bathroom.

It’s time to continue with how to fix a bathroom, now we see the distribution of the sanitary ware and its design.

3.- Distribution and design

First… What does your bathroom need? if you have a small bathroom, don’t try to fit a bidet if it doesn’t fit, you have to be coherent!. Keep in mind that:

  • In a bathroom remodel, it’s cheaper to relocate the sanitary ware in the same place than to change their position.
  • It’s very expensive to place the bathtub elsewhere, and especially the toilet and bidet.
  • Think carefully if you need a bathtub… Isn’t a shower enough?
  • Bathtubs with special measurements are much more expensive than standard ones.

When we practice the distribution of the toilet or bathroom in a remodel, we must think that we need a space – activity and movement area, according to the piece it will be:

bathroom activity area
Via Jofel

Some examples and distribution tips:

toilet and bathroom distribution
Via Plataformaarquitectura.cl

Once you have a clear idea of what you want, it’s time to focus on the design. Explore different bathroom styles and choose one that suits your personality and style.

Choosing a bathroom decoration and design according to the year’s trend is a typical mistake, choose a style you like!

Look at specialized websites, catalogs, magazines…etc. And always maintain a relationship and coherence between the money we have and our final design.

4.- Legal permits

The permits and authorizations to carry out a remodel must be in order with the administration (Usually the City Council). So we will have to ask what papers we need.

As a rule, to remodel bathrooms, it will be minor work, we will only have to fill out a form provided by the Administration indicating what we are going to do and when we plan to start and finish (In some cases they will ask us for a hand-drawn sketch). And of course, pay the corresponding fees.

From experience, it’s worth doing the bathroom remodel legally, you’ll avoid a possible fine!

Watch out!!… From experience, it’s worth doing the remodel legally. If we get caught without a license, the fines are no joke! And in the end, the cheap bathroom remodel will become a nightmare.

Now let’s review the most unique points of this wet area where we can have problems and see useful tips.

Bathroom tiling and flooring

The work of tiling tiles is usually attributed as a task exclusive to experienced handymen or professionals, however, in reality, with a few tips, we can execute a satisfactory job ourselves. We have three options:

  • We can paint tiles and even the flooring.
  • We can tile and floor over what we already have in the bathroom.
  • And remove the old tiles and floor to replace them with new ones.

1.- Paint tiles

Certainly, it’s the cheapest option. There are many paints with special components for proper adhesion of the paint on the glazed and ceramic surface. An example of before and after painting:

how to paint tiles
Bathroom wall remodel

The special paint for tiling is applied in the same way as on a normal wall, but always keeping in mind that the surface must be very clean and follow the manufacturer’s specifications to the letter.

To paint tiles, either buy a primer (It’s for the paint to adhere to the tile) and then paint, or buy paint that already includes primer

🟧 You can also see the article on how to paint walls to make them look really good, there are many tips and tricks!

2.- Cover tiles or flooring with others

It’s a convenient option, but we will lose a few centimeters after restoring the bathroom to new (Be careful with the flooring in relation to the height of the hallway and entrance door). As tips on how to cover tiles step by step with others:

  • We need to check that the tiles we have on the wall or floor are well adhered. If we have paint, we must remove it.
  • Depending on the adhesive material we are going to use (Always check the manufacturer’s instructions), proceed to “chip” the surface to provide better adhesion, although there are now resins that provide perfect adhesion.
  • We must wash with detergent and water to remove dirt, grease, and dust. Rinse well and then let dry.
  • Spread the mortar or adhesive, and place the tiles with slight pressure.
  • Let dry and then do the joints.

Remember that laminate floors are cheaper than ceramic and nowadays, they are already suitable for wet areas. We continue to see steps on how to renew the bathroom

3.- Remove old tiles and add new ones

When we set out to change the bathroom tiles, it’s the most recommended option but not the cheapest, and with a little patience, we will have an unbeatable result where we should keep in mind that:

And another interesting video to remove a single tile from the wall:

Although the following video is not the best visually, it does explain very interesting and useful concepts from a technical perspective.

  • Before starting to tile or lay the flooring, the surfaces must be straight and clean.
  • First tile. In the center of the floor, draw two perpendicular reference lines, check that the lines are square. With the help of spacers, present the tiles dry along these lines. Adjust the design.
    • If the room is rectangular or square, start placing the pieces from the intersection between lines.
    • Spread the adhesive cement in a small area without covering the lines. Then, space the tiles and use a rubber mallet to fix them. Check the alignment.
    • The expansion joints at edges and corners should be filled with flexible silicone.
  • On the floor and walls of an old or even modern bathroom, it’s common to find strange shapes and nooks that we will have to navigate by cutting the pieces. Keep all the pieces until the work is finished, they may be useful for other points.
hydromassage cabin
Via O2xa

The shower tray, screens, and bathtub

First, we need to be clear if we want a bathtub, a shower tray with its pertinent screens (We can attach a hydromassage tower by water) or a compact shower cabin.

Options to buy in the market, as many as you want, although nowadays we see fewer and fewer bathtubs, and the trend is more towards looking for designer shower trays or modern cabins that offer a multitude of functionalities, including the water massages we love so much.

Whether we choose a bathtub or shower, always opt for functional elements, that are minimalist for easy cleaning and with standard measurements

Most remodels that are done is changing the bathtub for a shower tray for convenience, but we can also replace the bathtub with another one, and put a bathtub over a bathtub, which is a cheaper remodel.

In the market, we can find bathtubs made of different materials such as cast iron, steel sheet, or acrylic in various shapes, colors, and sizes. So choose well what you want!…

To know how to install a bathtub, what better than leaving a video:

Shower trays

Nowadays, manufacturers already provide us with shower trays made of multiple materials (Porcelain, acrylic, concrete, slate shower trays, steel…etc), with spectacular designs to remodel a bathroom or toilet, resistant, colorful, and long-lasting, and we can even get a shower tray with a custom cut, which will be more expensive.

Remember that it must have anti-slip properties. They are designated with three grades: Grade 1 adhesion is basic, Grade 2 is medium, and Grade 3 is high adhesion. And a point that is sometimes forgotten is the shower tray frame (Although not all manufacturers offer the option of a frame or not). An example:

shower tray frame
Shower tray frame – Via Roca

The keys to installing a flat shower tray so that it really looks good and can last a long time are based on three key points:

modern shower tray

  • Checks. We must check the measurements we have requested and if they are correct, verify that it has no damage, and incidentally check if the water flows correctly by placing the flat shower tray and pouring a little water to see if it runs towards the drain.
  • The base. Before placing the piece, we must ensure that the base is completely flat and fully covered with material – mortar. The trays are thin and very fragile if they do not have proper support.
  • The mortar and adhesive material. We should never use adhesive cement or cement as an adhesive, we will use polyurethane putty (It’s like silicone) that will allow a strong bond between the piece and the support. Besides placing putty on the surface of the tray, remember to also add it around the entire perimeter of the edge to prevent moisture from passing through.

Types of screens

There are mainly two types for the home, which are glass screens (Anti-breakage) and are available in a lot of finishes; transparent, translucent, engraved, or decorated.

And the acrylic screens which are a bit cheaper than glass ones and where water stains are not really noticeable, also if we are going to buy an acrylic screen, remember that the profiles must be treated with anti-corrosion characteristics.

How to renovate a bathroom with very little money

Everyone, without needing to be a handyman or the king of DIY at home, can radically change the bathroom or toilet of the house using very simple materials to apply… How to remodel a bathroom with little money?

  • To remodel a bathroom without works, the walls can be covered with washable vinyl paper, or painted with water-resistant tile enamel applied directly. (You can see the article on decorative vinyls for the home)
bathrooms with vinyl decoration
Via Aliexpress
  • The floor will look like new with several coats of rubber paint or the kind used in garages. If the door rubs afterward, place sandpaper underneath and move it back and forth to remove the extra millimeters.
  • To fix wall accessories without drilling, they can be bought with a built-in suction cup, glued with double-sided tape, or use special glue that holds up to 80 kilos. These systems can be adjusted to the height of children.
  • Renewing old sanitary ware. To change the toilet seat, unscrew it and measure the width, depth, and distance between the screw holes, as there are different sizes.
  • And if the problem is old furniture that cannot be changed due to lack of “money”, they will look completely new by covering them with adhesive paper that imitates cork, slate, or wood, although you can also use those from your own home.

Bathroom design decoration tips

When we start looking at different modern bathroom styles, we will see that there are many possibilities in decoration; modernist, with an antique character, bohemian, in the minimalist style or more classic, but we would like to highlight 10 bathroom decoration tips that are quite useful:

  • The sink furniture should be suspended, as should the sanitary ware, which is a bit more complicated. The fewer furniture touches the floor, the better, both for cleaning and to avoid moisture and nooks.
  • Remember that the ergonomics of a bathroom should have minimum distances between furniture and sanitary ware or the shower itself. This is an important topic that needs plans and drawings for better understanding. So we provide interesting diagrams:
bathroom ergonomics measurements
Via Nohely
  • Lighting in a bathroom is essential. Preferably white light, although if the bathroom is large enough, we can differentiate environments with white light for the sink area and softer light for the shower area.
  • Directly, towel radiators save a lot of space, are not excessively expensive, and are very useful. So it’s a good complement!
  • Remember that the screen opening should not be less than 40 cm, and if possible, leave a passage of 50 cm or more.
  • In bathroom remodels, if we place the shower tray, we will generally have a small step since placing them flush with the floor is practically impossible due to the drains.
  • The fewer accessories and furniture, the better. We all have a lot of personal hygiene products that actually take up a lot of space. The best is to buy a sink cabinet to clear the room, and it’s not necessary to load the walls with a thousand bars and shelves that will eventually be a problem.
  • Colors. The recommendation practiced by decorators is to use neutral colors, especially grays and whites, and if necessary, occasionally a more striking color. As a rule, the ceiling should be white, which gives a sense of spaciousness and height, and we can paint one wall a different color, in most homes in the shower area.
colors in bathrooms
Ideas to remodel toilets and bathrooms
  • A good and large mirror is practically the soul of this room. Besides being comfortable, it will give us a sense of spaciousness (Remember to adjust the height in accordance with the inhabitants of the house). Highly recommended is a mirror from the sink base to the ceiling.
  • And finally, the toilet and bidet should be placed in the same location as they were previously due to the downpipes – drains, as well as the bathtub.

Bathroom accessories

In tighter economies, to condition a bathroom, we will simply remove all non-fixed elements that age over time, go out of style, or end up mismatched, that is, replace them with modern bathroom accessories that exude quality.

The accessories will be replaced as a whole and matching – without sparing any – with materials with more warmth, design, or style, such as:

  • Ethnic wood. (A platform can be added inside the shower)
  • Silver metal and glass.
  • Bright colors. (Muted tones are not visually appealing)
bathroom accessories
Via Porcelanosa (As well as the cover image)

The curtains, toilet seat, and mat will also follow the chosen color scheme, or failing that, the floor or wall color.

Specifically, it is the trash can, stool, toilet brush, mat, toilet seat, toilet paper holder, laundry basket, scale, towel racks, mirror, hooks, soap dish or dispenser, toothbrush holder, and the bathroom, shower, and window curtains.

If you don’t skimp on this minimal expense, the change can be spectacular by applying ideas for small bathrooms and large ones, as simply buying a quality toilet seat to replace a cheap plastic one will make it seem like this sanitary ware has been changed for another.

The aesthetics will also improve considerably by leaving attractive cosmetic bottles in view and hiding in simple “everything for 1 euro” boxes the pads or spare toilet paper.

How to calculate bathroom remodeling budget

On the Internet, we have different tools and applications to see how much a bathroom remodel costs and get an indicative budget.

As we want to provide quality and offer a tool that really adds value to users, we will have to go to the Valencian Institute of Building (IVE in Spain) which works on a base of construction prices updated annually and has an easy-to-use application to give us a real indicative value.

Remember that in the bathroom price calculator, you have to add each element for the budget by clicking on the green “+” icon

prices to remodel bathroom
Via IVE

We hope the article is of interest and useful for those who want to practice a small renovation of the toilet or transform the home bathroom.

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Autor: Pau Segui

imagen del autor del artículo

BIO: Pau Seguí (Pablo) is founder and director of OVACEN, a digital newspaper. He has more than 18 years of experience in the field of architecture, decoration, construction, urban planning, efficiency, renewables and sustainability. He writes for Construccion21, Inmodiario, and many other publications in blogs and specialized portals.

Directrices Editoriales | Arquitecto Técnico - Director OVACEN | Contacto | Facebook | Twitter

? El artículo ha sido verificado y revisado por el equipo editorial de OVACEN para garantizar la mejor precisión posible (La información incluye enlaces a medios acreditados, estudios científicos, instituciones académicas y organismos oficiales). Pero, si consideras que nuestro contenido es inexacto, dudoso o desactualizado, puedes contactarnos en artículos@ovacen.com para realizar las correcciones necesarias.

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