Every home has them. The bits of the bathroom or kitchen you stop seeing after a while, until a visitor comes round and suddenly they are all you can look at.
Grubby grout, yellowing sealant, tired cupboard doors, and pipes running along the wall behind the loo or under the sink.
The good news is that you rarely need a whole new room to make a big difference.
A few weekends, a modest budget and a bit of patience can make a tired space feel fresh again.
Here are the jobs that give the most change for the least money, with a few tips we have picked up along the way.
Jump to:
Start With A Proper Clean And A Clear Out
It sounds obvious, but it is the cheapest makeover there is. Empty the cupboards, clear the surfaces and give everything a thorough clean. Limescale on taps and shower screens, grease on cupboard doors and dust on top of wall units all make a room look older than it is.
Once everything is out, be honest about what goes back in. Half empty bottles, chipped mugs and gadgets nobody uses take up space and make a room feel cluttered. A clear worktop or windowsill instantly makes a small room look bigger.
This is also the moment to make a list of what actually bothers you. Walk round the room and note every little thing that catches your eye. That list becomes your plan. Put the jobs in order of how much they bother you and how much they cost, and tackle one at a time so the house never feels like a building site.
Refresh The Grout And Sealant
Tired grout and mouldy sealant are two of the biggest giveaways of an old bathroom. They are also easy, cheap fixes.
For grout that is just discoloured, a grout cleaner and an old toothbrush can work wonders. If it is cracked or crumbling, it is worth raking out and regrouting the worst areas. Grout pens are a quick option for lines that are sound but stained, and they come in white and a range of colours if you fancy a change.
Sealant around the bath, basin and kitchen sink is best replaced rather than cleaned once it has gone black. Cut away the old bead, clean and dry the area well, then run a fresh line. Masking tape on either side helps you get a neat finish, even if you have never done it before.
Hide The Pipes And The Clutter You Cannot Move
Exposed pipes are one of those things that make a room feel unfinished. They gather dust, they are awkward to clean around and they spoil the line of a nicely tiled wall. The usual culprits are the pipes running to a radiator, the waste pipe behind the toilet and the tangle under a basin or kitchen sink.
You have a few choices. A cabinet or vanity unit can hide the pipes under a basin and add storage at the same time. A small shelf or unit can disguise pipes in a corner. For pipes that run along a wall or floor, boxing them in gives the cleanest result.
Traditional boxing is made from timber battens and board, then painted. It works, but in a bathroom it can swell or go mouldy if water gets at it. That is why many people now use ready made pipe boxing designed for wet rooms. These are lightweight, water resistant and can be tiled or painted, so the box blends in with the wall around it rather than looking like an afterthought.
A couple of tips from experience:
- Leave a way in. Stopcocks, valves and joints may need reaching one day. Plan an access panel or a removable section so you are not breaking open your lovely new tiling.
- Measure twice. Allow a little room around the pipes and check the box will not clash with the toilet seat, door or skirting board.
- Match the finish. Tiling or painting the box to match the wall makes it disappear. A contrasting finish can look deliberate, but only if the rest of the room supports it.
Give Cupboards And Tiles A New Look
Replacing a whole kitchen is expensive, but the carcasses behind the doors are often perfectly sound. New doors, a coat of paint or simply new handles can change the whole feel of a room.
If you paint kitchen or bathroom units, preparation is everything. Clean off grease, lightly sand, use a suitable primer and choose a durable paint made for cupboards. Take your time between coats, and keep little fingers and family pets away from wet paint. Rushing is what causes peeling and chips later.
Tiles can be painted too, using a specialist tile paint. It is a good stopgap if you dislike the colour but cannot face retiling. Tile stickers are another option for a splashback, particularly in a rented home where you need something you can remove. Whichever route you choose, test a small area first, ideally somewhere hidden behind a door or appliance, and follow the instructions on drying times, especially in a room that gets steamy.
Finish With The Small Details
The little things often make the biggest impression once the bigger jobs are done.
- Lighting. A brighter bulb, a new shade or under cabinet lights in the kitchen can lift a room in minutes.
- Taps and fittings. A new tap, towel rail or toilet seat is an affordable upgrade that you touch every day.
- Textiles. Fresh towels, a new bath mat or a pretty blind add colour without commitment.
- Plants. A trailing plant on a shelf or a pot of herbs on the windowsill makes a space feel cared for. Pick ones that are happy in humid rooms for the bathroom.
- Storage. Baskets, jars and a simple shelf give everyday bits a home, so the surfaces stay clear. Labelled jars for cotton wool, hair bobbles and bath toys make tidying up a job the children can help with too.
A Fresh Space Without The Big Bill
Tidying the ugly bits is really about noticing them and dealing with them one at a time.
Clean and declutter first, sort out the grout and sealant, hide the pipes neatly and then give cupboards and tiles a refresh.
Finish with a few small, cheerful details and you will be surprised how different the room feels.
Best of all, you get the satisfaction of having done it yourself, and the money you saved can go towards something fun.
Leave a Reply