Update Your Bathroom on a Budget

Drab to fab for less than the cost of a tank of gas (give or take)

Have pea green countertops and embarrassingly outdated tile patterns got you down? Your blue bathtub doesn't exactly convey the same sophisticated elegance you see in those architectural magazines you flip through at your friends' houses?

If your bathroom is in desperate need of a makeover but a complete renovation doesn't fit into your budget, there are still a number of things you can to do jazz up the space, most for under $100.

Quick fixes
A new set of bath towels and a matching shower curtain is the most affordable and simplest way to add some flavor to a dull bathroom. Accessories such as toothbrush holders, soap dishes, trash cans, and towel racks also add energizing flair. Simply changing the drawer pulls and cabinet handles on your vanity often gives the room a new look. Larger projects such as painting the room a different color or changing the faucet style can be done over a weekend with very little cost or effort.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall
One area that often gets overlook in the renovation process is the medicine cabinet. Installing a stylish new medicine cabinet is remarkably easy and instantly changes the entire tone of your bathroom.

If you can hang a picture frame, you can install a surface-mount medicine cabinet. Even if you choose to go with a recessed style medicine cabinet that requires cutting into the drywall or plaster to sit flush with the wall, you don't need extensive home remodeling knowledge to get the job done. In fact, if you're replacing an outdated recessed medicine cabinet, the hole will already be cut for you and all you have to do is slide in and secure the new cabinet.

One way to make efficient use of space in a small bathroom is to install a corner-mount medicine cabinet. The added storage space and updated style of a new medicine cabinet will make a world of difference in your bathroom.

An illuminating experience
Lighting can also play an important role in the reinvigoration of your bathroom. Replace tired old light fixtures with more modern chrome or brushed nickel light bars. Bathroom sconces bring traditional appeal to any vanity while many new medicine cabinets come with built-in light fixtures for seamless design and easy installation.