How to Remodel Your Bathroom for Under $500

You don’t need to drain your savings account to get the bathroom you’ve always wanted. 

With some elbow grease and smart shopping, you can create a space that looks like it costs thousands. 

Here’s how to remodel your bathroom for under $500, with all the tips I’ve learned over years of DIY projects.

Getting Started

Before you pick up a hammer or head to the store, you need a solid plan. Most bathroom renovations go over budget because people jump in without thinking through each step.

Take a good look at your bathroom and decide what really needs to change. Is it the outdated vanity? The peeling wallpaper? 

Make a list of your must-fixes and nice-to-haves. This helps you focus your budget on things that will make the biggest impact.

Next, measure everything. Nothing wastes money faster than buying materials that don’t fit. Measure the floor space, wall heights, the vanity area, and even the space around the toilet and shower.

Set aside about 10% of your budget for surprises. Trust me, you’ll find something unexpected once you start. A bit of water damage, a pipe that needs replacing, or a tool you didn’t know you needed.

How to Remodel Your Bathroom

Here are some ways you can remodel your bathroom on a budget that costs below $500.

1. Smart Shopping

Your local big box store isn’t always the best place for deals. I’ve found amazing materials at prices that seem too good to be true. While prices vary by location and availability, here are some reliable sources for budget-friendly materials:

Habitat ReStores sells donated home improvement items at a fraction of retail prices. Also, check your local store weekly, as inventory changes fast.

Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and OfferUp are gold mines for bathroom fixtures. Many people sell leftover materials from their own remodels, often at 50-70% off retail prices.

The clearance section at home improvement stores often has perfectly good items with damaged packaging or discontinued styles. 

Ask about floor models too. Stores will sell display items at deep discounts, especially when new inventory is coming in.

2. Paint the Spaces

Nothing transforms a space faster or cheaper than paint. For less than $100, you can completely change how your bathroom looks and feels.

Bathroom paint needs to stand up to moisture. Look for paint labeled for bathrooms with mold and mildew resistance. This costs a bit more but prevents problems down the road.

If you’ve never painted before, bathrooms are actually a great place to start because they’re small. Use painter’s tape to get clean lines around fixtures, windows, and the ceiling.

For the best results:

• Clean walls thoroughly with TSP cleaner
• Fill holes with spackling compound
• Sand any rough spots
• Apply primer, especially if changing colors dramatically
• Use two coats of paint for even coverage

Don’t forget the ceiling! A fresh coat of white ceiling paint can brighten the entire room and hide water stains.

3. Update Fixtures 

You’d be amazed how much new fixtures can change your bathroom’s look. And you don’t need to spend hundreds.

A new faucet can cost anywhere from $25 to $400+. For a budget renovation, aim for the $40-80 range for something that looks modern but won’t break the bank.

Changing cabinet hardware is even cheaper. New knobs and pulls cost $2-5 each and can update the look of an old vanity instantly. Just make sure the screw spacing matches your existing holes.

Bathroom lighting is often overlooked, but it makes a huge difference. Simple vanity lights start around $40. Look for fixtures with clear or frosted glass for a clean, timeless look.

4. DIY Tile Work

Basic white subway tile costs less than $1 per square foot and never goes out of style. Use it for shower surrounds or as a backsplash.

For floors, look at luxury vinyl tile (LVT). It’s waterproof, easy to install without special tools, and costs $1-3 per square foot. Modern LVT looks remarkably like real stone or ceramic tile.

You don’t need to tile every surface. Focus on high-impact areas like the wall behind the vanity or the shower surround. Use accent tiles sparingly. A single row of decorative tile that costs is affordable when you only need a few pieces.

5. Vanity Makeovers Under $100

A new vanity can cost $300-1000, but updating your existing one might cost just $50-100.

If your vanity is structurally sound, painting it is much cheaper than replacing it. Use a high-adhesion primer and cabinet paint for durability in the moist bathroom environment.

Popular colors right now include navy blue, dark green, and classic white. Two coats of quality paint can make even a 1980s oak vanity look modern and fresh.

Real marble or quartz countertops will blow your entire budget. Instead, look at these alternatives:

• Laminate sheets: Modern options mimic stone convincingly for $40-60
• Concrete overlay: For about $75 in materials, you can spread a thin layer of concrete over an existing countertop
• Butcher block: Sealed properly, wood counters can work in bathrooms and cost $100-200

For the sink, check if you can just replace the faucet rather than the entire basin. If the sink needs replacing, basic drop-in models start around $50.

6. Floor Upgrades

Peel-and-stick vinyl tiles have come a long way. High-quality options cost $1-2 per square foot and can be installed in one afternoon without special tools. Look for thicker tiles (at least 2mm) for better durability.

Yes, you can paint floor tile! Special tile paints cost about $30-40 per quart and can cover old, dated ceramic tile.

For best results:

• Clean thoroughly with TSP
• Lightly sand the surface
• Apply a bonding primer made for tile
• Use two coats of tile paint
• Seal with three coats of water-based polyurethane.

This works best on floor tiles in good condition; no cracks or missing grout.

7. Accessories and Final Touches

New towels, a shower curtain, and a bath mat in coordinating colors make a huge difference. Budget $50-75 for a complete set of new textiles.

Install new towel bars, toilet paper holders, and robe hooks for $10-20 each. Matching hardware throughout the bathroom creates a cohesive, thoughtful look.

Add floating shelves above the toilet or next to the shower for storage and display. Basic wood shelves cost $15-25 each and take minutes to install.

Your New Bathroom Awaits

With some planning, smart shopping, and weekend work, your bathroom can go from dated to stunning without emptying your wallet. 

Focus on high-impact changes and be willing to put in some DIY effort. Don’t let a tight budget stop you from having a bathroom you love.