Home Staging Tip #6: Staging Your Bathroom

If you are not sure if your bathroom needs a little help, then most likely it does.  The good news is there are steps you can take to give that outdated, lackluster, maybe even a bit mildewy room a gleam without breaking the bank.  AND, get a 100% return on your investment when you sell.

Many homeowners become overwhelmed with the idea of updating or renovating a bathroom.  They read up on the latest trends and then start pricing out new tile, new sinks, new cabinets, new mirrors, a glass door for the shower; you get the picture.  While this can certainly bring you a fantastic new bath, it will also cost you anywhere from $12K to $20K.  This is worth the investment if you can afford it but there are definitely less expensive ways to showcase the best features of your bath without breaking the bank and in some cases for less than $400.  Follow this link to see one of my favorite remodels for only $439: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/ideas/bath-remodel-only-439.

Starting with the basics, here is a list of items to start with before you do anything that even resembles costly:

1. Replace old stained caulking.
2. Scrub all tile and grout with a proven formula of 1 cup water, ½ cup white vinegar, ¼ cup lemon juice and 2 TBSP baking soda. More on this later!
3. Clean hard water stains off of fixtures.
4. Clean mildew off of shower curtain or remove and replace the shower curtain if it is too far gone.
5. Re-caulk around tub/sink/shower where needed.
6. Thoroughly clean the glass shower doors.
7. Remove all toiletries, towels, clothes hamper from the room.

After this task is completed you can better assess if you need to go further.  If your bath sparkles, add fresh new towels and bath mat, stow away your toiletries and you are good to go.  BUT, if you see that no matter how hard you scrub there just isn’t any gleam to your bath, try some of the following:

1. For an easy update that costs less than you would expect, replace your fixtures and electrical plates.
2. Is your sink vanity made of cheap particle board? Replace it with an old table or desk. Simply paint it white (white goes a long way in making a room look fresh and new), insert your sink and fixtures and you have a brand new look to your old tired bath.  Don’t buy brand new.  To save money shop your Habitat for Humanity RESource store, VarageSale or Salvation Army.
3. Update your cabinet drawer and door pulls.
4. Tile can be expensive. Use large tile to cover more space at less cost or use more paint or paper to stretch your dollars further.  Use your tile to make an accent wall or shower rather than retile the entire bathroom.  Vinyl-coated wallpaper has come a long way and can be used wherever there is residual moisture (not in the shower).  Semi-glossy and glossy paint is perfect for bathroom walls and trim work.  The upgraded bathroom by designer Matt Meunster is a perfect example of the best use of tile and paint to create a stunning new look on a tight budget.
5. Need a new sink? EBay is a great place to start to find an interesting sink without spending a fortune.  We found a beautiful marble sink for less than $100 including shipping!
6. Install pegs in lieu of bars to hang towels. This especially useful if you have a large family and a small bathroom OR lots of company as most of us do in Florida.  Using plumbing pipes for towel bars is a new trend that adds a bit of interest.
7. Update your lighting. There are many inexpensive but beautiful styles of lighting that can be found in Home Depot, Lowes, Rejuvenation Hardware, Pottery Barn or try updating an old chandelier from the thrift store to create an entirely new look.
8. Have an old ceramic tub resurfaced. Frame your tub with bead-board and paint to match your walls creating a spa look.
9. Replace a standard contractors mirror with an antique mirror or frame the standard mirror.

One theme you may notice in all of my suggestions in this and previous articles is the color (or non color) white.  There are many shades of white so this is a safe color to clean up any room and easy to find contrasts to create interest and depth.  However, the primary reason to use whites is to create a canvas for your potential buyer.  You want your buyer to come in and see fresh and clean, no work to do on his/her part other than moving in the furniture; not a screaming project to tackle before they can wash their hands. This would be an entirely different conversation if you were choosing paint and tile to fit your own décor style.

In the beginning of this article I told you about a formula that will clean your tile and grout.  I am by nature a bit of a skeptic so when I read about this recipe on-line I had to try it for myself before I could recommend it to you.  I am here to tell you I am completely sold.  Not only did it work but it is also environmentally friendly.  Don’t believe me….take a look at my before and after photos.  I used the vinegar-lemon recipe, a scrub brush and then a fresh damp mop to wipe up the dirt.  Easy breezy!  The grout is a brown gray to start with so it will never be a bright white but oh so much cleaner.

Has this information been helpful?  Give us your feedback.  Let us know if there is a topic you would like for us to address.  Need the assistance from a professional Stager?  Contact Vicki Grant, CEO of Grant Home Staging Services, grantstaging@gmail.com or (305) 394-9201, staging Key West homes since 2009.