By Kerrie Kennedy

Contributing writer

If you’re thinking of renovating a bathroom and money is tight, keep this in mind: It’s one of the most lucrative makeover projects around. According to information reported by Crane’s Chicago Business, a new bathroom brings back nearly 120 percent of its cost at resale. Even a simple bathroom remodel can pay for itself in the end.

According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association, the average cost of remodeling a bathroom is approximately $10,000. But several Chicago area design experts say you can do it for much less as long as you don’t have your heart set on things like marble-lined steam showers or multi-jet Jacuzzi tubs. Here’s what they recommend:

Start With the Walls

“The age-old paint and paper routine is one of the least expensive and easiest things you can do to change the look of your bath,” says MJ Kamin of MJ Devorak Design Interiors.

It can also pack a big punch. “You’d be surprised what a little paint can do,” Kamin says. If you have a large master bath, she recommends sticking with soft, neutral colors, but if you’re re-doing a powder room, go all out.

“You can be more dramatic in a powder room, since you won’t be in there often, and chances are you won’t get sick of it,” she says.

Wallpaper, she says, tends to work well in powder rooms. Bathroom walls can also be outfitted in trendy wainscot, for about the same cost as wallpaper.

“You can buy beadboard in sheets and put it on the walls yourself,” she says. 

Christine Maringer, of Divine Design, recommends getting out your own paintbrush.

“You can do faux painting quite easily yourself by using things like feather dusters and glazes,” she says. And painting a mural, she says, is a lot easier than it sounds.

“Most people can draw branches and things like that-but you can always get stencils if you’re not artistically inclined,” Maringer says. “It’s a fun way to personalize your bathroom.”

But what do you do if your wall is covered with old, ugly tile? Luckily, it’s not a fatal situation.

“Usually, you can buy a special kind of paint and paint right over it,” Kamin says. “Or you can re-tile on top of the old tile or even apply wainscot over it.”

Rarely, she says, do you have to go through the mess and expense of removing the old tile first.

Take a Look at the Floors

If your floors are tile, you’re in luck: they can always be painted or tiled over, but if they’re covered with linoleum, there’s not much you can do, aside from pulling it out and starting fresh. If that’s the case, Kamin recommends putting in ceramic tile.

“You really don’t have to spend the money on marble or granite, because ceramic tile mimics all kinds of materials these days,” Kamin says.

Don’t go for the predictable four-inch square tile, though.

“Ceramic tile comes in all kinds of different sizes, colors and finishes,” she says. “There’s just a huge variety of ceramic tile out there, so you should take advantage of it. Then you can mix in some expensive accent tiles that have hand-painted flowers or vines or an interesting pattern-don’t be afraid to get creative.”

Lighting

Even if your budget is tiny, it’s essential to dedicate a small amount of money towards the lighting, says Kamin.

“Frequently bathrooms have terrible lighting,” she says. “You can have marvelous fixtures, but if the lighting is bad, no one will be able to see them.”

The right lighting can make your bathroom look very glamorous and radically different. The trick is finding the right balance of both natural and artificial light.

Whatever you do, says Maringer, don’t cover up the natural light you have with window treatments. If privacy is an issue, she recommends using obscured glass, such as glass block, glazed, beveled or etched glass. Once that’s accomplished, add plenty of task lighting over places like sinks, showers and bathtubs.

“If you want to go with recessed lighting, it’s easy to buy retro-fit cans that can slide into the hole you cut,” Kamin says. “You don’t have to take the whole ceiling down.”

If your budget will allow it, a fixture can also make a nice statement. But don’t get stuck in a “bathroom” rut. Lights that look good in other rooms, such as libraries (sconces), dining rooms (chandeliers) and living rooms (lamps) can also work well in a bathroom. 

Fixtures

Here’s where you may want to spend your money, says Kamin.

“Your plumbing fixtures have to work for years and years, so you really need to look for a good quality brand,” Kamin says. “Don’t go too cheap, or you may regret it.”

Although a good, serviceable toilet costs only around $100-$125, a new sink or bathtub runs considerably more. Check with your plumber or a consumer reports guide before buying.

Hardware

If your budget won’t allow for new plumbing fixtures, consider changing the faucets instead. While you’re at it, change all the hardware-faucets, cabinet pulls and towel bars. It can be surprisingly transformative, says Kamin.

“You can re-do everything in brass, chrome or gold-the old standards-but now there are also all kinds different finishes that allow you to really change the look of your entire bathroom,” Kamin says.

Accessories

For a truly bare-bones bathroom makeover, stick with accessories, says Maringer.

“You’d be surprised what a big difference a new shower curtain can make,” she says. “Since it usually takes up a whole wall in a bathroom, it can make a big impact.”

According to Maringer, Battenberg lace tablecloths can easily be transformed into a shower curtain valence. She recommends hanging it all the way to the ceiling to visually extend the bathroom’s ceiling height.

If you have an old ugly medicine cabinet, you can replace it for very little—either with a new one from Home Depot or a large framed mirror instead. And don’t forget to incorporate artwork in your bathroom, says Kamin, adding, “Framed prints work well, as do glass sculptures on shelves.”

If all else fails, says Maringer, a simple trip to Target for coordinating towels, soap dishes and rugs can give your bathroom a quick fix until you can afford the real thing.