You’ve always dreamed of owning a home with a spa-like luxury bathroom. The only problem is that coming in around $40,000 to $75,000 total, the luxury bathroom remodel price doesn’t quite fit your budget. Is there any way to create the feeling of luxury at a lower price point?
As a top DFW area bathroom remodeler with over two decades of experience, ZINTEX Remodeling Group knows exactly how to strike the balance between quality and affordability. We have the tips and tricks you need to give your bathroom an upgrade that feels luxurious without breaking the bank. By the end of this guide, you’ll know our top eight methods to do exactly that.
Table of Contents
- Install High-Quality Acrylic Wall Surrounds
- Ditch the Plain Chrome Bathroom Hardware
- Choose a Rich Bathroom Color Palette (Pun Intended)
- Modernize Your Bathroom Flooring
- Update Your Bathroom Lighting
- Focus on the Overall Sensory Experience
- Commit to a Cleaning Routine
- Upgrade Your New Shower with Built-In Storage
1. Install High-Quality Acrylic Wall Surrounds
When you think of luxury in a bathroom, you probably picture materials like granite, marble, or even high-end tile. The problem is that those materials can cost up to $20,000 and that’s before you factor in the cost of labor.
Instead, consider premium acrylic shower walls in designs like Santorini White Marble and Santa Cruz granite, which not only mimic natural stone at a lower cost but provide a 100% waterproof shower or bath experience. A new shower using acrylic shower wall surrounds will typically cost between $11,000 and $20,000, and that includes the cost of labor, accessories, and plumbing upgrades.
2. Ditch the Plain Chrome Bathroom Hardware
If your bathroom is still outfitted with the basic hardware installed by the original builders, that hardware probably has a standard chrome finish. While there’s absolutely nothing wrong with chrome hardware, a simple upgrade can really elevate your bathroom by adding a unique and custom touch. Consider hardware with finishes such as:
- Brushed champagne gold
- Antique copper
- Matte black chrome
- Brushed nickel
If you’re completing this type of upgrade as a standalone DIY project, you can expect to pay between $150 and $300 for a 4–6-piece bathroom hardware set. These sets typically include a toilet paper holder, hand towel holder, full-sized towel rod, and extra hooks or drawer pulls.
3. Choose a Rich Bathroom Color Palette (Pun Intended)
Color is one of the most important elements to consider when creating a drastic change on a budget. While light neutrals can certainly do the trick, you may prefer a more dramatic color palette to evoke that luxury bathroom feeling. Consider colors and shades like:
- Forest green
- Navy blue
- Maroon
- Dark grey or black
These rich colors are particularly effective when paired with unique and eye-catching design elements like copper hardware or potted plants. Painting a bathroom can cost between $150 and $1,500 depending on factors like square footage and paint quality.
4. Modernize Your Bathroom Flooring
If there’s one thing that can make your bathroom feel luxurious, it’s built-in storage. Built-in storage will make your bathroom look much more design-forward and cohesive than alternatives like hanging shower caddies while also increasing functionality.
When designing your new tub and shower combination or walk in shower, don’t hesitate to ask about customized storage options like soap niches and corner shelves. The cost of your storage accessories will be added to the total cost of your shower remodel. For example, you may be able to enjoy one or two storage accessories in the $11,000-$14,000 shower remodel price range, and three or four in the $15,000-$18,000 range.
5. Update Your Bathroom Lighting
Not all homeowners are blessed with ample natural lighting in every room in the house and unfortunately, the wrong lighting can really limit how luxurious your bathroom feels. For example, if your lighting is too cool, it can make your bathroom feel sterile and uninviting. Too warm, and all your whites look yellow.
Consider incorporating different levels of lighting for different areas of the bathroom. For example, use bulbs with 2700-3000k for your ambient overhead lighting and 4100k for your vanity or task lighting. Install a dimmer for a more relaxed bathing experience and replace any outdated fixtures with pieces that match your current hardware and design style.
If all you need to do is upgrade your bulbs, this can cost as little as $50. If you’re installing new fixtures, expect to pay between $200 and $500. If your lighting upgrades require all new electrical wiring or repairs, your final bill could be closer to $750 to $2,000.
6. Focus on the Overall Sensory Experience
So far, we’ve focused on bigger projects that can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days to complete. If you’re looking for a few small upgrades that can immediately make your bathroom a touch more luxurious, focus on the sensory experience you can create with accessories and decor. Examples include:
- Thick bath mats
- Floral, woody, or herbaceous scented candles
- High-quality cotton towels
The price point on these kinds of upgrades will vary significantly, and you can certainly find quality items in the $30-$50 range.
7. Commit to a Cleaning Routine
It’s time for the hard truth: keeping your bathroom clean is going to make a huge difference in the way it looks and feels. That means improving your organization and reducing clutter as well as regularly deep-cleaning all surfaces.
Our best advice when it comes to keeping a cleaner bathroom is to set yourself up for success by incorporating easy-to-clean materials. For example, acrylic or natural stone make cleaning as simple as finding the right cleaning solution and using it to wipe down your shower once or twice a week, whereas tile and grout can require a lot more elbow grease. If you have kids or you’re upgrading a bathroom that gets a lot of foot traffic, consider using hardware that doesn’t show fingerprints, like matte black chrome.
8. Upgrade Your New Shower with Built-In Storage
If there’s one thing that can make your bathroom feel luxurious, it’s built-in storage. Built-in storage will make your bathroom look much more design-forward and cohesive than alternatives like hanging shower caddies while also increasing functionality.
When designing your new tub and shower combination or walk in shower, don’t hesitate to ask about customized storage options like soap niches and corner shelves. The cost of your storage accessories will be added to the total cost of your shower remodel. For example, you may be able to enjoy one or two storage accessories in the $11,000-$14,000 shower remodel price range, and three or four in the $15,000-$18,000 range.
Build the Bathroom Remodel That Fits Your Lifestyle
Who knew that luxury could take a little more know-how to cost a little less money? With this guide, you can make a few targeted changes that add to your bathroom’s luxurious feel without breaking the bank.
At ZINTEX, our top priority is finding ways to meet every customer’s needs, and that includes planning your remodel at a time that works for your finances. Find out if you should work on your credit score before financing a remodel.
FAQs About Bathroom Remodeling
Q: How much of a bathroom remodel can I DIY?
If you’re itching to make some DIY upgrades, we recommend sticking to aesthetic changes. For example, you can probably paint or wallpaper your own bathroom. You can also make or change out your bathroom decor. However, you should hire a professional to make any structural, electrical, or plumbing changes. This is not only the safer choice, but it can reduce the risk of improper installation or premature damage.
Q: Why do bathroom remodeling costs vary so much?
The cost of a bathroom remodel will reflect factors like the scope of your remodel, the materials you’re using, and the extent of labor needed to complete the project. For example, it’s almost always going to cost less to convert a tub to a walk in shower than to build a shower in a different part of the bathroom. This is because a tub to shower conversion makes use of existing plumbing, rather than requiring all new plumbing lines.
Q: Do luxury bathroom remodels yield a higher ROI than mid-range bathroom remodels?
You might assume that the more expensive the remodel, the better the ROI. However, research shows that you’re going to get the highest ROI from a mid-range bathroom remodel (a maximum of around 73%) than from a luxury bathroom remodel (a maximum of around 50%). Mid-range bathroom remodels typically involve a smaller scope (e.g., using existing plumbing and square footage) and more affordable materials (e.g., acrylic wall surrounds, rather than natural stone).
