DIY Bathroom Makeover on a Budget – here’s what you need to know

Step-by-Step Guide to Transforming a Tired Bathroom

If you’re staring at your outdated bathroom wondering how in the world to give it a fresh look without spending the average cost of a full master bathroom renovation, I’ve got you. This was my first time taking on a full DIY bathroom makeover, and I managed to totally transform our small space into a clean, stylish, and functional space without spending too much money.

In this blog post, I’ll walk you through exactly how I did it—including all the DIY steps, the tools we used, and where we saved big on labour costs. Ready? Let’s go!

Ad info: This DIY bathroom makeover includes a paid collaboration with Bathroom Mountain on some of the bathroom furniture and accessories and a PR discount on the microcement from Concrete Lab.

However, it’s important to note, that Bathroom Mountain didn’t ask me to use any specific products when we agreed to collaborate and I spent a great deal of time trawling their whole website looking for the perfect pieces. You see, we had very specific measurements as the bathroom is very narrow and I wanted a vanity and sink that wouldn’t come out too far. I had really struggled to find this anywhere on the internet (and boy did I look!) and was all prepared to buy a console table and cut a hole for the sink when I started chatting to Bathroom Mountain. I couldn’t believe my luck when I found their Monaco range which was literally the perfect shape and size! Even better it was beautiful and a fantastic price so I knew you guys would love it too. I’m so excited to share how it all came together finally.

DIY bathroom makeover on a budget – Product List

I used the following items from Bathroom Mountain…

Monaco Chalk White 600mm Vanity Unit link, paired with a sleek Forth Matt Black Basin Mixer Tap link, matching pop-up waste link, and overflow ring link for a modern contrast. For extra storage, we added two of their Monaco Chalk White Side Cabinets link, which fit beautifully in our small bathroom layout. And to top it all off, the gorgeous Mollie Black Framed Round Mirror link brought just the right amount of drama and balance above the sink.

We also teamed up with Tile Mountain to create a subtle, spa-like vibe using their Reku Sage Stone Effect Porcelain Tiles link, along with their Mapestik ready-mixed adhesive link for easy, fuss-free installation.

The amazing microcement (which I’m going to do a separate post about for my microcement section of my blog) was the usual off-white DIY kit from Concrete Lab but as I was going over bathroom tiles I used their over-tiles DIY kit which incorporates three layers of microcement instead of the usual two and also embeds a fibreglass mesh for extra stability.

The polymer panelling was from Screwfix – and the architrave was from Wickes, the skirting and coving was from B&Q. On one particularly busy DIY day I went to all three DIY stores as I was sourcing the best value products to keep the costs down.

Everything came together so beautifully and on a limited budget, making it a true reflection of DIY bathroom renovation meets interior design—without compromising on style.

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First Step: Removing Old Tiles and the Existing Vanity

Tools you’ll need:

• Utility knife
• Crowbar or pry bar
• Screwdriver or drill
• Bucket and sponge
• Safety goggles and gloves

How I did it:

The first thing I tackled was demolition!

For the old tile around the sink and toilet, I scored the grout lines with a utility knife, then used a pry bar to gently remove the tiles. Be patient—it takes a little bit of muscle and care to avoid damaging the drywall behind. Although, as you can see from the images, I wasn’t very successful at not damaging the wall, so I had a fair bit of making good to do afterwards. The very damaged walls made me realise that there was no way I was going to remove the tiles from behind the bath, so microcementing over them was definitely the best option (more on that in a minute).

I removed the existing vanity by turning off the water supply to the taps using the isolator valves, disconnecting the plumbing fixtures, and unscrewing it from the wall. Once it was out, I wrapped the sink waste pipe up in plastic to prevent odours from coming out and taped the tap supply pipes up to prevent them getting damaged or hanging down.

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Repairing and Skimming the Bathroom Walls

As the bathroom walls were so damaged by the tile removal I had a lot of filling and smoothing to do. I thought about completely replacing the plasterboard, but it would have been a lot more cost and mess and I’m a bit of a pro at repairing holes in plasterboard and smoothing walls so I just went for it.

Tools & materials:

• Spackle or joint compound aka flexible filler
• Volden skim and repair
• Self-adhesive mesh tape
• Putty knife
• Sandpaper (medium and fine grit)
• Skim coat trowel

Step-by-step:

After demo, I filled in any holes with flexible filler and gave the walls a good sand. Where holes were too large to hold the filler, I used a self adhesive mesh tape (scrim tape) to create a flat surface over the hole and then smoothed over it with Volden skim and repair. Next, I applied a skim coat over the entire wall surface using a wide flexible skimming trowel. This step helped smooth out rough spots and prep for our next layers: wall panelling.

Pro tip: Don’t skip the skim coat if your walls are in rough shape—it makes a huge difference in how polished your bathroom walls look after painting or tiling.

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Installing Coving for a High-End Ceiling Finish

• Lightweight coving (polymer or polystyrene)
• Mitre box and saw
• Adhesive suitable for coving
• Caulk
• Paint

Step-by-Step:

1. Measure each wall to determine how much coving you’ll need.
2. Cut to fit corners: Use a mitre box and saw to cut inside and outside angles precisely.
3. Apply adhesive: Use a coving-specific adhesive along the back edges of the piece.
4. Press into place: Hold each section firmly against the wall and ceiling. Use pins or tape to support while drying if needed.
5. Fill gaps: Caulk any seams or corner joins for a seamless finish.
6. Paint: Once dry, paint the coving to match the ceiling or create contrast.

Adding coving really elevates your overall design, bringing a touch of elegance to even the most compact powder room.

Adding Chunky Polymer Wall Panelling for a Luxe Look

What you’ll need:

• Polymer wall panelling
• Dado rails
• Construction adhesive or nails
• Spirit level
• Caulk
• Primer and paint

How I did it:

I measured the walls and worked out how I could best place the panels to create traditional-style picture frame panelling. As the room is small and the sink and vanity were a set size and needed to go in a set place to avoid major plumbing work (and leave enough room to get in the doorway) I had to adapt my plan slightly and install different width panelling each side of the vanity with a square centred over the sink. I figured that as the room is small, no-one will be able to stand back from enough of a distance to actually notice the uneven panels too much but it would allow the look I wanted and the central, most-important panel to go in with the mirror hung within it.

The first job was to measure and cut the dado rail for the places it was going (along the far wall under the window and either side of the sink). I mitre cut the ends to 45 degrees and glued onto the wall with strong grab adhesive, using a spirit level to ensure it was level.

Next, I measured and marked the wall with a pencil to show where each panel would go to check it would look how I wanted, When I was happy, I mitre cut the individual panels and applied strong grab adhesive to the back. I pressed them to the wall, checking for level as we went.

When the glue had set, I caulked all the seams for a smooth finish and painted with a fresh coat of paint in a soft neutral tone to match our colour scheme (School House White from Farrow & Ball). It was such a great way to add character without spending a fortune and I absolutely love panelling and have it in most rooms in our house. I have a whole section of this blog dedicated to panelling tutorials if you are keen to have a go.

Fitting New Skirting Boards for a Clean Base

What You’ll Need:

• Pre-primed skirting boards
• Mitre saw
• Grab adhesive and nails
• Caulk or wood filler
• Paint

How to Install:

1. Remove old skirting (if any) carefully using a chisel or crowbar.
2. Measure and cut your new skirting boards using a mitre saw to get clean 45° joints at corners.
3. Dry-fit each piece before applying adhesive.
4. Glue and fix: Apply adhesive to the back and press firmly against the wall. Add a few finishing nails for security.
5. Fill and caulk: Smooth over nail holes and joints with filler, then caulk along the top edge.
6. Paint to finish with your chosen vanity paint colour or trim shade.

A well-fitted skirting board helps tie the flooring, walls, and fixtures together—adding that polished final touch to your budget bathroom makeover.

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Microcement Over Old Tiles: A Game-Changer

Materials:

• Microcement over tiles kit (primer, mesh, resin, microcement, sealant, sealant mixing kit)
• Flexible skimming Trowel
• Mask
• Bucket
• Drill and mixing attachment
• Roller tray and frame with sponge heads
• Sandpaper

DIY steps:

Microcement is basically a super-thin concrete layer that can go right over old tiles. After thoroughly cleaning the area around the bath, I applied primer. Once dry, I applied the first microcement layer then embedded the mesh. Once dry, I applied a further two coats of primer and microcement layering them up and sanding lightly between layers for smoothness.

Once sealed, it gave us a modern space with zero tile removal. This is honestly the easiest thing we did that made a huge difference. I’ll do a really detailed post about this aspect of the budget DIY bathroom renovation soon so drop me a note with any questions.

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Installing New Wall Tile Around the Bath

Materials:

• Reku sage stone effect wall tile
• Tile adhesive
• Grout
• Tile spacers
• Notched trowel
• Grout float
• Sponge

The process:

To finish the bath area, we added three rows of new tile around the edge. I used Reku sage stone effect wall tile for a clean, timeless look. I looked at a LOT of very expensive artisan tiles and these little bargain beauties give them a serious run for their money and come in at 45p each!!

I applied adhesive with a notched trowel, pressed the tile in with spacers, and let dry overnight. The next day, I grouted and cleaned the surface with a damp sponge.

I also installed a row of tiles over the sink under the mirror as a little backsplash and hint of colour and texture and I love them.

It’s a budget-friendly way to refresh a tub surround without committing to full tile installation.

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Installing the New Sink Vanity

What you’ll need:

• New vanity with vanity top
• New modern black bathroom tap
• Silicone sealant
• Wrench

Installation:

This was the most satisfying part. We placed our new bathroom vanity where the old one had been, reconnected the plumbing, and sealed around the edges with silicone. We went with a traditional sink paired with a sleek black tap to blend classic, timeless bathroom vibes with a modern twist.

I followed the installation instructions on the sink, tap and waste so wont put the specifics here as they all differ slightly, but if you ever have any issues understanding the instructions there are lots of YouTube vids available or you can get a plumber for peace of mind.

We also added a statement mirror above the vanity, and trust me—it totally changed the vibe!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this whistlestop tour of my revamped bathroom. I’m going to share some more posts with detailed instructions, but was keen to get this out as I’ve had so many questions about how I was getting on over on my Instagram!