8 Ways To Spruce Up An Older Bathroom (Without Remodeling)

Elizabeth Miller, Houzz Contributor

Some bathrooms seem to never go out of style, with their classic colors, clean lines and timeless fixtures. Then theres the other kind: the relics of bygone eras that challenge the eyes with their mint, pink, aqua or raspberry tiles and matching fixtures. If you have an older bathroom you consider out-of-date, dont give up on it yet!

There are several ways to spruce it up without renovating sometimes the details can make a difference in the livability of a vintage bathroom. Here are a few helpful tricks.

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1. Update the fixtures. Usually a pedestal sink will still be in good shape after decades of use, but a leaky faucet and out-of-date sconces will need to be replaced. The style of these two items can transform your bathroom and dont involve changing the tile at all. If youre dealing with a colored tub, consider having it resurfaced.

You can paint the walls and medicine cabinet white and let the tile color whatever it may be speak for itself. With a cleaner background, your colored tile could be a new favorite. Keep in mind that even if you do end up ripping out the tile, you can reuse the fixtures in the next phase of your bathroom renovation.

2. Be purposeful about the artwork. Here is one more example of how updating fixtures can revive the bathroom without the need to redo the tile. Another element that helps mitigate the tile color is artwork. Use what you hang on the walls to your advantage. Usually theres space for only one or two pieces in a smaller bathroom, so focus on pulling in the tile color as a minor color. This means the rest of the art can be something you love and can feature more of your favorite colors, but with just that touch of teal, pink, peach or whatevers in your vintage bathroom, the art will still connect with the space.

Use a metallic or wood frame, so theres one less color to factor into your design.

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3. Paint the tiles. It wont last as long as replacing the tile, but if you really cant stand the color of your existing tiles, you can paint them. Youll need a very good primer typically oil based, not water based, according to Dana Waldecker, a professional painter in the Boston area. Even if you end up doing some of the work yourself, you should consult a professional painter to review the materials youre planning to use and your specific wall conditions. Every project is different, and theres no eraser when it comes to painting tile.

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8 Ways To Spruce Up An Older Bathroom (Without Remodeling)