How is a good reasonable way to update an old 70's bathroom ?

Howard
by Howard

It has white tiles and tub and plumbing, newer toilet and old sink cabinets and lights.

  6 answers
  • 2dogal 2dogal on Aug 08, 2018

    You are fortunate that your tiles are white as any color you choose will go with white. I'd replace the sink cabinet and counter. There are free standing ones all in one piece at most big box home improvement stores. They come in various sizes, colors and wood grains. I'd also change the lighting fixture. Last, I'd paint a bright, light color and put up new towel bars.

    I would not remove the sliding glass door as when the frame is removed, there will be holes that need to be patched and the patches will show. It looks like you keep it clean and in good condition.

    If you can't do everything above, the easiest place to start is with paint (changing the color) and new accessories - towels and such. It all doesn't have to be done at the same time either.

  • Oliva Oliva on Aug 08, 2018

    Change the tub controls to single knob style. Because your tiles are white and standard size, it should not be difficult to re-tile and grout around the new faucet/handle. Look for vivid color soaps and towels/bath rug, to add color and patterns.

    Change the toilet tossue dispenser to the newer style requiring only one hand to change it. They can be mounted so the open side can face left or right.

    Purchase a new bath exhaust fan with good ventilation, humidity sensor, L.E.D. light and low profile. If you want to switch out your medicine cabinet, get one with interior mirrors, as well.

  • Sparkles Sparkles on Aug 09, 2018

    Paint cabinets. change handles and knobs. Change towels. change decorative soaps. change decorations. add a Boston fern. get Beyond Paint. https://beyondpaint.com/ and paint the floors walls and cabinets.

  • Tamara Banchero-Bessette Tamara Banchero-Bessette on Aug 09, 2018

    Paint your cabinets a darker color and replace with new knobs, then go to a hardware store and find a sheet of decorative tile with the web backing that you like that matches your existing colors. Cut the tile mat so it’s the same size as at least one row of your bathroom tile and then replace that row. (Depending on the design you choose you should be able to get 2 or 3 lengths per sheet).


    And although my decorative tiles are closer to the top of my bath/shower enclosure, my neighbors is more towards here bottom and it looks good too!

  • Ticia Ticia on Aug 10, 2018

    OMG you have the bathroom from my old house. For starters, I did remove the shower doors and track because they were too much work to keep clean. Then, we had the pink tiles tub toilette etc. all re-glazed to white so you have a head start there. There were not that many holes from the glass enclosure so it wasn't a big deal for us and I was now able to hang a shower curtain with matching towels for change of seasons which made a big difference. If you do have to fill in the few holes, there is a liquid enamel or porcelain that would work.


    We replaced the old across the top bright Hollywood type light bulbs with side lights and had a cabinet and sink made to replace the pedestal type that was in there. We could have gone to HD or Loewes which we recently did for a bathroom in this house and it would have cost a lot less. If you have a Habitat for Humanity Re-store in your vicinity, I would look there first.


    If you think at some point you are going to replace your flooring in there, you might want to do that first. You've gotten good suggestions and I wish you good luck.