What are the top ideas to update your old fashioned bathroom?

Steve Johns
by Steve Johns

Tips to improve your bathroom interior affordably, Is renovating your bathroom by installing shower doors a good idea?

  6 answers
  • maybe these articles can help! I feel like hardware and paint are the first things you can update. https://www.hometalk.com/search/posts?filter=update%20bathroom

  • Lizbeth Lizbeth on Nov 28, 2018

    It depends on what you like, Steve. Personally I hate my shower doors but because of the way they were installed by the last owner they can't be removed without doing tons of renovation. I prefer a shower curtain and liner (which is also a way to change the look of a bathroom) Downsides to doors: Can be hard to keep clean, uncomfortable if tub bathing & especially so if bathing kids or pets, depending on the style can end up looking outdated.


    I'd go for new paint, hardware, new towels, nice fluffy mat or small rug in front of sink, new curtains if there is a window, maybe some baskets to organize stuff, updated light fixtures, new mirror maybe...anything but shower doors!

    • See 2 previous
    • Lizbeth Lizbeth on Nov 29, 2018

      Well, I don't have a pricier modern door so my comments may not apply. Mine is the old-fashioned sliding sort. I also have a tub shower combo of the kind that was standard for many years once showers became a part of our bathrooms (vs having only a claw-footed tub and no shower as used to be the case years ago.)


      It seems to me the article you reference is MOSTLY speaking of situations in which the bathroom has a shower that is

      *separate from the tub.* In that case, a shower door would not interfere with tub bathing. It still would likely be hard to keep clean (if there are tracks, gunk from products used in the shower can build up and glass DOES spot.) Shower curtains (I like cloth used with a heavy duty vinyl liner) are easy to change and easy to machine wash when needed. If you decide to install a door, do keep in mind tastes in any kind of fixture can change, leading to an outdated look in the future, whatever currently-fashionable style you may choose. Your initial question stated you were looking to update an "old fashioned" bathroom so I assumed you had a tub/shower combo also. Perhaps that's not true?


      You need to do whatever you think will work for you. But I can tell you, despite what the article says, glass doors are most certainly NOT universally loved (either by users or by those of us who have to clean them.) If you are thinking about resale value, I'd say if you are going to install doors and have a tub shower combo, *try* to make sure a future owner can remove them without having to replace the tub and do lots of re-tiling! And if you're not sure if you'd like having a door but just want a fresher look for a tired bathroom, personally I'd start with less pricey, more easily reversed changes like wall paint, a new mirror or framing out an existing plain builder's grade mirror, new light fixtures, new towels, and so on.


      Often on Hometalk people post pictures of areas they have questions about. Perhaps posting a picture of your bathroom would lead to suggestions that are useful to you. Good luck!

  • Laura Cooper Laura Cooper on Nov 28, 2018

    I agree with paint and hardware, but before that I would switch out the light fixtures. A new vanity light changes everything.

    • See 1 previous
    • Laura Cooper Laura Cooper on Nov 29, 2018

      True, however I'm of the opinion that all interior doors in the home should match.

  • Oliva Oliva on Nov 28, 2018

    More costly, frameless shower doors are better for low threshold showers, where you have adequate space to swing the door outward (particularly important in event of emergency).

    Sliding shower doors are a hindrance if bathing children, and the track can become very dirty or jamb when being opened.

    Updates can be had with new low flow, high velocity, anti scald shower head, single faucet shower handle, stylish grab bars installed into wall studs. Add new vanity, waterproof flooring, new sink faucet, LED lighting on dimmers, high quality exhaust fan with LED light on dimmer and auto humidity sensor.

    New shower curtain with fabric liner, fluffy towels, colorful soaps, artwork, larger medicine cabinet with interior mirror will all enhance your bath.

  • Steve Johns Steve Johns on Nov 29, 2018

    Thanks Oliva i found your information very useful i will consider your suggestion. what you would say about installing wall mirrors in your bathroom?

    i have just read an article about using wall mirrors you can also check by clicking HERE

  • Chris Gignac Chris Gignac on Nov 29, 2018

    In my opinion, shower doors only work well if your bathroom is a gymnasium. Ha ha. Having tub shower combo’s with bowed out curtain rails is most convenient and cost-effective fix.

    Case in point, sold my first house last year, it was built in 1959. Rather than gutting the bathroom, I updated the curtain rod, new curtains, new light fixtures and Cleaned and repaired everything. A complementary colored paint. I invested approximately $300 dollars in the makeover. When the stager evaluated our house for sale. She was impressed with the bathroom in stamped it as (good to go).