A Basic Bathroom Makeover
Unlike adding a bathroom, which between plumbing and all the rest runs $30,000 and up, a basic makeover can be done for a third of the cost and offer more bang for the buck, especially if you have two bathrooms (which is considered about average for a three-bedroom home).
Start by upgrading your old toilet to a low-flow model. Then add new tile, such as glass varieties that can give the illusion of depth in a small space. (Ideas and examples are at www.hakatai.com.) Starting at about $5 a square foot, these popular tiles can also be used to accent lower-cost ceramic tiles.
"Maybe the bulk of the room is just plain ceramic vanilla, but then you splurge on metallic blue glass for the border and it creates a stunning effect for not much money," says Sal Alfano, editorial director of Remodeling.
More on remodeling:
• It'll Be a Tough Spring for Home Sellers
• Five Remodeling Projects for Under $10,000
• A Deck Is a Simple Way to Add Space