Bathroom design: When to save and when to splurge

When you’re on a budget, it’s normal to purchase more economical items for your bathroom design. While this is OK in some cases, you’re actually better off splurging on a few essentials. Here are some items that you can buy cheap, and others that are worth the price:

Cabinetry: Splurge
Cabinets are a must-have in bathrooms because they store everything from linens and toiletries to cosmetics and medicine. It’s likely that you’ll be opening and closing these cabinets on a regular basis, so you want doors and hinges that are going to last through all of that wear and tear. Otherwise, you’ll be forced to replace your cabinets, which can be a time-consuming remodel.

Mirrors: Save
A mirror is a mirror, whether you pay $20 or $200. If you’re in need of one that matches your vintage bathroom design, hit up the thrift store where you can often find plenty of unique and retro mirrors for a low price. You can also choose to update an old mirror that you already have lying around the house by spray painting the frame in a shimmering gold or silver hue.

Faucets: Splurge
While buying the cheap faucet might seem like the best decision in the short term, a low-quality faucet will end up causing you problems. They can leak and loosen over time, which will also cause you to waste a lot of water in the long run. Take the time to pick out bathroom faucets that are high-quality in appearance and material. For instance, polished brass, oil-rubbed bronze, copper and polished nickel are all durable materials that are simple to clean and maintain. Plus, they can work with a number of different bathroom styles.

Bath mat: Save
Bath mats are essential for drying your feet when you step out of the shower, but you don’t have to really spend tons of money on them. If it gets dirty, all you have to do is toss it in the washer and it will look good as new. You may also want to frequently change this piece to keep up with any bathroom style changes that you make.

Linens: Splurge
Your bath linens are part of the entire bathing experience – who wants to wrap themselves in an itchy towel after getting out of the shower? When you’re buying new linens, you should look for towels with a high number of grams per square meter, or fabric weight. If you’re really after something luxurious, opt for Egyptian cotton. More expensive and higher-quality towels also last longer, so you won’t have to keep running out to the store for a new set.

Storage: Save
Don’t be afraid to really get creative with the storage in your bathroom. Instead of installing more shelving or cabinets, take advantage of space under the sink. You can also bring storage solutions into the space, like mason jars, decorative bowls and wall hooks. Even in small bathrooms, there’s always a place for storage, you just have to find it!