Small Bathroom Renovations You Can Do in an Hour

Renovating your bathroom adds a lot of value to your home — typically more value than you put into it. But don’t let the word “renovation” scare you away. There are plenty of small renovations you can do in your bathroom that won’t send your budget spiraling out of control and won’t take up much of your time.

Below we present some of the best ideas for how to make your bathroom look amazing without taking up lots of time and money:

1. Upgrade Your Shower Head and Add a Sprayer

We often forget that shower heads are one of the most important parts of our entire bathroom. The look of your showerhead sets the tone for much of the bathroom, and its feel and functionality can be the difference between a shower you look forward to and one that feels like another chore.

Choose a shower head that excites you and defines a new look for your bath. There’s a lot of room for creativity here, from Victorian 5” showerheads in matte black to larger, square rainfall showerheads in gorgeous antique brass. Other finishes include chrome, copper, nickel, and bronze, which can be brushed, polished, oil-rubbed, or matte.

Replacing a showerhead isn’t a hard task — check out our short how-to article here. With the right tools, you can expect to get it done in well under an hour.

Furthermore, you can consider adding a matching hand shower to make your shower much more versatile and user-friendly. By choosing the same color, finish, and style as your shower head, you’ll create a much more powerful statement. Plus, that same hand shower makes it far easier to clean your shower — simply grab it off the wall and spray down the walls after you’re done cleaning!

If your shower isn’t already set up for a hand shower, you may need to buy a diverter to complete your setup. Simply install it on your existing shower arm to direct water between your fixed shower head and your hand shower. As with other items at Kingston Brass, our shower diverters come in a wide range of finishes to match your other fixtures.

2. Upgrade Your Bathroom Accessories

Bathroom accessories make a huge impression, even if it’s a subconscious one. When you walk into your bathroom, chances are you’ll be interacting with the towel bars or rings, a toilet paper holder, or some other critical piece of hardware before you leave.

If you want to replace one accessory, it’s recommended you try to replace as many as possible. Doing so doesn’t require a lot of work or time, and with Kingston Brass’ wide range of prices, you can find options to make your budget go further.

We recommend starting by choosing your desired finish. Polished chrome adds a bright, pristine feel, while options like oil-rubbed bronze and matte black are better for adding a modern pop against bright walls. You can also enjoy the glow of a bygone era with polished brass or antique finishes.

While you’re upgrading the bigger items on your walls, don’t forget other areas where you can make a difference as well: shower curtain rings, toilet tank levers, and shower curtain rods, for example.

3. Install a Towel Warmer

If you’re tired of your existing towel bar and are considering replacing it, consider whether you have space for a towel warmer instead. Towel warmers aren’t as cheap as other options on this list, but if you’re looking for a way to turn your current bath into a luxury bath, look no further.

Our towel warmers come in both brushed nickel and matte black and can be either hardwired into the wall (for a more seamless look) or plugged into an available outlet.

For the easiest option, choose a freestanding towel warmer, like the Kingston Brass Templeton plug-in unit. This towel warmer sits directly on the floor and plugs into an outlet, meaning you won’t have to do any installation whatsoever. This unit is great for more open bathrooms that could benefit from some items on the floor.

A more streamlined, integrated warmer like the Templeton wall-mount unit in matte black requires a more complex installation, but the payoff is more floor space.

Either way, when you step out of the bath or shower, your towel will be warm and ready for use. You can also use the racks to dry your towels more quickly. Multiple horizontal crossbars are not only visually pleasing, but they allow you to provide this luxury to two or more shower users.

4. Upgrade Your Toilet

Plumbers aren’t cheap, and though you may assume that replacing a toilet is a job for plumbers alone, this is not the case. Replacing a toilet requires just a few simple tools and materials (you can read our guide on it here). The hardest part? Simply lifting and moving the toilet into place!

For the easiest cleaning — not to mention a bold new look for modern and traditional baths alike — consider buying a one-piece toilet. These decorative, sleek units fit in well with any bathroom and are excellent space savers. Plus, when it comes time to clean, there are no cracks or crevices to worry about. Browse our selection, from the hyper-modern Courtyard Siphonic to more contemporary options like the Victorian single-flush.

While you’re installing your new toilet, you can also add continuity and flair by installing a toilet trim kit that matches other finishes in your bath.

5. Replace Your Sink Faucet

Another job that doesn’t necessarily require a plumber is replacing your bathroom sink faucet. With a couple of wrenches, a screwdriver, and basic know-how, you can detach and remove your old sink faucet and upgrade it to something truly spectacular.

Make sure you choose the right type of faucet for your vanity top. If there is one hole in the vanity top, you’ll want to choose a single-hole bathroom faucet. If there are three holes, you’ll need to choose either a 4” centerset faucet/mini-widespread faucet or a widespread faucet, depending on the separation of the holes.

Our faucets come in all the popular finishes that grace our other products, making them perfect for matching your other bath finishes.

Kingston Brass Is Your Source for Quick Renovations

Regardless of whether you’re looking for big or small upgrades, Kingston Brass has the parts you need in the finishes you want. For any technical questions or simply to ask for advice given your tastes, call us at 1-877-252-7277.