Whether you’re getting ready to sell your home or simply want to lose the dated décor you currently have, a full bathroom remodel can be a pricy proposition. Fortunately, there are a few alternatives that can defray if not avoid the bulk of the cost. Here are five cheap ways to avoid a full bathroom remodel. (See also: Cheap Tricks for Sprucing up Your Bathroom)

Pop-Out Drawers Popular in Kitchen Upgrades

The same tilted, pop out drawers popular for upgrading and decorating kitchens can also be put to use in your home’s bathroom. Instead of using the space under the counter and in front of your sink for dish sponges and copper scrubbers however, you can use it instead for personal grooming tools, toothpaste and even first aid supplies

Crescent Shower Rods

These are great for small space decorating in bathrooms. Because the essentially just reroute your shower curtain to create more elbow room for whoever is standing in the bathtub, there’s no need to do any expensive ripping out of your bathroom’s infrastructure. You simply need to swap out one shower rod for another, slightly upgraded one. The extra room in the shower feels amazing and makes a huge difference for those with older, narrow tubs in their home.

Towel Warmers

These are typically available in a silver chrome color, which goes well with older bath fixtures of the same color. So if your faucets are all in decent shape, a towel warmer will fit right in. If they’re not, silver is usually the most affordable color to go with, allowing you to channel the money saved from avoiding brushed steel and hammered bronze into other upgrades. I also like the spa-like industrial feel that a tall towel warmer on your wall brings to the design table. It works well for those who prefer loft-style decorating and also for those who simply want a few jazzier features in the master bath.

Shower Head Swap

Swapping out a dated, basic shower head can make all the difference, especially if the older one you’re currently using is too clogged to permit adequate water flow. My favorites are the rainfall and handheld varieties. Options are also available that combine both of those options, if you’re willing to spend a few more pennies.

Linens

Updating your bathroom linens is a simple, yet often overlooked budget decorating strategy. While purchasing them at full price is still a money saver compared to pricier remodels, you can save even more by hitting the discount home good stores. A few bath sheets, some hand towels and a supply of wash cloths in a modern color can spruce things up in a jiffy while providing a bit of luxury as well.

Certainly, there are some cases when a full-scale bathroom remodel is order. However, if your main amenities are in a good-condition neutral color and the overall bones of the room are in decent shape, choosing a few precision upgrades can save you a great deal of time, money and frustration.

Myscha Theriault

Myscha Theriault

A lifelong money cruncher who can squeeze a nickel ‘til it cries, Myscha is a syndicated columnist, best-selling author, and founder of Trek Hound and We Be Sharin’.