We celebrated our third anniversary being in our ranch back in 2020, and one of my favorite things to do is look at the progress we have made in making this space our own. Right before we went into quarantine for Covid, I got the itch to update our guest bathroom, though neither of us wanted to spend a lot of money on the space. When we went into quarantine, I viewed it as a perfect time to start work on the space and update the look. Here is how to renovate a guest bathroom on budget with the five practical steps we used. And now, six years and another refresh later, I am back with what we changed this time around. You can follow along with the updates I did in real time here.
Originally published July 10, 2020 · Updated 2026
How to Renovate a Guest Bathroom on a Budget: 5 Practical Tips (Updated for 2026)
Know your Budget (and Leave Some Wiggle Room)
Whenever we have done a home improvement projects, we have established a set budget at the beginning of the project. As we have learned from our experiences, even our best made plans still have some bumps, so in our experience it has always better to over budget. Even for this project, we ended up needing a few more of the tile covers we used, which we had not budgeted for so it was nice to have the extra wiggle room.
Have an Inspiration Board
I have a tendency to have a lot of ideas and inspiration boards help me really narrow down my vision into attainable visions. I use both Pinterest and Instagram to save ideas for projects like this so that I can refer back to styles, products, or general ideas. Once I have set the vision, I stop looking so I do not change my mind or second guess myself.
Be Creative!
A few years ago, our realtor helped us prioritize project plans in our first home for how to get good returns on investments. We kept that in mind with this project recognizing that it would not get us a huge return for the money we put in if we completely overhauled the bathroom.
So, our renovation of this space is purely cosmetic while still keeping the integrity of the space. We used tile stickers to update the look of the tile and spray painted our fixtures and handles. We were able to be creative without breaking the bank.
A Can of Good Paint Goes a Long Way!
I am a firm believer in how much a good can of paint can impact a space. In my opinion, it is always worth a splurge to get paint that is able to wipe off finger prints, dirt, and that gives full, even coverage. We typically use the Cashmere collection from Sherwin Williams, and for our first update, in the color Topsail. We painted the vanity as well, so I used a Benjamin Moore paint to keep the same sheen as the vanity itself.
Look for Sales for the Pieces you Identify
While I wanted to get this project completed rather quickly, I did took my time finding the pieces I wanted to add on sale. This included the rug I opted for, the tassel hand towels and stool, and the bath towels for guests. I typically gravitate towards white towels for the guest bath because they can be bleached. I also shopped my closet with decor items to freshen up the space instead of having to buy anything new for the shelves. If you have the time, just be patient, wait for the sales and free shipping. Another great option is to check your local Facebook Marketplace for similar items.
A couple of additional tips
- We updated the grout lines with a grout pen. Get the larger, thicker pen. I cannot tell you how much that step alone changed the look of the room.
- We used gold Rustoleum spray paint for the fixtures and white Rustoleum spray paint for the air vent cover. Spray far away in sweeping motions for full coverage.
How to Renovate a Guest Bathroom: Before
How to Renovate a Guest Bathroom: During
How to Renovate a Guest Bathroom: After
Materials Used
- Peel and Stick Tile Coverings
- White Grout Pen
- Gold Rustoleum Spray Paint
- White Rustoleum Spray Paint
- Benjamin Moore Advance in a dark grey for vanity (original color)
- Paint Brush Handle and Rollers for vanity
- Sherwin Williams Cashmere Paint in Topsail for walls (original color)
Guest Bath Decor
- Serena & Lily Hand Towels Set of 2
- Serena & Lily Shower Curtain
- Shower Curtain Rings
- Serena & Lily Dip-Dyed Stool
- Storage Basket
- Nordstrom Bath Towels
- Bath Rug
- Bubble Bath Art Print
- Round Mirror
- Light Fixture
- Candle
Check out more projects and entertaining ideas from our home here.
How to Renovate a Guest Bathroom: 2026 Update
Six years (and a few more projects) later, we gave this same guest bath another pass — new faucets, a new wall color, an added shelf, and a freshly painted vanity.
What We Updated in 2026
New faucets
New wall and vanity paint color
New Colors
- Sherwin Williams Stardew for the walls
- Sherwin Williams Naval for the vanity
Added a double shelf
What’s Held Up Since 2020
The tile stickers have head up incredibly well over these last six years. The grout where we used the color pen has held up well, too, though I do go back over it once a year. While spray painting some of the fixtures initially worked well, I decided it was time to update them just because of the chlorine in our well water that stains materials and the handles on the faucet were starting to show the wear and tear of the spray paint from the years.
FAQ
How much does a budget guest bathroom refresh cost? Our first budget was a little under $500 and I used the spray paint to avoid having to buy new fixtures. For our 2026 update, I wanted to keep the budget under $400, and I stuck to that and shopped my closet for updated decor.
What is the easiest guest bathroom update to DIY? Painting the vanity and updating the hardware was the easiest impact. I also think painting the trim and wiping down the doors is a good way to give a quick re-fresh. Changing out decor is another way to freshen up without having to do all the manual labor.
How long do tile stickers and peel-and-stick updates actually last? Our tile stickers were put down in 2020 and are still going strong. They show minimal wear and tear.
Final Thoughts
Six years, one quarantine project, and a handful of small refreshes later, this guest bath still feels like one of the best budget wins in our whole house. The bones we put in back in 2020 — the tile stickers, the grout pen, a good can of paint — held up far better than we expected, and our recent update proved to us that we do not need a full renovation to keep a space feeling current. New faucets, a fresh coat of paint, and a shelf were enough to make it feel brand new again.
If you are sitting on a guest bathroom that needs a little love, I hope this gives you the confidence to start small. A weekend and a few hundred dollars can go a long way.
Shop how to renovate a guest bathroom on a budget here
Do you have any extra tips on how to renovate a guest bathroom on a budget? Let me know in a comment below!
