... to ask what YOU would do to achieve this?

[firsthome2333]

Hi guys,

I have recently moved into my first flat and I am making a few small unaffordable changes. I have attached photos of what the bathroom currently looks like, followed by a couple of photos of the style I prefer: dark grey and modern.

I am a clueless 24-year-old and I have no idea where to start! What changes do I need to make and what are the cheapest ways of doing so? What would you do?

Thank you all so much in advance!!

Paint the walls?

Not to piss on your chips, but the dark grey thing has gone out of fashion.

@FangsForTheMemory not too worried about fashion - it's just what I like :-)

Replace shower curtain with bath screen with black grid pattern. Under sink storage cupboard in dark grey. Change mirror and light over sink and tiles over sink. Remove painting and fluffy rug/pee catcher. Paint walls. If budget allows change taps and shower to black fittings? But if it was me I would put in some colour!

I would re-grout in plain white grout - the grey grout isn't stylish and doesn't add to the vibe of the room. Get rid of the shower curtain and have a clear screen fitted. Paint the walls the colour you like - dark grey if that's what you want. Get a bamboo shelf unit from ikea for your towels and things, and a bigger statement bathroom cabinet/mirror and shelf for over the sink. Put a couple of potted maidenhair ferns in there (can get these from Lidl at the moment for a fraction of what they cost elsewhere). What you will end up with is the reverse of the second picture so the grey is on the walls and the fixtures are plain white but the feel will be similar.

Thanks all! Sounds stupid, but do I literally just buy "bathroom paint" and paint over the walls? I don't need any primers/bottom coats/top coats/ whatever else? 🤣🤣

I prefer the first photo - it looks far more homey and comfortable.

Apart from the fake tan stains on the loo seat your current bathroom is far nicer than those you’d like to copy. Maybe paint a light grey on the walls but don’t go dark! It will make your bathroom feel so small and gloomy.

@firsthome2333

Thanks all! Sounds stupid, but do I literally just buy "bathroom paint" and paint over the walls? I don't need any primers/bottom coats/top coats/ whatever else? 🤣🤣

Yep, buy bathroom paint - nothing else needed. If you go to B&Q they have Valspar paint they mix to the colour you want and they do it in a finish for bathrooms and kitchens. Good luck - it’s exciting doing up your own place!

Don't cringe at the colour of the first coat - you will definitely need two or more coats so have the courage of your convictions and keep going!

Cover the whole floor and the bath etc with sheets or plastic. Wash down the walls, ideally with sugar soap but diluted washing up liquid is fine. Let them dry.

Repaint the ceiling first, even if you think you don't need to, because there's nothing worse than trying to cut in the ceiling in a bathroom later when you've done everything else. If you don't, you are bound to think it looks a bit mucky once the rest is done.

Once the ceiling is finished and dry, tape off the edges with specialist tape that won't peel off the paint (check this in the shop). Paint the walls and let dry properly between coats. You'll probably need at least two days so arrange to shower elsewhere during the project.

If you get splodges on the floor, those scrapers with a razor blade for cleaning paint off glass are good for this if it has dried before you notice. Otherwise have a few scouring sponges to hand throughout.

Also, I know it is wasteful but rollers that have dried are pretty useless so don't spend hours washing them out - just chuck them. In between coats, wrap them in plastic bags to keep them wet.

If you have skirting board, paint that too. It doesn't take much gloss so buy a small pot unless you plan to do more decorating pretty soon. Paint gloss much more thinly than you think and do two coats rather than slapping it on so it looks nice while it's wet (it will run if you do this).

I’d paint the walls and change the bath panel and loo seat as a start.

That's a nice bathroom you've got there. Nice suite, tiles and flooring.
I wouldn't do anymore than paint the walls (whatever colour you fancy), possibly paint the bath panel, possibly install shower screen.
I know you want to make it your own but trust me (coming from someone who lived with pink tiles, green suite, gold taps for 8 years) you're very lucky.
Enjoy your new flat 💐

You should give the walls a light sand all over before painting them

Depends how much money and effort you want to spend.

If fairly cheap - take off random picture from wall and remove the pink accessories. Replace mirror and light fitting with more modern ones. Paint wall grey (any grey bathroom paint, no primers needed). That will get you close-ish on a low budget and can do it all yourself.

If you want to go full hog you will need to get a plumber in to replace the toilet and sink with square shaped ones. The two photos you've chosen also look as though the bath is stand alone which suggests those houses have a separate shower, so unless you have space to also have a separate shower plumbed in you won't be able to achieve the full effect, as you will need some sort of shower curtain/door. You could regrout the wall tiles (pretty easy but time consuming) but I would wait and see if they look okay as they are once you've done everything else.

If you’re on a budget try Wilko for paint - really good value & quality. Also you could try a paint pad instead of a roller - barely any cutting in needed & less splatter

The bathroom looks pretty "dark grey and modern" as it is.

I am lazy/scared of painting and would not repaint the walls but I would:

• buy new bath panel & matching loo seat in dark grey to replace the white ones you currently have
• re-grout bath tiles in white
• replacing flooring with dark grey laminate would not be too expensive
• put a mirrored cabinet over the sink
• paint your current storage unit dark grey to match new bath panel & loo seat
• replace artwork above loo with either cute shelves to display rolled up towels or plants or whatever, or put up a new (much larger) artwork

I agree with getting rid of mirror and picture. It's the clean lines that make the others look modern. Have you got anywhere else to store toilet roll? There's nothing in the other two pictures, so it's how minimal you can get it. Then change shower curtain/rug and paint.

It's perfectly OK as it is.
Leave it for a year and look at it again.
Does it have any natural light? If yes, watch where the shadows are across the seasons and at different times of the day.

You can get a grey Hemnes bathroom cabinet from IKEA. They are tall to great for storage.

You need to get all that stuff that you have in storage if you want a minimalist look.

Look at their shampoo compared to yours. Anything you can't get in the cupboard you could decant into better looking bottles.

Then paint the walls.

I’d lay tile effect dark lino, paint the walls grey, regrout the tiles white, and paint the bath panel. You can get cupboards that sit around the pedestal of the sink, so I’d get one of those either in dark grey to match it, or paint it the same colour as the bath panel. I’d also change the bathroom mirror for a more contemporary one that would match the look of the bathroom you want. I can’t see what sort of light you have, but I’d change that too to one that matches the style.

Since you are a new property owner and specify "cheapest", my advice is "wait.". Give your finances time to get used to paying the mortgage, CT, insurance, repairs and maintenance, BEFORE you embark on expensive renovations like new bathroom suite, tiling etc.

The bathroom you have is perfectly functional and will last several years. If you really must have a dark grey bathroom right away,, just paint the plain walls and bathpanel ; cheap fast DIY job, and buy yourself some grey towels/ floor mat.. They will all go with the dark tile grout. Cheapest way to find out if you really like a dark grey start to every morning.

Save your money until you can afford to do a proper job, some time in the future. By then your tastes may have changed.

And please close the toilet lid.

A lot of it is tidiness.

They have white soap in a transparent soap dish. You have bright pink soap.

They have a plant on a stand. You have toilet rolls in a tower.

They have pale grey toothbrushes in a glass. You have an electric toothbrush with a wire plugged into a light fitting.

They have a zig zag bath at that is as thin as wafer thin ham. You have a shaggy bathmat and pedestal mat.

They have shampoo and conditioner in matching brown bottles that aren't enough to last a week. You've got regular ones.

Op, how about painting the walls a light sage green, some wood shelves to match the flooring, a shower screen, get rid of the mats and a new toilet seat. Matt paint in my view looks better than silk/sheen. Really would not cost much at all.