Look at this 80s bathroom. Is it possible to revamp on a budget?

[mangohedgehog]

Am shortly moving into a new home. The bathroom is very very 80s. I hate the colour of the suite but I can't quite justify spending £ on a new one when there isn't anything wrong with the old suite, apart from the way it looks.

Is there anything I can do to update the walls, floors etc to make the room look a bit less dated? Or am I stuck with the 80s bathroom from hell until I can afford a new one?

I think the tiles are your biggest problem. With plain walls or a more modern style of tile, the suite wouldn't look bad. Can you afford to re-tile? Or look into tile paint if you're on a tight budget.

having bought a house with similar - I wouldn't bother doing anything until you can do it properly. There may be many hidden horrors under the bath, you should take the panel off ASAP to check. Those taps are probably knackered too.

that said, 3 piece suite can be had from about £300 from a builders merchant. You can get panels to cover tiles if they are solidly attached. Or they could be like ours, and fall off with one good sneeze!

You could change the taps and flooring, maybe cover the tiling with some tounge and groove (don't know if this is actually possible) and get some new accessories.

I'm watching with interest as I am in the same situation.

I could probably do any tiling myself which would save quite a bit. But I just can't imagine any kind of tiles making that suite look OK!

I wonder how long I'd have to keep it before it became fashionable again...

Could be worse. My student accommodation in the 80s had a bright yellow bathroom suite. You practically needed sunglasses to go in there!

I'd say for a quick update you have 2 options, tile paint and a neutral fresh coat of paint on the walls, or tile paint and a more striking colour on the walls.

Add matching accessories such as a soap dispenser, toothbrush holder etc and save to get it redone.

To be honest I wouldn't bother. Whatever you spend (and it will still be a substantial amount) will only make it look like an 80's bathroom that's been given a cheap facelift.

If it's in reasonable condition and not all mouldy with tiles falling off the walls etc, then I'd live with it for a year or two until you've saved up to do it properly.

We have a similar suite (late 70's) in nauseated peach that we swore we'd change asap when we moved in 15 years ago. It's still there, you can get used to anything.

As other's have said, it's the tiles that really draw the eye, could you chip the patterned ones out and replace them?

Alternatively I'm sure I've heard some TV DIY person say that tile is the best surface to tile on.

If there are not too many patterned tiles, hard to see on my tiny screen, get some tile stickers. I've used them a couple of times, with great effect and they dont peel off if you apply them correctly.

To extend it's life you'd need new neutral tiles, new flooring and new taps at the very least. That would cost quite a few hundred.

There's more to updating a bathroom than just substituting a nice whote suite for a grotty old coloured one. For instance, does the shower need updating, does the ventilation need updating ( or even installing). What about lighting? Every bathroom fitter that I consulated immediately said 'new LED lights' as though these were now expected in any update (they are nice )

Tile paint
Wall paint
Sheer blind (ikea do them) kept pulled down to hide the window
Cheap vinyl floor
Piles of fresh towels and a few cheap but funky accessories (try Matalan or the supermarkets)

Maybe a seaside theme with white paint and blue & white accessories or a cool neutral scheme?

I once used painted tounge and grove for a fairly effective revamp, just like in this image. I'd go for a white satin on the tongue and groove, do the bath panel to and get on ebay to find new taps.

I think of all the coloured suites beige is at least very neutral. I bet loads of people have a white suite and beige walls.

With white or cream cladding you could have beige towels for a really natural look add a decent sized moisture loving large green leaved plant.

It sounds like what I suspected - nothing to be done.

Thanks for the link delgirl, those stickers might take the edge off until we can afford to redo the room completely.

At least it's not bright yellow!

Although... I do like the idea of white/cream natural look with cladding. I wonder...?

I don't think you have sufficient space to do tongue and groove where the bath meets the wall as the edge of the bath is not wide enough to accommodate the thickness of the T&G- you would definitely need to take the tiles off around the bath to be able to consider T&G.

Is there a shower over the bath?
If not I would save up and just replace it all.
If there is a shower then perhaps replace the tiles (and floor?) and cover the ugly window with a wooden venetian or sheer roller blind.
But to replace like with like is not hugely pricey and suites can be bought cheaply.

Hey,that's not too bad! we are having to live with an avocado green one for the moment.....

www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-gingko-forage-roller-blinds/p115788?colour=Mineral

Paint tiles and walls white. Get blind with bit of colour that also has some beige and another white and get matching fluffy towels.

Thanks all for your advice :)

Do you revamp or replace?

Its just the floral tiles that make it look a bit dated and maybe the flooring. I agree you should try painting the the tiles. Retiling would be a bit of an effort. I wouldn't replace the whole bathroom before trying a revamp.

Probably some decent fittings in there which is worth considering. I had a flat once that came with the avocado suite. Tear off all the tiles and replace those with large format tiles to ceiling. Same for floor, and it will look like a new room. Could also replace that sideboard which would help a lot.
I hate stickers and tile paint as it wears off and always looks naff to me.

It’s been six years so I imagine OP has probably replaced it by now!