Be inspired by this on-trend bathroom makeover that cost just £45!

You don't need to spend a fortune to give your bathroom an update

Re-doing a bathroom, complete with new tiles and paint can cost a small fortune. However, this savvy mum's £45 bathroom makeover is proof that you don't need to be sitting on a gold mine to give the space an on-trend update.

Related: See how Frenchic paint has given these bathroom tiles dramatic hotel-worthy makeover

Samantha Daley, a mum-of-one from Huddersfield decided to transform the bathroom herself after being quoted £4,000 to redo the tired-looking space.

'I had wanted to change this bathroom for ages, but it wasn't really that bad - it just wasn't to my taste,' Samantha told money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk. 'We were quoted £4,000 for a full refit so that's when I decided to make it over.'

£45 bathroom makeover

'When I was originally quoted to update the bathroom, I was a bit despondent. It wasn't dated enough to spend so much money on when there were other more pressing jobs that need doing in the house, like the kitchen, so I had resigned myself to having a boring downstairs loo.'

bathroom makeover

(Image credit: Samantha Daley / LatestDeals.co.uk)

'Then I realised that I was going to be able to refresh the bathroom for almost next to nothing, and as soon as I was inspired to give it a makeover, I was excited to start!'

For the transformation, Samantha picked up Frenchic Paint from a local supplier for £6.95 per 150ml. She also brought a roll of Fablon to cover the counter from Amazon for £8.99, five handles for £10.99 and a grout pen for £3.99.

bathroom with green cabinet and mirror

(Image credit: Samantha Daley / LatestDeals.co.uk)

Samantha started by painting the cabinets with Frenchic Paint and allowed the cabinets to dry fully before applying the handles. She then applied the Fablon, which is a self-adhesive vinyl, to update the countertop.

'I watched YouTube tutorials to work out how to apply the Fablon,' explains Samantha. 'I started off with marble Fablon but it didn't work so I changed it to the terrazzo style instead.'

bathroom with white commode

(Image credit: Samantha Daley / LatestDeals.co.uk)

'All in - other than the faffy trinkets! - it cost about £45, so it was a complete bargain!'

Samantha finished by accessorising the space with houseplants, vases, prints, rug and a candlestick holder she had picked up on the high street or on travels abroad.

bathroom with big mirror and yellow door

(Image credit: Samantha Daley / LatestDeals.co.uk)

'I am normally a procrastinator but I finished this project in a matter of weeks. I absolutely love it now, and it's one of the happiest spaces in the house despite it being the smallest.'

Related: How to give a sideboard an Art Deco makeover – get a glamorous look for less than £20

For less than £50, this bathroom transformation has given us some serious bargain DIY inspiration.

Rebecca Knight
Deputy Editor, Digital

Rebecca Knight has been the Deputy Editor on the Ideal Home Website since 2022. She graduated with a Masters degree in magazine journalism from City, University of London in 2018, before starting her journalism career as a staff writer on women's weekly magazines. She fell into the world of homes and interiors after joining the Ideal Home website team in 2019 as a Digital Writer. In 2020 she moved into position of Homes News Editor working across Homes & Gardens, LivingEtc, Real Homes, Gardeningetc and Ideal Home covering everything from the latest viral cleaning hack to the next big interior trend.