Is your bathroom in need of an overhaul? Look no further than these fantastic upcycling projects that you can get stuck into right now. Bathrooms are the perfect spaces to flex your creative DIY muscles – as they tend to be smaller rooms that are used less often, they’re ideal for experimentation. Plus, upcycling means you don’t need to spend a lot of money, so you can give your bathroom a makeover no matter what your budget. Click or scroll through our pick of the most inspirational ideas…
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Turn a chair into a towel rack
The very best upcycling ideas take an object’s normal form and realize that it’s got the potential to work perfectly in a totally different way. This ingenious idea of flipping a chair upside down ticks all those boxes; the back supports become a towel rack and the seat forms a perfect bathroom shelf. It’s so obvious when you see it!
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Reclaim wood for a vanity
If you’ve got woodworking skills, why not challenge yourself to build a bathroom vanity unit out of reclaimed wood? The great thing about this project is you can build the unit to fit any space exactly, and add as many drawers and shelves as you like.
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Hang an indoor plant frame
Give your greenery an enviable position with a suspended growing frame made out of an upcycled ladder. This brilliant idea from Instagrammer Abi uses glam gold chains fixed to the ceiling to hold pots of trailing plants over a tub, creating a tropical feel.
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Personalize shelves
Using some photo transfer gel – available from lots of DIY stores, and on Amazon – you can add any text or pictures you like to wooden shelving. You could even make a shelf for each family member with their name on it for a seriously organized bathroom.
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Make your own bath caddy
If you find your essentials are always out of reach when you’re having a bath, why not make your own caddy tray out of a plank of wood? It’s perfect for balancing everything from your book to a scented candle – and maybe even a glass of wine. Bliss.
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Rope in new holders
Perfect for a nautical-themed bathroom, these toilet paper and towel holders are made out of pieces of rope, fixed to the wall with metal fittings – the ideal DIY project to use up old materials you’ve got lying around.
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Swap in a surfboard
These hooks are mounted onto a vintage-style wooden surfboard, but you could definitely try this with an old skateboard, too. Here, a hand-cut shark bite adds a playful finish to the stylish design – perfect for a bathroom with coastal-style décor.
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Wheel in a washstand
An old bike can double as a washstand, towel rack and vase. Vintage bicycles are easy to pick up either online or in an antique shop, but you may need to de-rust and respray your bike before it looks as charming as this one.
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Reimagine baskets as lights
This wonderful idea is as simple as it is stylish. Upcycling genius Geneva turned two IKEA baskets into a cluster of rattan pendant lights to create a feature over her bathroom vanity. You can see the full tutorial on how to make your own on her wonderful blog.
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Tie-dye a shower curtain
Fed up with a boring plain white shower curtain? Give it a new lease of life with a home dye job. You can either try an ombré effect or experiment with different techniques to produce an infinite number of shapes and shades.
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Spruce up with gold spray
Spray painting your bathroom accessories gold is the easiest, cheapest way to make your space look luxurious and opulent. The finish looks great on anything from mirrors to toothbrush holders – so go wild.
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Make Mason jar dispensers
Why not use old jam jars or Mason jars as dispensers and tumblers? Simply paint them in your favorite matt shades, then lightly age the finish with sandpaper. It couldn’t be easier – and it’s super budget-friendly, too.
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Create storage on wheels
Lots of us are familiar with the trick of using wooden food crates as an easy storage solution – but for a new twist, add castor wheels for shelving that can be moved around easily. Use it to store towels, toilet paper and toiletries to minimize clutter.
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Glam up a hamper
Give an old laundry hamper a new lease of life with a glitzy gold paint job. Opt for a spray paint on rattan or baskets to get an even coat that will match in with your brass handles and taps.
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Switch up a sewing machine stand
If you can get your hands on an old sewing machine base, you could use it to replace your washstand for a vintage vibe – a look that’s ultra-unique, but not over the top. There are usually a few of these available on eBay and Etsy, but alternatively, you could try vintage fairs or auctions.
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Copper leaf a bath
Copper is showing no signs of going out of style. To add the trend to your bathroom, you don’t need to splash out on a copper bathtub – instead, simply decorate your existing tub by gluing on copper leaf, which is sold cheaply on eBay and at art supply stores.
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Customize a whale tail mirror
If you have an oval-shaped mirror, you can easily turn it into a whale silhouette – perfect for an ocean-themed bathroom. Simply cut out a whale’s tail shape from wood offcuts, fix it to your mirror and paint it all the same color. Kids will love this decorating idea, so make it a weekend project and get them to help out with the painting stage.
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Shell out for a planter
If you’ve got a big, decorative seashell at home – or live near the sea and could pick one up – why not use it as a planter for your favorite houseplant? Seashells always look great in a bathroom scheme, and a little greenery will add life to your space.
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Reuse an office staple
If you’ve got a desk that you rarely use, why not turn it into a bathroom vanity? It’s quick and simple – all you need to do is cut a hole for the basin and taps and give the desk a fresh coat of paint in a color that matches your bathroom scheme.
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Pipe in some storage
Glamor isn’t something we normally associate with toilet paper holders, but one with a built-in shelf to store little houseplants and trinkets is much prettier to look at. Make your own out of industrial pipes and wood offcuts.
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Patch up a wood bath panel
Reclaimed wood is an essential part of any DIY enthusiast’s kit, and it can be put to great use in the bathroom. Try making paneling for your bathtub using planks in different shades for a rustic look.
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Craft your own wood tealight holders
Got some small, chunky wood offcuts you’re not sure what to do with? Try turning them into tealight holders. These will look fantastic grouped around the edges of the bathtub, or on a decorative tray – perfect for a home spa day. Use the wood-boring drill bit to hollow out a space for the candle to sit, making sure to secure the wood in a vice first!
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Bling up a bottle
For an eye-catching soap dispenser, simply add the pump to an empty bottle of your favorite tipple, using a cork with a hole poked through it to make sure there are no gaps. Keep an eye out for pretty, limited-edition bottles in the shops – these will make a really striking statement.
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Upcycle an oil drum
Sometimes an idea is so brilliant in its simplicity that you wonder why you didn’t think of it yourself. Such is the case with these brilliant wash basins made from upcycled oil drums. You’ll just need to cut a hole for the sink and another to fix the faucet on to. Then it’s just a case of spray painting it in your favorite color. Genius!
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Spray paint metallic shelving
Bathroom shelves looking a little dull? Time to give them a luxe makeover – try spray painting them in a metallic shade to add glamor, and adding artwork in rich colors, scented candles and chic accessories. Even jazzing up just one shelf can give your entire bathroom a budget-friendly lift.
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Paint floor tiles
Ready for a bathroom makeover? You might want to start with the floor. Old tiles can often look dull – but did you know that you can paint them? Tile paint is available at many DIY stores and is easy to use. Try painting each tile in your floor pattern a different shade for a bold look.
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Create color gradient crates
For a stylish spin on bathroom shelving made from stacked crates, paint all the crates using similar colors – each a shade up from the one below it. Here, light wash pastel hues create a calming watercolor effect.
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Construct coastal storage
Fancy trying your hand at a spot of furniture upcycling? For a weatherbeaten, seaside-cottage look, paint furniture in a light wash and sand it down. You could even replace knobs and handles with pieces of rope, as shown here.
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Paint a two-tone bath panel
If you’d like to add a splash of color to your bathroom but think painting a whole wall might be overdoing it, why not paint your bath panel in your chosen shade? The pink and gold shown here really make this newly renovated bathroom by Instagrammer Lissi pop.
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Add an antique
Looking for a quick style fix? An antique ladder can be put to use in many ways but there’s none easier than leaning it against the wall and using it as a towel rack like Marta Szczepanik has. Add a couple of cute vintage-style hooks above it and a basket to hold any bits and pieces out of sight.
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