Bathroom renovations: 10 ways to revive a tired bathroom

From time to time, even the prettiest bathroom could use a facelift. We're not talking major bathroom renovations here, or even involved do-it-yourself stuff; just a few small changes designed to give maximum zing for minimum effort (and cash) and without the effort of bathroom renovations. Your local bath, home or building supply store has all kinds of products designed to lift the spirits of even the most depressing bathroom, and many of the ideas that follow require no more than a few tools and a free weekend. Think of it as a spa retreat for your bath.

1 Clear out everything -- everything! -- in your bathroom and give the room a good scrubbing, right down to the grout between tiles, any hidden build-up under the faucet escutcheons, and corners inside cabinets. Then throw out or give away anything you don't use regularly: half-filled shampoo bottles, makeup you'll never wear, expired medicines. Be ruthless.

2 Nothing updates a room more quickly and dramatically than a new coat of paint. The bathroom is often the easiest room in your house to paint, since there's little or no furniture to move and the wall area is fairly small. Pure white is a classic look that's very fashionable right now; or choose a shade that contrasts elegantly with coloured tile or fixtures. If you have cabinets, paint them (inside and out) as well.

3 Replace your chipped or too-small medicine cabinet with a handsome new one. Restoration Hardware and IKEA both have attractive options, as do many building centres. Or, if storage is not a concern, replace it with a large, beautifully framed mirror.

4 Contrary to popular belief, replacing your basin faucet is a fairly easy DIY job, and there are many beautiful styles available for $100 or less. And you'd be surprised how much it improves the overall look of the room.

5 If the floor is ugly or worn, you don't always need to rip it up and start over. Linoleum and wood floors can be painted out with special flooring paint; epoxy paint can be used to update yucky tile. Peel-and-stick vinyl tiles are another inexpensive option.