10 Ways to Refresh Your Bathrooms Pre-Sale

If you’re renovating your home before putting it on the market, you have a lengthy to-do list. You’re likely tackling essential repairs, repainting, and staging your spaces to make them more viewer-friendly. 

Some home sellers are eager to go deeper—ready to fully revamp their properties. And while strategic home improvements can boost appeal, not all updates have a high return on investment (ROI) or are attractive to buyers.  

Bathroom renovations can go one of two ways: some upgrades make a positive impression on a buyer, but completely overhauling these spaces is costly and will only earn you 50 percent of your investment back. 

So, if you’re planning a bathroom refresh, the goal should be to leave the space looking great without spending a ton on a high-end makeover. Here are 10 ways to hit that mark.

1. Retile 

No matter how clean your bathroom is, grout gets dirty and tile wears (and starts to look dated). So if you’re selling an older home—that hasn’t recently been renovated—updating tile flooring and walls can make a big impact, helping this space look more sanitary and contemporary. 

Retiling can be a DIY job, but it’s time-consuming and ranges in difficulty. For example, you may have to cut tile pieces, which implies renting or buying a tile cutter and getting the hang of using it. So, you may want to cut your losses and call in an expert. 

One thing you can definitely do on your own is pick out the new tile look for your bathroom. Choose universally appealing hues, like neutrals. Even though it’s tempting to follow bold design trends, an in-fashion update can quickly go out of style (or not be a buyer’s taste). 

2. Put in a new vanity 

Bathrooms have a few focal points: a shower or bath, tiling, fixtures, and the vanity. This piece of furniture is likely the only one in the room, so if the vanity isn’t appealing, it can turn the whole space into an eyesore. 

Have a professional swap out an old bathroom vanity for a contemporary model. The bonus? You’ll save yourself the work of scrubbing down the inside of old cabinets before you move out.

3. Refinish cabinets 

If you don’t want to put in an entirely new vanity, you can refresh the one you have by refinishing wooden bathroom cabinets. Check out a DIY tutorial online, and take on this task yourself by sanding down the doors and structure and repainting or refinishing them. 

4. Get new hardware 

Whether or not you decide to refinish your vanity’s surface, you can make a minor but impactful upgrade by swapping dated hardware (like knobs and handles) for chic modern pieces. This is an easy DIY task that’s wallet-friendly and only requires a few minutes and basic tools. 

5. Update the mirror

Complete your DIY vanity update by swapping out the mirror. Not all mirrors need to go—an older model might continue to be in great shape and not look dated at all. For example, if your bathroom has a big square, rectangular, or circular mirror without a decorative frame and is in good condition, it likely appears current. 

But if your mirror is damaged or a funky shape (or has a dated frame) that might not appeal to buyers, hang a sleek new model that a wide audience will like. Consider getting help with this project if your mirror is embedded in the wall (think: a medicine cabinet) or glued to it as you can hurt yourself on a glass shard should you slip up.

6. Swap out the sink and toilet

Have a professional plumber switch out your sink and toilet and you’ll gain two big benefits: a cleaner, more modern-looking space and improved water efficiency. 

Old toilets, even if aesthetically inoffensive, can get grimy no matter how much maintenance you do. Plus, they might not be water-saving. The same goes for sinks. So, take advantage of this hygienic swap to pick out a model that upgrades the look of the bathroom and makes it more resource-friendly.

7. Change fixtures 

Dated light fixtures can hold your bathroom back in time, so swap out those lamps from the 1980s with contemporary (and better yet, energy-efficient models). If you study how to install these pieces correctly and turn off the electrical current on your fuse box before you start, this can be a safe, easy, inexpensive DIY job. Or get help from an experienced friend or professional.

8. Paint

Repainting walls—even if it’s the only bathroom upgrade you do—can make all the difference. Bathroom walls get dirty: water stains, makeup splatter, and the general accumulation of grime. They might even start to peel. Repainting gives the space a fresh start. 

And you get one, too: You get to select a new aesthetic for the room. Paint in a neutral or widely appealing hue (a too-unique color scheme could deter a buyer) and use a high-quality semi-gloss, which repels water and stains. 

9. Switch the showerhead

Bathrooms can be sanctuaries when done right. And even if the look of the space is perfect, functionality is important, too. A showerhead that doesn’t have great pressure, leaks, drips, or is acquiring rust is enough to ruin that “sanctuary” moment. 

Switching out an old showerhead is often an easy DIY project. The majority of showerheads are standard fitting, meaning that the connections are all the same size and you can screw off one head and on another in a matter of minutes. Showerheads also generally come with everything all the essential parts, like a tiny metal mesh filter and rubber washers. You’ll just need a couple of basic tools and some time to watch tutorials on YouTube before diving in. This said, if you intend to install a complex showerhead with parts built into the wall, get professional help. 

10. Stage

So, you’ve renovated your bathroom and it’s perfect. Maybe it was great as-is. Or perhaps, you don’t have the time and funds to take on a bathroom project. Whatever the case, you can boost the space’s appeal by staging it properly. 

Staging is the art of using tasteful decor to make your home look appealing to a buyer. Check out interior design sites or apps like Pinterest for bathroom makeover inspiration, paying special attention to details. When you stage your bathroom, you’ll want to swap out old accessories (like the toothbrush holder or soap dispensers) for contemporary ones. You’ll also want to get a new bathmat, shower curtain, and towels, and go all out on the finishing touches for open houses—getting a nice brand of soap, lighting a candle, putting out a vase with fresh flowers, and stacking some rolled handtowels for viewers to use.

Get renovation recommendations from your agent

Real estate agents understand what homebuyers want, making them an excellent source of information on which bathroom updates will make your home more attractive—and which might not earn back your investment.

Partner with an expert, Titus-affiliated agent and get top-notch listing and sale services as well as access to a unique financing option for renovations. Only Titus’s partner agents can help home sellers get a closing line of credit (CLoC). Credits up to $25,000 are zero-interest and Titus never asks homesellers for anything upfront or out of pocket. Learn how it works here.