Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Sprucing Up - It Doesn't Have to Cost a Lot

Got the winter blahs?  Got the shut-in blues?  Just need a change?
It doesn't have to cost a lot to change things up a bit and change your view and attitude.

Last fall, I decided I just had to spruce up the bathroom.  It hadn't had a thing done to it in years.  It was worn and dingy in my opinion.  Hubs was not one for change.  He always thought everything seemed like a big project - so I just left things alone.
Around Thanksgiving, I chose to spruce up the bathroom a bit and add a little cheer to my view!

There was no major work done - all the big things stayed.  Tub, sink, toilet, cabinet, lights all the same.  I was not into having a huge project with a contractor or anything - just a little perk-up!

Many years ago I bought 2 gallons of paint - one light blue and 1 light yellow - never used them.  My bathroom was already yellow - so I decided to use the blue.  I mixed and shook and mixed and shook some more and the paint was fine!!!

I bought a sample of white paint with primer for the trim.  I paid $3.99 for that versus spending a lot of money on a quart or gallon.  I still have plenty left.  (I had places that needed primer as the paint was worn totally away).

My tub surround was put in 32 years ago and is vinyl.  It had totally yellowed over the years and looked so dingy.  My solution - paint it!  YEPPERS it worked.  I cleaned it thoroughly and used a Rustoleum  paint that was good with plastic.  The surround is pretty white and looks great.  I used a small roller and then cut in around the edges with a small brush.  It is indoor/outdoor paint and the shower water does not hurt it.  (I already had this on hand as well - for some other project).

I used different pictures and knick-knacs that I had in storage for decoration.  I have a window in there, but no need for curtains.  The window is muted glass, I have blinds and used a nice floral piece I had for a valance.  I DID buy a new outer shower curtain which cost less than $15.00.  I had a nice blue rug to use as a bathmat.
I wanted a little something different on the borders - I have had some peel and stick faux 'subway tile' looking paper - so I meticulously cut it to make a trim.
I still have to redo the floor.  It is extremely worn do to hubs rolling chair - but I have had the tile for that in my storage for several years as well.

More than anything - my cost was a little time and energy.  I did it all myself and it makes me happy.  It is cheery and bright and that is what I was going for.  NO designer bathroom - it is simple, the way I like things.

View looking in from hall.  Pedestal sink, toilet on right and tub at back.  Storage cabinet on left (I revitalized the wood on that).  Yep, it is little - but it mine!
Here is a view of the vinyl surround after painting - white!  Yes my window is over the tub - don't know why that was ever a good idea - but it is there.  Guess it was the only way to get light in there.
Looking at the door side.  Those vintage towels were bought last fall at a thrift sale for next to nothing.  My headbands (for yardwork) hang on the back of door.  The towel hanging on the wall is actually hanging over a handicap grab bar!  I figured I better keep them in place - you never know.

I am sure if you added everything together, even if I had bought new paint, it would have cost less than a $100 to totally shift the feel of the room.


Think about things you have around the house.  Sheets can become window coverings or furniture covers.  A little paint changes everything up.  Look around your storage for different pictures or do-dads to use.  Switch things from one room to another.  Move your furniture if you can.
Maybe get a new throw rug or something small to change it up.
Put together some patchwork for pillows, curtains, bedding or even a shower curtain.

Here's another example.  My window valances (I have 2) in the bedroom is ladies hankies.  I placed a cup hook on each side of the window and used heavy jute to make a 'rod' and laid the hankies over it.   I have lots and lots of pretty hankies.  Just simple and dainty.  I don't have ANY curtains in my house - just blinds and valances.  I like things bright and airy.
This may not suit any one else, but I like it.

Stop and think outside the box a little.  Use what you have and change up the view a little.  You can change things inside or out for next to nothing!!  

Trust me - it really can LIFT YOUR SPIRITS!!!!
HAVE FUN


33 comments:

  1. you did a great job....I had no idea that one could paint those old tub surrounds. I must share this with my daughter who has an old tired looking surround. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Well I wasn't sure either - but it worked perfectly. The paint could be used outdoors and on plastic - so I figured I would give it a try. Clean really well first and make sure it's dry - then go for it!
      Hope it helps!

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  2. Love the floral arrangement over the window..a unique idea. And the towels are do pretty..you don't find pretty towels like that in the store anymore..or I haven't found any. You did good.

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    1. Thank you. When I saw those towels I had to get them. Reminded me of the old days! I can't remember if I paid .50 or so for each one at a thrift sale.
      I had that little floral arrangement for years - I think it may be Home Interiors!

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  3. Absolutely lovely, Cheryl! The bath is bright and airy, and those towels are so pretty. Isn't it amazing what even a small spruce-up can do for a room?!?!

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    1. Yes mam. Instead of dreading to walk in there, now I smile. Easy and cheap.
      Thanks.

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  4. Love it! Those towels are the perfect touch. Blue morning glories are among my favorite flowers. My bathroom is light blue, too. I have some of that same Rustoleum paint left over from painting the mud porch overhang last year. It just happens to be a gloss white. I'm going to try painting my dingy, yellowed tub surround. Since it worked on my oxidized galvanized porch roof (with an appropriate primer), I may try it on my oxidized aluminum window frame in the bathroom, too. The tub surround really needs to be replaced (along with the flooring and rotted subfloor), but that is a job for a contractor in another year or so. I have the money set aside, but it is hard to find a contractor willing to work on an old mobile home.

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    1. Thanks.
      I hope that tip helps and gets you through another year or so and brightens up the bath!

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  5. Your bathroom is lovely. So bright and cheery. Great job!

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  6. Beautiful job! We need to paint our bathtub too! Thanks for the hint about what paint to buy.

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    1. Thanks. I did the surround and not the tub. I would imagine it would work there as well - at least for a while.

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  7. It looks so bright and fresh. I find swapping pictures around helps a lot.

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    1. Thanks. Yes, just moving things around makes for a merrier house.

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  8. I love it, and I love the hankies over the window, what a cute idea!

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    1. Thanks. Kind of girly - but I am here alone, so why not.

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  9. Good for you! It looks very pretty, I especially like your valance.
    Years ago, I put denim blue RIT dye in a spray bottle to make the stained pink plush carpet in a small bedroom look better. It cost about $3 and that carpet really did improve.

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    1. Thanks.
      What a good idea - I never thought about using dye in a spray bottle. Thanks for that tip.
      There are so many little things that can make a difference.

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  10. You did a great job and I love that shade of blue. Have to agree with - sometimes even those little changes make a big difference. Over the years I've collected different cushion covers, throw, prints etc. and at least one a year I tend to go through my little apt. and change things up a bit. I also have a tendency to move furniture around between rooms and repurpose things so friends always check to see where things are now when they come to visit. It also becomes an opportune time to do a deep clean when the furniture has to be emptied before moving!

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    1. Thank you - I really like the blue as well.
      It is fun to shake things up a bit. I want some new living room furniture - but that will have to wait for now. So I keep adding things and covers and such - just keep changing it up!
      I like that you keep it mixed up as well!

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  11. I "accidently" made a new valence for a bedroom. I decided I wanted to put the curtains from there in my kitchen. That worked great and I like my "new" kitchen curtains. What to do in the bedroom. I took 4 blue placements from the kitchen ($ tree finds), put them over the rods and added a pretty white napkin in the center as a temporary fix. If I decide to use the placemats as placemats, I will just use another set I have at the windows. This not shopping sharpens the imagination! Gramma D

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    1. That sounds so cute. Creative minds can come up with some neat things. I love it.
      New look and no money spent!!! WIN

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  12. Cheryl, you did a wonderful job! It's so bright and cheerful. Isn't it fun that such a small makeover can make such a huge difference?!

    My old neighbor had very tired living room walls but really couldn't afford even a couple gallons of new paint. Her home was new when they bought it and she remembered that the builders had left some paint in the basement. It was a half full 5 gal bucket of a light beige. She went to Ace and found and oops quart can of sage green for only $3! She added it to the beige and made the prettiest shade of light green. It turned out just great!

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    1. That is a great idea. I forgot about that - mixing paints (same types) works great. Many stores have an oops section in the paint dept. and paint can be gotten cheaply. That sounds like a lovely fix.
      Thank you - it sure did brighten the room to me!

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  13. Your bathroom is so cute. I love it.

    Frugal decorating is my favorite thing in the world. I love it so much!

    I am redoing my bathroom to. Not a freshening up though and definitely no contractor's. I did have to buy a new sink and I am getting a new toilet. We had flooding and things got molded so it's a health hazard. Everything else I am doing is like what you are doing. It is so much fun isn't it?

    When I first got married I didn't have any money. I just moved into my first apartment. I used sheets and pillowcases for my curtains. The neighborhood went crazy about my cute curtains. Where did get them? How could I afford custom made? LOL.

    When I first bought my home I have a very large front window. I looked at curtain prices for the window. WOW! They can run into the thousands. There was no way. I wanted something specific because this was my forever home. Even going to the fabric store I had sticker shock. One day some beautiful fabric shower curtains caught my eye. They were the style I wanted and only $12. I get lots of compliments on them and nobody knows their shower curtains, lol.

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    1. Good luck with your bathroom redo. I am glad I didn't have to replace any big stuff.
      What a good idea. Shower curtains come in so many pretty colors and designs now - that would make a nice curtain. I bet that looks really pretty.
      I love hearing how people get creative.
      Thanks

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  14. I love the handkerchiefs, what a cute idea! I agree, a little paint makes such a difference and especially when it is a change of color. As you've read, I've been painting and even though it's only a slightly variation of the original color it looks so much better. I bought one of those small containers of white paint too. I used it to repaint the baseboards in the rooms I've painted. I should have enough to paint the living room and kitchen baseboards once those rooms are professionally painted.

    I change up some of my decor every few months, spring, summer, fall, winter/Christmas. I don't move furniture around much but that's because everything seems to fit best where it is. I've taken down most of the pictures I had up as I had to fill holes to repaint. I'll pack away most of them but will rehang a few.

    I love reading the comments others make on your posts. Everyone has such great ideas!

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    1. Thanks. It does make you feel better to change things up. Those little cans of paint sure do go far for a bit of money.
      Yours is coming along so nicely.
      Little things make such a difference. Everyone comes up with some neat ideas for sure.

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  15. You did a great job on the bathroom. It looks so nice! It is very light and airy. Blue is my favorite color. We have been working on our bathroom recently also. It takes time because we don't have as much energy as we used too. I admire your diligence in all that you do.

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    1. Thank you. I like it. It had been years since I had a blue room!
      Good luck with your project - I am sure it will be lovely.
      Just have to keep on keeping on!

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  16. I love it!! So pretty and airy and light. I was just looking at my bathroom and hallway today. UGH. All the walls need a good scrubbing and I need to paint the ceiling and walls. It's been almost 17 years. I was going to pay a young lady from our church but now I'm too embarrassed to let anyone do it. I know a good scrub will help and I can paint. I'm thinking of a light bluish-lavender with grey tones since this gets lots of south sunshine.

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  17. I never would have thought about painting the tub surround! That looked so clean and fresh...and I love the blue above it. Also like the idea of hankies as a valance.

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  18. Very cool. I've never used Rustoleum paint for plastic but I love that there are paints that work well for that.

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