"DIY remodeling always seems cheaper until you're three weekends deep, covered in paint splatters, and questioning all your life choices."
Haha, been there too many times...but honestly, I'd reconsider repainting cabinets unless they're really beat up. Paint can chip or wear down pretty quickly in high-moisture areas like bathrooms. I've had better luck sanding lightly and using a natural oil finish—holds up great, looks good, and way less maintenance down the road. Plus, fewer chemicals involved if you're eco-conscious. Just my two cents.
We redid our bathroom about a year ago, and honestly, the total was around $4k—but we did a mix of DIY and hiring out. We gutted the old tile and fixtures ourselves (messy, but doable with patience), then hired a plumber to handle the new shower and vanity hookups. Definitely agree about cabinets though...painted ours initially, and within months they looked pretty shabby from moisture and daily use. Ended up sanding them down again (ugh) and going with a water-resistant satin finish stain instead—looks way better now and holding up great.
If you're still early stages, here's a quick rundown of what worked well for us:
- Demo yourself if possible (wear gloves, goggles, mask—trust me).
- Hire pros for plumbing/electrical unless you're super confident.
- Avoid cheap paint in bathrooms—moisture-resistant or oil-based is key.
- Consider waterproof vinyl plank flooring—easy install, affordable, durable.
- Budget extra for unexpected stuff...because something always pops up.
Overall, totally worth it in the end, just brace yourself for some headaches along the way.
We tackled ours about two years ago and ended up around $5k, but we went pretty heavy on DIY. Agree 100% on demo—it's messy but saves a ton. One thing I'd add: don't skimp on ventilation. We initially kept our old exhaust fan, and within months had mold spots popping up. Had to redo that part (ugh), but upgrading to a stronger, quieter fan made a huge difference. Definitely worth the extra hundred bucks or so.
"don't skimp on ventilation. We initially kept our old exhaust fan, and within months had mold spots popping up."
Yep, learned that lesson the hard way too. When we redid the bathroom in our historic place, thought we'd save a bit by keeping the original fan. Big mistake—humidity buildup was awful. Ended up installing a stronger unit with proper ducting through the attic. Bit of extra hassle (and another weekend lost), but zero mold issues since then. Totally worth the trouble.
Totally agree—good ventilation is a must. We upgraded ours mid-project too, and honestly, the quieter fan alone was worth it. Plus, it's crazy how much quicker things dry out now after showers... no more foggy mirrors either.
