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As a nosey little bitch, I’m always asking people how much they paid for something. I want to know how much your rent is. I want to know how much you paid for those sneakers. And when I see a beautiful room, I always think to myself… “How Much Did That Cost?”

And because I know you’re just like me, I’m gonna give you the tea on my bathroom makeover, including the total price, before and after photos, and my reasoning for doing this in a rental. Read On!

How Much Did This Makeover Cost?

Wall Coverings & Paint

• **Drunken Chevron ‘Rose’ Wallpaper - $1,012 ($92/roll for 11 rolls)

  • I ordered 11 rolls of the 24” x 108”. I only used 10 rolls, but to ensure a pristine color match and in case you make a mistake it’s best to have more than less.

• Polystrenue Wall Moulding - $100

• 1 gal. Borscht by Sherwin Williams - $45

Fixtures & Fittings

• Brushed Gold Centerset 2-Handle Faucet - $99

• Round Mahogany Toilet Seat - $90

• Brass Toilet Wand - $67

Furnishings

• Scallop Edge Towels - $25 - $50

• Scallop Edge Bath Mat - $50

• Pink Curtain - $39

• Extra-Long Shower Liner - $16

• Glass Soap Dispenser - $13

Lighting

• Brass Vanity Light - $281

• Brass Outlet Plate - $16

Organizers

• **Elfa Utlity Over-The-Door Shelf - $170

• Simplehuman Shower Storage - $69

• Toilet Paper Storage - $35

• Wood 4-Tier Shelf - $4 (similar)

Accessories

• Ornate Gold Mirror - $39 (similar)

• **Cabinet Knob - $200 (similar)

• Cypress Tree Candle - $45 (similar)

• Green Glass Plate - $3 (similar)

• Gold Picture Frame - $7 (similar)

Total: $2,478

NOTE - The cost above doesn’t include things like rollers, paint brushes, hammers, nails, etc. because I had a lot of those things on hand from previous projects. I’d estimate about $100 on material and supplies.

What Was Sponsored/Gifted?

Peep the double asterisk ** next to anything that was gifted to me by brands, sponsors and even ex-employers. That said, I did include these costs in the final price for transparency purposes.

The biggest expense in this project was, of course, the peel-and-stick wallpaper from my collection with Otto Studio and was gifted to create promotional materials.

Additionally, a fair amount of the decor items like the gold frames and hardware have been in my storage unit for years just waiting for their moment to shine.

If I excluded gifted items, the price is a bit more…. affordable!

Imani’s Out-Of-Pocket Cost - $1,096

Not bad, if you ask me!

How To Keep Cost Down In A Bathroom Makeover?

I know the numbers I shared above are big ones for some people, and while there are plenty of landlord-approved upgrades you can make to transform your rental bathroom that won’t break the bank. I wanted to share a few more ways you can transform your space on a budget…

1. Instead of wallpaper, use a paint stencil or do a free-hand drawing.  

2. Shop Your Home! That flamingo print/framer was in my art collection for years before finding a home in my shower niche. Look around your house and see what you have before buying something new. 

3. Give the existing plumbing fixtures new life with a coat of spray paint. 

4. DIY it! This might seem obvious, but labor is super expensive, and you can save a ton of money by learning how to change your own faucet, switch out a light fixture or install peel-and-stick-wallpaper.

I have stated this many times before, both in print and on NPR, but for the people who are unaware.

• Yes, I got permission to make these changes. And you can too (click here).

• Yes, I will undo these upgrade once I move out.

• No, I don’t feel like I’m waisting my time or money renovating a space I do not own.

I have long held the belief that it doesn’t matter if you rent or own, you should love your home. And adding wallpaper, a cute light fixture and a mahogany toilet seat make me happy, so that’s what I will continue to do and along the way I hope to inspire other renters to do the same with their spaces.

xoxo,

Imani