8 Easy Bathroom Upgrades You Can DIY This Weekend

Wainscoting, window film, and more genius moves.

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Let’s be honest: A full bathroom renovation is rarely in the cards. Sure, you might be yearning to start completely fresh, but the reality is, a complete remodel is expensive—in fact, a whopping 64-percent of homeowners underestimate how much it really costs. But that doesn’t mean you have to live with a space you’ve grown tired of. There are plenty of ways you can upgrade without shelling out a ton of cash.

These simple tweaks—many of which Domino homeowners have pulled off themselves—prove that paint, peel-and-stick, and a little ingenuity can go a long way. From making over your medicine cabinet to faking a custom sink skirt, these are the easiest ways to transform your bath without a demo.

Skip Tile in Favor of Wainscoting (and Wallpaper)

Bathroom with printed wallpaper and green wainscoting
Photography by Kate S. Jordan; Styling by Kate Berry KATE S JORDAN

You don’t need to tile your walls to make your bathroom feel finished. Instead, steal a page from Dan Pelosi’s Hudson Valley house and go halfsies—literally. Wainscoting panels (which you can find pre-cut at most hardware stores) painted in a punchy hue look instantly polished and protect your walls. Top it off with wallpaper or a bold paint color above, and you’ve got a high-impact combo that costs way less than marble.

BLOCK SHOP TEXTILES

Peony Wallpaper

$85 per yard
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HOME DEPOT

Tongue and Groove Wainscot Paneling

$138
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FARROW AND BALL

Arsenic

$153 per gallon
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Upgrade Your Exhaust Fan With a Minimalist, Easy-to-Install Mount 

Bathroom with black and white tile floor

Most bathroom exhaust fans are eyesores. But if yours is working just fine, there’s no need to replace it—just cover it up. Fittes’ Framed Exhaust Mount Lite hides the bulk of your fan behind a sleek panel that blends right into the ceiling. It’s easy to install and makes your bath look so much more considered.

FITTES

Framed Exhaust Mount

$67
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Dress Up the Sink With a DIY Skirt

Bathroom with patterned wallpaper and skirted sink
Photography by Belle Morizio; Styling by Kate Berry and Julia Stevens

If your pedestal sink or open vanity leaves little to the imagination (hello, cleaning supplies and TP), a simple curtain can be your best friend. Use adhesive brackets to hang a gathered fabric panel around the base and secure it with velcro tape. No sewing machine? Hemming tape will do the trick. Bonus points if you pick a print that plays nicely with your bath mat.

AMAZON

Striped Linen Kitchen Curtains

$20
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AMAZON

Gold Self Adhesive Curtain Rod Brackets

$9
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AMAZON

UltraHold Iron-On Adhesive

$2
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AMAZON

VELCRO Sticky Back for Fabrics

$12
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Give Your Showerhead a Glow-Up

Shower with orange fixtures
Photography by Yuki Sugiura

Swapping out your standard-issue showerhead for a sleeker, smarter version is the fastest way to make your morning feel a little more spa-like. Whether you opt for a rainfall model, a high-pressure hand shower, or one with built-in LED lights, this is a 10-minute install that makes a daily difference.

AMAZON

Hai Smart Shower Head

$136
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Sproos!

Hand Shower

$69
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Frost Your Windows for Light-Friendly Privacy

Bathroom with dark green tile and windowed bath
Photography by Natasha Lee; Styling by Courtney De Wet

If your bathroom window faces the neighbors (or the street, or your own backyard), you’ve probably been forced to choose between privacy and natural light. And if that window is in your shower, there’s really no debate—you need this fix. Peel-and-stick frosted window film blurs the view while still letting the sun pour in, and it holds up in wet zones. It takes about 15 minutes to apply.

HOME DEPOT

Frosted Privacy Window Film

$13
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HOME DEPOT

Window Film Application Kit

$17
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Rethink Your Medicine Cabinet and Sconces

Bathroom sink with bronze vanity and sconces
Photography by Chris Mottalini; Styling by Kate Berry

A clunky medicine cabinet can quietly derail an otherwise serene bathroom. Upgrade to a mirrored version with hidden storage to streamline your morning routine—and the overall vibe. If changing it out isn’t in the cards, a fresh coat of paint on the frame goes a long way. Complete the picture with new sconces in a finish that rounds out the look. Just like that, your sink wall becomes the most considered corner of the room.

MAGNOLIA

Nova Antique Bronze Medicine Cabinet

$222
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CEDAR AND MOSS

Wren Sconce

$339
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Give Exposed Pipes a Fresh Coat—and a Fresh Look

Bathroom sink with painted piping
Photo Courtesy of Quiet Town

Take a cue from the founders of Quiet Town, who gave their under-sink plumbing a makeover with a little bit of paint in unexpected hues. Just make sure to use a formula that works for metal (and let it fully dry before turning the water back on).

BENJAMIN MOORE

Sheer Romance

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BENJAMIN MOORE

O'Reilly Green

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Swap Out Your Basic Toilet Seat for One With a Bidet

White toilet and green tile
Photography by Dane Tashima; Styling by Naomi deMañana

You don’t need to overhaul your toilet to make it feel high-end. A bidet seat attachment is surprisingly simple to install—just unscrew the old seat, pop the new one on, and connect it to the water line. It’s a small upgrade that delivers daily luxury, no renovation necessary.

WAYFAIR

Toto Washlet Elongated Bidet Seat

$933 $373
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TUSHY

Ace 2.0

$399
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Rebecca Deczynski

Writer/Editor

Rebecca is most often found digging through troves of vintage treasures, both in-person and online. Ask her to recommend a good book to read or an obscure Instagram account to follow, and you won’t be disappointed.


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