Give Your Bathroom a Facelift

Nothing decreases the value and appeal of your home like an outdated bathroom. Has yours seen better days? A new vanity, some paint and a little elbow grease can give your bathroom a much-needed facelift in just one weekend. Visit your 
local True Value store for the materials you need; then follow our step-by-step guide below:

Consider A New Bathroom Vanity
Vanity can be a virtue - at least in your bathroom, anyway. Your vanity is one of the most used items in your home - no wonder it can quickly look worn and dingy (and make your bathroom look the same way). Replacing your old vanity with a beautiful new one is simple to do in just one afternoon, but it can instantly refresh the whole room. As a bonus, you may even gain valuable storage space at the same time.

Try a New Vanity on for Size
New vanities are available in a variety of colors, dimensions and finishes, ranging from inexpensive basic models to designer originals. When you're shopping for a new one, pay attention to size - you can go a little larger than your existing vanity, as long as the replacement won't crowd existing fixtures or overpower the room.

• Consider the best counter height for your needs. Do you have young children? If so, choose a low vanity so they can reach the sink. Vanities that are a few inches taller are easier for adults, who don't have to bend as much to use them.
• If you purchase an unfinished vanity, paint or stain it before you install it.
• You can remove the cabinet doors to make installation easier.

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Replacing Your Vanity

Follow these steps to remove the old unit and install its replacement:

Step 1. Remove The Old Vanity
Shut off the water, then disconnect the plumbing lines. Remove the sink, followed by the cabinet's mounting screws. Now slide out the old cabinet from the wall.

Step 2. Measure & Mark
Draw the outline of your new vanity on the wall where you plan to mount it. Here's how: measure the vanity's height and width at its highest point, and draw a corresponding line on the wall. Now draw vertical lines down to the bottom on both sides. Be exact, and make sure your lines are straight.

Use a stud finder to locate any wall studs that may be located within the outline you just drew - they'll provide a sturdy base for anchoring the vanity.

Step 3. Position The New Vanity
Slide the vanity into place, following the outline you drew and aligning the holes you just cut with the pipes. Use a level to make sure the unit is straight and even on all sides. If it's not, place wooden shims underneath.

• If the vanity isn't level, it's probably not the unit that's to blame. Often the culprit is an uneven floor.

Step 4. Secure The Vanity
Fasten the vanity to the wall using washers and 3'' wood screws (recheck for levelness before tightening). Seal its entire top edge to the wall with a bead of latex caulk.

• If you removed the vanity doors, replace them now.
• Don't forget about the shims. Use a chisel and hammer to carefully trim away portions that protrude.
• If the shims are large, hide them by placing decorative molding along the bottom of the cabinet, using finishing nails to secure.

(To install the sink and fixtures, click here for a step-by-step guide.)

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Update Your Bathroom with Paint

Painting your bathroom is one of the quickest, easiest and most affordable methods to give your bathroom a fresh, new look. And nothing makes a bigger impact than color - especially in a small bathroom, where there's limited space for decorative furnishings and accessories.

Colorful walls can create a feeling of size or warmth, and can also help fixtures blend with their surroundings. Choose colors to match or complement other rooms in your home, or simply because you like them. As with clothing, light or neutral colors make things look larger, while darker colors have the opposite effect. Warm, sunny shades make rooms seem intimate and inviting, while cool colors, like those found in the ocean and sky, create a sense of quiet, rest and relaxation. For more color assistance, pick up Idea Cards filled with the latest colors and palettes at your local True Value store, and ask a Certified Color Expert® to recommend a True Value EasyCare® paint to meet your needs.

More Bathroom Painting Tricks
If you're looking for more decorating illusions, consider faux painting. With a can or two of True Value Simply Glaze® mixed with True Value EasyCare® paint, you can add depth and texture by sponge painting, or add drama by antiquing or marbling. Painting vertical stripes or stenciling a border along the top of the wall draws the eye upward and creates the illusion of height - and stencils come in handy for decorating walls, windows, radiators and moldings, too.

(When you're ready to start painting, click here for the how-to's)

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Let There Be Light

Are you in the dark about your lighting options? You can use light to enhance ambiance and mood in your bathroom. For example, add a warm glow to a small space by adding a pair of decorative sconces. Overhead lighting controlled by a dimmer switch adds ambient lighting (if your taste and budget allow, recessed lighting is a fashionable option). And don't forget task lighting around mirrors.

• Is your bathroom too dark? Consider buying a fixture that provides more illumination than your existing one (or maybe it just needs higher watt bulbs). If it has frosted globes, replace them with clear ones that reflect more light.

More Quick Fixes for Big Results 

Eliminate Clutter

Bathrooms in model homes don't have lots of stuff lying around - why should yours? Get rid of unwanted items in the medicine cabinet, on the counter and under the sink, and stash everything else out of sight in cosmetic bags and/or storage bins, or display them in attractive containers on the counter.

• You have many storage options to choose from, including functional and space-saving items like turntables or pull out boxes, drawers or decorative containers to enhance the room. Make sure you have enough space to accommodate containers so they don't end up adding to the clutter.
• Store cleaning supplies in a portable plastic container under the sink or on a high shelf.

• If you have small children, always secure all cabinets, drawers and the toilet with childproof latches.

Buy New Hardware

Replace old, dingy or just plain boring hinges, doorknobs and drawer pulls with new ones to instantly give your bathroom a fresh new look.

Accessorize
Fashionable rugs, shower curtains, window treatments and towels are easy on the budget, but provide lots of color and design interest. Eye-catching wall art and vases reflect your unique personality. If space allows, add a chest, armoire or comfortable chair to make the room more inviting.

For more project ideas, visit the Project Library > 

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