The Weekend Reno – Boutique Bathroom Checklist

In the UK, a tired bathroom is one of the biggest “deal-breakers” for buyers. They see limescale, discoloured grout, and dated taps and immediately subtract thousands from their offer to cover the cost of a plumber.

By tackling a Boutique Refresh, you prove the “bones” of the room are solid. On your Priority Matrix, this is a High-Impact / Low-Cost win that focuses on the “touch points” and aesthetics, giving the room a high-end hotel feel for a fraction of a full suite’s cost.

Home
How to Hub
Bathroom Renovation
The Weekend Reno – Boutique Bathroom Checklist

Phase 1: The Shopping List

The goal is a “monochrome” or “metallic” theme. Pick one finish (e.g., Brushed Gold or Matte Black) and stick to it for everything.

The Hardware Update:

New Basin & Bath Taps: Look for “Waterfall” or “Minimalist Mixer” styles.
Matching Waste/Plugs: (Don’t put shiny new taps on an old, pitted plug hole!)
Modern Shower Head & Hose: A large “rainfall” head provides an instant luxury upgrade.

The “Clean & Crisp” Kit:

LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile) Flooring: “Click-lock” tiles can be laid directly over old lino or tiles.
Grout Whitener or Grout Pen: To turn grey/yellow joins back to brilliant white.
Anti-Mould Silicone Sealant: High-quality sanitary grade (e.g., UniBond or Dow).
Modern Mirror: A large, round, or “pill-shaped” mirror with a thin black or brass frame.

Scrubbing bathroom wall tiles with limescale remover image

Phase 2: The “Spa Transformation” Weekend Plan

Saturday: The Deep Clean & Strip

09:00 – The “Deep Scour”: Scrub every inch of tile with a limescale remover.
10:00 – Sealant Removal: Use a Stanley knife and silicone remover to get rid of every scrap of old, peeling sealant around the bath and basin.
12:00 – The Grout Refresh: Apply your grout pen or whitener. This is tedious but has the single biggest visual impact on the room.
14:00 – Tap Swap: Turn off the water, unscrew the old taps, and fit your new “Boutique” versions. Tip: If your pipes use “Flexible Tap Connectors,” this is a simple 15-minute job.
16:00 – Flooring Prep: Ensure the floor is perfectly level and clean for tomorrow’s installation.

Sunday: The Luxury Finishes

10:00 – LVT Install: Lay your click-lock flooring. Because bathrooms are small, you can usually do this in 2–3 hours. Use a utility knife to trim around the toilet base.
13:00 – Silicone Mastery: Apply a fresh, smooth bead of silicone. Tip: Use a “sealant finishing tool” and a spray bottle of soapy water for a professional, curved edge.
15:00 – Hardware & Mirrors: Hang your new mirror and swap out your old toilet roll holder and towel ring to match your new taps.
17:00 – The “Hotel” Styling: Bring in a single green plant (like a Snake Plant), a fresh set of thick white towels, and a glass soap dispenser.

Boutique Bathroom Cost Estimator (2026 DIY Estimates)

Item	Estimated Cost (Low)	Estimated Cost (High)	Why the difference?
Basin & Bath Taps	£80	£220	Chrome-plated brass vs. solid brushed brass/gold.
LVT Flooring (4–5 sqm)	£60	£150	DIY-grade tiles vs. “Karndean” or premium brands.
Rainfall Shower Head	£25	£60	Universal plastic chrome vs. Weighted metal finish.
Grout & Silicone Kit	£15	£30	Basic tube vs. professional grade kits.
Designer Mirror	£30	£120	High-street (Dunelm/IKEA) vs. LED backlit/Premium.
New Hardware (Hooks/Roll)	£20	£50	Basic sets vs. weighted, branded sets.
TOTAL	£230	£630

Anthracite_radiator_paint in a bathroom image

Pro Tip for UK Reno’s:

Don’t ignore the radiator. Most UK bathrooms have a standard white “ladder” radiator that eventually rusts at the bottom. Instead of replacing it (which requires draining the system), you can buy radiator spray paint in Anthracite or Chrome for £10 to make it look brand new in 30 seconds.

Home Renovation Inspiration

Celebrating and elevating home renovation across Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds. Share your stories with us to feature them here and on our Get Ready to Reno social.