Eight Ideas for Easy Bathroom Upgrades

With people spending more time at home, upgrades and renovations are all the rage right now. But did you know that you can still breathe new life into your house without taking on a major project? Here are eight ideas to give your bathroom a boost without spending a fortune.

Health & Safety

If your bathroom doesn’t have proper ventilation, you will end up with mold and mildew growing on the walls and ceiling. A replacement fan will cost under $100 and you can install it yourself to ensure that the moisture caused by the shower is being extracted properly. Remember, you’ll need to measure the bathroom first to ensure you get the right fan for the job. 

Environmentally Friendly

If you want to do your part for the environment, you can update your bathroom with water-saving fixtures. Both Lowes and Home Depot carry eco-friendly lines that can cut water flow by upwards of 30 percent, making for a healthier planet and a happier utility bill. 

Neat & Tidy

If you can’t stand cleaning the shower, this one's for you. Today you can find shower doors that are finished with a water-resistant coating that sheds the droplets that leave unsightly little stains. If you’re constantly walking around with a squeegee in hand, this upgrade might just make your weekend cleaning routine just a little easier. 

Semi-Custom

If you’re looking to replace your cabinetry, take a look at some of the semi-custom options available from the major retailers. There are even companies that spruce up IKEA cabinets to make it look more personalized and stylish. If you can’t afford to replace the cabinets, a new lick of paint can breathe new life into old wood.

Get Organized

If your cabinets are in good shape but they are tough to reach or annoying to get into, a cabinet organizer might be for you. Most systems include sliding surfaces which make reaching items in the back a whole lot easier. No more digging in the dark. 

Lights and Mirrors

Dated mirrors or lighting fixtures can bring a bathroom down. Kick it up a notch and keep an eye on the sales flyers for accent pieces to give your bathroom a boost for very little effort.

Counters

Granite countertops are a pricey remodeling project, but these days you can get the look for less by getting creative. Talk to your local countertop expert about where to look for remnant slabs, or consider cheaper options like a preformed laminate finish.

Spa Touches

Make your shower more luxurious by replacing the old head. I personally love a rain shower, but a handheld sprayer can feel great after a long day and it makes cleaning a cinch. You can also replace your old shower curtain with a more modern update for less than $20. You won’t believe how a little change can make a big difference. 

This list is just the tip of the iceberg and I bet you have a few creative ideas on how to update your bathroom for less. I’d love to hear from you. Send me a message on Facebook at www.facebook.com/odonnellbros.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Home is Where the Money Is

With so many questions about what our future holds, there has never been more focus on life at home. A place for us to work, play, and rest, homeowners are becoming increasingly interested in a multi-functional space that can feel both comfortable and luxurious at the same time. Factor in soaring real estate prices and our investment in where we live makes a lot of sense. Thinking about an upgrade yourself? Here are five home design trends that aren’t going away anytime soon. 

Entertaining Spaces

While the state is open for business and the worst of COVID-19 seems past us, there are still many people who are limiting their time in public places. Intimate dinner parties and gatherings at home will be more popular than ever before, especially as the weather cools and the holidays get closer. With people spending time in their houses, focusing on dining rooms and spaces within the home to gather is an interior trend that we’ll be seeing a lot more of. 

Home Offices

Even though many businesses are back open, plenty of office workers will be staying put, opting to work from home at least part time. Home offices will continue to be a focus for families who need a place to work quietly away from the happenings in the rest of the house. From converted closets to basement renos to small additions, this is a trend that people value both from a real estate and a sanity perspective.

Indoor Outdoor 

Warm weather has given us plenty of opportunities to relax, dine, and entertain outside. But as we all know, these Connecticut summers fade into autumn quickly. I have been getting a lot of calls for french doors and large scale windows, which make rooms look bigger and give the feeling of the outside indoors. Recently, I helped my son-in-law rebuild a three-season porch for an extra living area that will serve their family well into the fall. For many people, nature brings a feeling of calm which we could all use plenty more of.

Bright Accents

Incorporating yellow into your home decor is a great way to brighten up a space without having to commit to a major overhaul. Taking inspiration for the 2021 Pantone Color of the Year, Illuminating, many interior designers are loving a pop of sunshine indoors. From throw pillows to artwork, using bold yellow as an accent is sure to lighten the mood. 

Supporting Local

COVID has had a huge impact on small business owners and local craftsmen, which makes now the time to support the people in your area who are building, making, and creating. In addition to having something in your home that is handmade, you also get an opportunity to allow local talent to keep doing what they do best. The next time you need supplies, decor, or materials, consider a small scale operation in your community.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Crabgrass Begone

With a ton of rain, very high humidity, and hot temperatures, weeds are having a veritable field day this summer. For those of us who love a beautiful lawn, crabgrass is enemy number one and it’s loving every bit of the weird and wild weather we are having.

Crabgrass is just like other weeds in that it likes to take over. Once crabgrass gets its roots down, it spreads quickly, killing healthy grass in its path. Of course, crabgrass dies on its own when it starts to turn cold, but not treating it means it’s more likely to come back. Here’s what you can do today to get rid of it and keep it from ruining your lawn next year. 

The best course of action for crabgrass is a pre-emergent, but that’s only good in the spring before the crabgrass starts to grow, so if you missed it, it looks like you’ll be pulling by hand. That’s right, get out that kneepad because the best way to remove any weed is to pull it out, ensuring the roots come with it. The recent rain should have loosened those roots up a bit so now is as good a time as any.

Once you have the crabgrass out, you can fill in the bare spots with healthy grass seed and plenty of water. It’s important to wait to reseed if you’ve recently sprayed your lawn with weed killer. Water is also key here because the heat does make it tough for grass to grow. 

Now for your mowing. It’s best to keep the grass a bit longer and to let the clippings stay in place to give some nutrients and shade back into the lawn. Three inches is a good, healthy length for both old and new grass.  

If you’re looking for a chemical solution, you can use a post-emergent, but this can be tricky as the wrong product will kill your grass. When in doubt, it’s best to leave this job to a professional landscaper who can advise you on the most appropriate course of action. You don’t want to accidentally burn your whole lawn while trying to save it. 

Don’t forget, treating your lawn with a pre-emergent in the spring is the best way to avoid crabgrass in the first place. Crabgrass starts to germinate when the soil reaches 55 degrees, so it’s a good idea to get out there in April to ensure that your hard work is worth the effort.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.