It never ceases to amaze how many people present their home for sale with a grimy bathroom that looks dated, and then wonder why they are having trouble selling.

A bathroom that doesn’t look clean immediately puts potential buyers off. Use some clever, easy ideas to update your bathroom, and you will reap the rewards.

Firstly, the bathroom should be immaculately clean and look fresh. Old-fashioned features should be replaced by modern, timeless elements.

If your budget allows, re-tiling small areas can have a huge impact. For the purpose of updating a bathroom for sale, you can’t beat large white tiles which are now available very inexpensively.
You don’t need to tile the entire wall even half the wall will give a modern appearance. Use paint on the remaining section of wall and the ceiling.

Feature tiles are generally more expensive, so if you want to add a feature tile such as a glass mosaic, just place a row of these around the top of the white tile to keep costs to a minimum.

Keep walls in pale colours to give the illusion of a larger space. Floors can be darker which is more practical.

If your budget won’t allow for new tiles, consider tile paint. New technology enables the paint to adhere to the tiles and give them a new look.
Tile paint doesn’t work as well for floors, as they are subject to more wear and tear, so you might consider re-tiling only the floor space and painting your wall tiles. Use a grout pen between tiles to freshen the appearance between existing tiles.

If your bathroom is small, a large mirror placed on the wall will give the illusion of space. You might consider using a mirror across an entire section of wall behind the vanity for example.

A frameless shower screen will also give a more spacious, up to date appearance. Replace shower curtains with a ready-made shower screen for a more appealing look.

If you have an old fashioned, coloured bath, you can purchase products to re-enamel the bath, or you can have this done professionally rather than going to the expense of replacing it.

If you do nothing else, at least update your tap ware.
Modern taps are economical and will add an instant contemporary feel to the room.

Finishing touches such as a small vase of fresh flowers, a candle burning, and fresh towels in your colour scheme will add the atmosphere that potential buyers are looking for.

Story by Juliet Love, news.com.au