By Roberta Pescow

When budget matters, do-it-yourself bathroom upgrades can be a simple, inexpensive way to dramatically improve your bathroom’s curb appeal. Here are six projects you can do on your own without hiring a contractor or buying expensive equipment.

1. Install a plug-in towel warmer

• Cost: Around $ 60 (basic) to $ 700 (high end).
• Difficulty: Moderate.

A warm, fluffy towel after a shower is delicious, and with today’s plug-in towel warmers, you don’t need electrical skills to install one yourself. These heaters plug into your existing outlet, so all you need is a drill, stud finder, and level to attach these light fixtures to your wall.

With a huge choice of designs, materials and features, towel warmer prices vary widely. While you can pay hundreds of dollars for a high-end towel warmer, more basic models only cost $ 60. Those with temperature controls and timers tend to fall on the more expensive side.

2. Replace cabinet hardware

• Cost: About $ 10 to a few hundred dollars.
• Difficulty: Easy.

The visual impact of simply replacing knobs, handles and handles on bathroom cabinets is simply amazing. All of that work shouldn’t be more than a few hundred dollars – and for some bathrooms, it can be less than $ 10.

Cabinet hardware is available in countless colors, textures and designs, and in a multitude of materials ranging from chrome and wood to plastic and ceramic.

Since this is a replacement project, no drilling is required; you will just need a screwdriver. To make sure your project runs smoothly, be sure to choose handles that are the same size as the ones you are replacing so that the existing holes in your vanity cabinet line up exactly with your new hardware.

>> Additionally, from Robert Powell’s Daily Retreat in the street: Why your home is a key part of your retirement plan

3. Go green with a dual-flush converter kit

• Cost: About $ 25.
• Difficulty: Moderate.

If you’ve wanted to reduce water wastage, a dual-flush toilet may already be on your wishlist. But you don’t have to spend around $ 500 to $ 700 to have a brand new toilet installed when you can easily connect a dual-flush converter kit to your existing toilet for around $ 25.

Be aware that while many dual-flush kits advertise that they can be installed without tools, the requirements may vary depending on the toilet model. In some cases, you might need certain tools, such as pliers, a screwdriver, and an adjustable wrench. Either way, the job should take less than an hour and you’ll know you’ve done something good for the planet.

4. Replace your shower head

• Cost: About $ 25 to $ 250.
• Difficulty: Easy.

Replacing your old shower head yourself is one of the easiest ways to turn showering into a true spa experience, while saving hundreds of dollars on plumbing costs. From rainfall showerheads to massage models, dual heads and even colorful LED lighting, there is a showerhead to suit every taste and budget.

>> Home improvement projects that offer you the best return on investment

Shower heads can cost as little as $ 25, although the more sophisticated are more expensive. To install your new purchase, simply remove the old shower head, clean the area, and screw in the new unit.

5. Install a bidet toilet seat

• Cost: About $ 60 to $ 500.
• Difficulty: Moderate.

A bidet toilet seat, a popular overseas bathroom accessory but less common in the United States, is a toilet paper alternative designed to spray your butt with water. With features like warming, adjustable water pressure, and even night lights, it can make your bathroom more luxurious – and it doesn’t require replacing your toilet. Starting at around $ 60, bidet toilet seats connect to your existing electrical outlets and plumbing. The job should take about half an hour and requires simple household tools like a screwdriver and wrench.

6. Add a coat of paint

• Cost: $ 20 to $ 100 per gallon for paint; $ 10 to $ 20 per gallon for primer; $ 10 to $ 100 for other supplies, such as paintbrushes, rollers, tray, drop cloths, painter’s tape, and a ladder.
• Difficulty: Moderate.

Painting bathroom walls can change the overall look of the room, but it does require a little preparation and patience. Before you begin, you’ll need drop cloths, a tray, painter’s tape, a ladder, brushes, and rollers handy. Expect the job to take a few days as you will have to wait for the primer to dry before applying the paint.

This article is reprinted with permission from NerdWallet.

More from NerdWallet

Roberta Pescow is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: [email protected]