'I transformed bathroom I hated for £400 after after ignoring handyman's advice'

The moment I set eyes on my tiny house, I was instantly charmed - all except for the bathroom, which I detested with a passion. My initial thought upon receiving the keys was to completely overhaul the bathroom and replace it with a brand new one, complete with classic flooring and chic tiles.

Unfortunately, as I'm neither rich nor blessed with a Sugar Daddy, my dreams of renovating the bathroom had to be put on hold. I channelled my energy into transforming the rest of my house into a snug home, but the condition of the bathroom continued to irk me. The tiles were large, ill-fitted white squares, and the grout had been clumsily coloured in with a grey grout pen in an attempt to make them look less dull and worn out.

In place of a proper shower rail, there was a plastic curtain pole stuck up - *shudders*. The floor was adorned with vinyl black tiles that didn't quite reach the skirting boards, giving the entire room a neglected and uncared-for look.

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I was convinced that swapping the old, misaligned tiles with beautiful new ones would significantly enhance the room's aesthetics - and my feelings towards it.

I reached out to my reliable handyman for a quote to replace the existing tiles with some new ones I'd spotted at B&Q. He suggested it would be more worthwhile to purchase an entirely new bathroom suite if I was considering going through the hassle of re-tiling.

I explained that my budget didn't stretch to a full renovation, but I had set aside some funds for new tiles. He didn't seem overly enthusiastic or enthralled by my plan.

It seemed as though he wasn't interested in the job unless it involved a complete overhaul. Eventually, he quoted me £650. "To take the tiles off and re-tile them?" I asked. He shook his head. "No," he said. "That's just to tile. You'll have to remove the old tiles yourself and I'll need you to buy the grout, too."

This was not the price - or the amount of work - I had anticipated. I decided to ask my friends if they knew any tilers who could do the job for me.

I received the contact details of a local tiler who provided a quote of £280. This included removing the old tiles, installing the new ones, and supplying all necessary materials. Obviously, I booked him immediately.

I purchased seven boxes of Johnson Tiles Veneto Green Gloss Ceramic Indoor Wall tiles from B&Q. Priced at £14 per box of 50, the total came to £98.

As soon as the tiler began his work, I was confident we'd made the right decision. The bathroom now boasts floor-to-ceiling tiles on two walls, creating a light, fresh, and stylish look that has completely transformed the space.

To enhance the revamped aesthetic, I swapped out the unsightly curtain pole for a vintage-style round rail from Argos, a steal at just £15. Given our low bathroom ceiling, finding a suitable rail was challenging, so this find was particularly satisfying.

While the rail is decent, it needed additional support, so I ordered an cheap silver curtain pole holder that could be screwed into the ceiling. I also replaced our shower head with a Victorian-style one, costing £17.

The total expenditure for materials and labour was around £410, and the result is a bathroom that looks new!

Achieving such a transformation for less than £500 is a feat I'm incredibly proud of. My tiler, Ged, has been so impressive that I've shared his contact details with several friends and even strangers who expressed interest after seeing the transformation on TikTok - all of whom have booked him for their own projects.