The typical hall bathroom in a Lakeland home built in the 1970s or 1980s is about five feet by eight: tub along the back wall, toilet and a single vanity in a row. Small does not mean cheap in proportion — the room still has a toilet, a tub or shower, a vanity, tile, wiring and a fan — but it does mean every choice shows. A small-bath remodel is mostly about fixtures that fit, storage that does not crowd the floor, and light.

  • Fixtures replaced in the existing layout to control cost
  • Wall-hung or narrow-depth vanity to open up floor space
  • Recessed niche and medicine cabinet for storage inside the wall
  • Brighter, layered lighting and a quiet, properly vented fan
  • Larger-format tile and a clear glass panel to make the room read bigger

What a small bathroom costs

HomeAdvisor's ranges are $1,500 to $15,000 for a half bath and $3,500 to $20,000 for a full bath. A half bath has no tub or shower, which is why it is the least expensive room to redo. In a small full bath, the tub or shower and its tile account for much of the budget, and labor is a larger share than in a big room because the trades have little space to work in.

Where to spend and where to save

Spend on what is hard to change later: the waterproofing, the valve inside the wall, the exhaust fan and good tile work. Save on what is easy to replace: mirrors, towel bars, light fixtures, cabinet hardware and paint. A stock vanity with a good top can look as good as custom in a room this size. Keeping the toilet and tub where they are is the single biggest saving.

Making a small room feel larger

A clear glass panel instead of a shower curtain or frosted door lets the eye travel to the back wall. One tile carried across the floor and up the walls reduces visual breaks. A wall-hung vanity shows more floor. A pocket door or an outward-swinging door frees the space a door needs to open. None of these moves a wall, and together they change how the room feels.

Common small bathroom remodels situations in Lakeland

  • A dated hall bath with original tile and a failing vanity
  • No storage, with everything on the counter
  • One dim light and a fan that does little
  • A door that hits the toilet or vanity
  • A half bath that needs freshening before selling

Small Bathroom Remodels FAQs

Can I remodel a bathroom for $5,000?

A half bath, or a cosmetic refresh of a small full bath — new vanity, toilet, flooring, paint, lighting and fixtures with the tub or shower left in place — can be done near that figure. A full remodel with a new tub or shower and tile usually costs more; HomeAdvisor's range for a full bath starts around $3,500 and runs to $20,000.

What is the correct order to remodel a bathroom?

Demolition; rough plumbing and electrical; inspection; insulation and backer board; waterproofing; tile; paint; then the vanity, toilet, fixtures and glass. Doing finish work before the rough work is inspected is the classic mistake, because it may have to be opened up again.

This content is reviewed by the Lakeland Bathroom Remodeling editorial team and informed by licensed-contractor sourcing, manufacturer documentation, and established industry standards for Bathroom Remodeling. Read our editorial standards.