Bathroom looking a little blah, but not sure what to do about it? No worries – these simple bathroom makeover ideas are sure to get your most essential room ready before you can say "grande double skinny caramel latte please" Monday morning.

Details, Details
It’s easy to be tempted to jump right into the fun part, but before you pick up that paintbrush, you’ll need to attend to a few minor details. Starting out clean is a must, and running a damp rag over surface areas will ensure you won’t find any painted over surprises later. If your bathroom project looks anything like mine, you may also have a few holes to fill in from previous fixtures. Word to the wise – be careful pulling anything out of the wall that doesn’t want to come out. Pull too hard, and you might end up with a hole that needs to be patched instead of spackled (in other words, a really big hole).

Overhaul Your Vanity
My 1970s-style house came with 1970s-style bathroom vanity, so that, of course had to go. I thought about replacing it altogether, but decided to go the easy and cheap route, so I painted it. Two coats of primer and three coats of dark brown paint later, I had a new, sleek-looking vanity. I also ‘undid’ the old-fashioned routed designs on the doors by filling them in with plaster before painting, and then added a couple coats of white to the interior to really finish it nicely – and to get rid of that pesky old cabinet smell.

Add a Little Color
Painting your bathroom walls is the fastest way to make a noticeable difference in your space, and choosing the right color really depends on your taste. It seems the overall consensus is the master bath should remain fairly neutral, but you have a little room to get funky with color in the guest bath. I used an earthy orange color for mine, and the end result was really fresh and modern. Also, when choosing a paint finish, it’s good to err on the side of glossy (such as eggshell) for ease of cleaning – or you might think about using a mold and moisture-resistant paint for your bathroom.

Get Some New Bling
I happily traded my outdated, gold cabinet hardware for new, brushed nickel hinges and knobs – and after a little poking and prodding, learned that I could use the existing drill holes to easily attach the new hardware. I also replaced the towel ring, towel bar, shower rod, and TP holder with more modern, yet affordable alternatives. 

Accessorize
Now that all the grunt work is out of the way, it’s time to add the finishing touches. You can replace the shower curtain to match your new motif, add a coordinating soap dispenser and wastebasket, introduce some matching towels, lay a new bath rug, hang some artwork, and even replace the toilet seat. Sky’s the limit (or the ceiling, floor, and four walls). For my project, I also thought about mounting a couple glass shelves over the commode for a stylish way to add storage or to display some decorative knickknacks.

Now, if you’re willing to put in just a little more money and effort, the ReStore has some great options for ready-made vanities, pedestal sinks, cabinet bottoms, cabinet doors for refacing, granite tops, vessel bowls, as well as a variety of tile and lighting fixtures, and yes, even toilets.

Here are a few links to get the wheels turning:
HGTV Chic, Cheap Bathroom Makeover
About.com's Bathroom Makeover in a Weekend
Simple Bathroom Makeovers from Vern Yip
HGTV Bathroom Designer's Portfolio