Excluding the kitchen, your bathroom is probably the hardest-working room in your home. With the daily traffic and the dampness caused by hot water, it doesn't take much for the bathroom to start looking a little shabby. So we’ve put together some easy tips to make your bathroom look and feel brand new – and you can do it all in a weekend.

You may not think it at the moment, but your bathroom is an ideal setting to bring balance and serenity into your busy life. Just like a spa, you can add a calm, soothing feel to the room by choosing the right colors, décor and accessories. With just a few tips, you can change the mood of your bathroom to a peaceful space where you can unwind and revitalise.

What’s stylish, practical in small spaces, and not just another passing trend? It’s the answer to small bathrooms everywhere: the pedestal sink. Most of us have a bathroom (aka tiny closet with plumping) that is a bit shorter on space than we would ideally prefer. Which is why, finding elegant solutions that work in small spaces is something bathroom designers are always striving for.

Thinking of kicking off 2012 with a new bathroom? I tend to think that if your bathroom looks and feels good, you will feel good. It is, after all, the room which you start each day in. We’ve put together some of the top bathroom trends to help you give your bathroom a fresh kickstart.

Some people claim not to use it that much, but the bathtub could just about be the most luxurious place in your home. On a cold winter evening, after a day skiing - or an afternoon shoveling – what better way to let your muscles recover than with a good long, steamy soak?

For the people whose bathtub is reduced to functioning solely as a shower floor, a bathtub repair or update may be the thing to restore an appreciation for bath time.

Refinish, Line, or Replace?

Sprucing up your bathing area can be as minimal as filling in a few cracks, or as extensive as a complete bathroom remodel. But if your tub is looking truly washed out, you’ve got a few other options - replacing the tub completely, installing a liner or simply refinishing.

It may be the smallest room in your house, but the bathroom should not be underestimated. It’s an extremely personal space, and is therefore one that many people enjoy indulging in. It’s also been proven as a wise area for investment in terms of getting a return on your money. The range of materials and design features you can include in your bathroom has never been bigger. When deciding on features, remember to think realistically about how you will use the space, since not everybody’s idea of bliss is the same.

The good news is that, with the economy still struggling to get back on its feet, prices for building material have dropped significantly.  So right now is a great time to plan some of those bathroom renovations you have been putting off.

The following 10 tips will help you complete your bathroom renovation with the minimum cost required to ensurte good quality.