By: Whitney Hicks

Even the most beautiful bathrooms can use some updates from time to time. Did you know that besides the kitchen, your bathroom is the most influential room for return on investment in your home? Here are some great ways to spruce up your bathroom without spending a fortune. This year, start spring off with an updated bathroom at an affordable price!

Clutter
The most important and basic step in organizing a bathroom is to de-clutter! If you haven't used it in four months, get rid of it! Many times people hoard things under their cabinets and pile up what they use every day on the counters for everyone else to see. There is no need for brushes, razors, hairspray, make up, toothpaste and shaving cream to sit on top of your counter. Clear out space inside your bath cabinets and store your toiletries there, not in plain sight.

Organize what you can't live without
You can find great storage containers at an affordable price to organize all the items you use on a regular basis. If you don't have much storage space under your counters, consider buying these so you can stack and create more room for what you need.

Add new towels or shower curtain
Towels are a great and inexpensive bathroom accessory to show off. If you have an empty space on the wall, add a towel bar and a bright coordinating towel to accessorize your space. To enhance your bathroom, mix and match coordinating color towels. Add a custom shower curtain to perfectly accessorize your bathroom.

A new rug will give the room and floors a new look
Area rugs are a great way to accent a room or cover up floors that could use an update. Choose a rug that can tie your entire room together to give it a bright and revitalized feel. Rugs are a great way to create a focal point in the room and add warmth to those cold tiles when you get out of the shower.

Add a piece of furniture
Just because it's your bathroom doesn't mean it isn't worthy of decoration. If your bathroom is small, a vintage chair or small bench can make a unique towel rack and be a great eye catcher. A bathroom vanity is another good way to add character. If your bathroom is larger, add an armoire to give your bathroom a homey feel and a spot to put more items that should be out of sight.

Update your lighting
The vanity and shower are the two most important areas for bathroom lighting. If done properly, it can make a major difference in the appearance and size of your bathroom. If you have a small vanity, use side lighting to spread light evenly across your face. If your mirror is large, use lighting over the top of the vanity. If you have a glass shower that can reflect light, pick out an eye-catching fixture. For other showers, try recessed lighting depending on the size of your shower. Updating your lighting can be affordable and make a dramatic difference in the appearance and size of your bathroom.

Add some color
Last but not least, add some color to the walls! Whether you want a calm, bold, modern or trendy design, your paint colored walls can make all the difference. Bathrooms are becoming more of a place to unwind and spend time, so pick a color scheme that matches the mood you want to achieve. Coordinate towels and rugs with your wall color to tie it all together, and your bathroom renovation will be a success!