Designing a new bathroom is a lot easier said than done.
Once you have a clear vision of the renovations you’d like to do, you need to research a few things before you start putting all the pieces together in your bathroom. After all, the last thing you want is to tear your bathroom apart and end up making a bunch of mistakes during the renovation process.
Here are eight bathroom renovation tips to keep in mind before you get to work.
1. Go in with a Plan
A good remodeling plan requires a lot more than choosing new paint colors and deciding where you want everything to go. You have to make sure all the changes will fit in the space you’re working with by taking measurements and considering the setup of the room.
It’s also good to take note of where the plumbing lines are and how each piece of the bathroom works together. For example, you don’t want to place the toilet so that it’s directly facing the door, and it’s not the best idea to go overboard with the vanity, either.
2. Save, Save, Save
The more time you spend planning your bathroom renovation, the more likely you are to save yourself some money. Go over the materials and costs over and over until you’re sure you’ve saved every penny possible.
Then, think about how you can save even more. Maybe you can repurpose some of your old wood furniture to be the new countertop you want. Or, maybe you can find cheap, unused bathroom tiles online instead of paying full price in a home improvement store.
There are certain items that are worth making a bigger investment in for more value. But, more often than not you can save your money without compromising quality if you know where to look.
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3. Prioritize Function Over Form
Speaking of where to look, don’t get so caught up in the aesthetics of your new bathroom that you forget about the function. As much as you want everything to look good, all the pieces of the bathroom also have to work well together.
Take the flooring for example. Wood floors may look amazing in your home, but they’re not the smartest choice in the bathroom. They can easily wear out because of all the water that ends up on the bathroom floor.
Similarly, you don’t really need to splurge on putting mosaic tile in the bathroom if it looks better as a kitchen backsplash. Not to mention, that would be a lot of extra work on your end for a small benefit.
4. Think “Up”
Another way to think about good form is to think “up.” This is especially helpful in small bathrooms that seem like they don’t have a lot of space at first. All you have to do is get a little creative to design the ultimate storage areas that look and feel good.
Hang plenty of hooks on the walls and set up shelves wherever you can. Use natural elements or stagger the shelves if you want to create more texture in the room. Or, use freestanding ladder shelves for an eye-catching alternative to traditional shelves.
This gives you all the space you need to hang towels and store essential toiletries, even if the bathroom doesn’t allow for a lot of counter space or too much walking room.
5. Try to Take on Something Easier than Tile
Keep in mind that sometimes the look you’re going for isn’t worth all the work and time certain renovations require — like tiling the bathroom. It’s a lot easier to use wallpaper or some sort of trim on the walls than it is to tile the entire room.
Your renovation is sure to take longer than expected if you try to tile the whole thing yourself. It’s a painstakingly particular process, and all it takes is one tile error to make you go back over a certain area or redo the whole project altogether.
6. Don’t Mess with the Plumbing
As annoying as a tiling setback would be, imagine having a plumbing issue on your hands. The best way to avoid this is not to mess with the plumbing in the first place.
Keep all the major aspects of the bathroom — the toilet, tub, shower, and sink(s) — where they are. Work around them as best as you can so you don’t find yourself struggling to understand and fix the plumbing in the room.
7. Get Professional Support
If you absolutely can’t deal with where the toilet is in your bathroom right now or you were really hoping to get a double sink, you need to get professional support. Call a licensed contractor to do the job for you.
This may seem like a big investment at first, but it’s worth every penny. Having contractors take on the big jobs ensures they get done the right way the first time around. It also gives you a bit of a break to step out of the bathroom and rest from the renovation, which means you’ll be refreshed when it’s time to keep working.
8. Renovate with the Home’s Value in Mind
The final tip to consider before you renovate your bathroom is who you’re renovating for. If you don’t see yourself in this home for more than 5 years, your renovation should really be done with the future homeowners in mind.
You want it to be a space that boosts the overall value and appeal of the home so that you can get a good price when you sell.
If you feel like this house is going to be your home for a long time, though, you have more of a free range to do whatever you’d like. It’s still a good idea to keep the bathroom renovation tips above in mind. But, you do have a lot more room to play with different ideas since you don’t have to worry about what anyone else will think of it.
Put These Bathroom Renovation Tips to the Test
Reading about bathroom renovation tips and using them when you go to remodel are not the same thing. It’s best to adhere to expert advise as much as possible. This ensures your DIY renovation goes smoothly, and it helps you understand when you’ve gone too far and need a contractor to come in and help out.
For more home remodeling tip and tricks, click here.
