Tips and Tricks to Help You with Your Bathroom Renovation

Alongside the kitchen, the bathroom is the most popular room in the house to remodel. And due to its smaller size it can be more cost effective to update, depending on what you want to do. After a tumultuous year like 2020, being able to relax, unwind and recuperate is more important than ever, and the bathroom should be a welcoming sanctuary from the rigors of modern living. But, as with all things, there is a right and wrong way to go about it. Preparation is key for a home renovation project, and a bathroom remodel is no exception. Here is a list of tips and tricks to get your bathroom renovation started and finished without any hiccups. 

Planning and budget

Before you make any purchases or hire any contractors you need to make a plan. Make a list of essential components of your new bathroom, and a secondary list of things you want but don’t necessarily need. Ask yourself how much work you actually want to do – do you need to change the location of the bath, shower, toilet or sink? Changing plumbed items can be costly and take time. You also need to make a fairly water tight budget – for this you may need to ask the advice of a contractor and / or a plumber. It’s wise and prudent to leave 15-20% of your budget unassigned – when it comes to home renovations there are always some surprises along the way. 

Design

Design depends on the amount of space you have to work with. You shouldn’t be too ambitious if your bathroom is very small – too many features make it cramped and claustrophobic, quite the opposite effect most people have in mind. If you have the space to be ambitious there are many popular types of bathroom – a double bathroom for example will have two sinks, side by side, ideally with two vanities, and possibly even two cupboards. Wetrooms are growing in popularity, dispensing with the idea of a separate shower area, and giving a luxurious, boutique feel. Do you need a tub? If you have space, a floor standing bath is a great feature. Even if you have a more compact space, Ofuro, a Japanese style soaking tub, takes up less space.

Lighting concepts

A bathroom is both a place to relax and a practical place to wash, shave, snip and brush. So as far as lighting goes you’ll need some atmospheric lights – dimmable recessed ceiling lights, wall washing lights and dramatic spotlights to illuminate features. And you’ll need task lighting as well – but this doesn’t have to be dull and utilitarian – elegant, slimline vanity lights and well placed spots over the sink should do nicely. LED lights are the best option for your bathroom, and for your monthly energy bill. 

Flooring

Waterproof bathroom floors are quick and easy to clean. They also come in a huge variety of styles, from wood look to stone look and beyond, so there’s sure to be an option to match your preference.

Décor

This is one of the most enjoyable parts of a bathroom remodel – decorating. A splash of paint goes a long way, and we’ve seen deep, rich blues and greens dominate over the last year or so. But if you have a small bathroom it’s important not to make it too imposing, so if you want bold colors a feature wall is probably advisable. Plenty of mirrors not only gives you all the angles of your face, they also make the room bigger visually – art deco style is coming into vogue. Wallpaper is also making a comeback – 1920s or 1970s patterns especially – to give the bathroom an elegant feel. And don’t forget plants – not only do they give a sense of the outdoors, species like eucalyptus and lemongrass provide natural aromatherapy if you’re having a steamy bath or shower. 

Remodeling a bathroom is a big undertaking, but well worth it – with these tips you’ll have your own little slice of heaven right in your home. 

About The Author: Tanya is a mother and a wife. In her spare time, she loves to read books and ride bikes with her family.

Photo by Jared Rice on Unsplash