10 Tips to a Successful Bathroom Renovation
Are you undergoing a bathroom renovation and are unsure where to start? Let us help you! Here are our best tips and tricks to help you:
1. Ask Questions Before You Start
Before you get to the fun part of designing your dream bathroom, make sure you are considering your needs. You need to ask the right questions to know what will work best for you. What is your daily routine? This will impact your layout. How many people will be using the room? You'll need to decide: double sinks and mirrors or one. How much can you spend? It’s always best to budget first. And don’t forget the most important question: What do you not like about your bathroom now? Think about why you are redesigning in the first place! This is essential to make sure you don’t make the same mistakes with this new redesign. Asking questions is also important when you are working with other people. When you’re functioning as the general contractor—or even working with a general contractor—you have to spell out every part of the plan, and never assume everyone is up to speed!
2. Bathtub vs. Shower
This is one of the first things you should consider when designing your bathroom as it will be a major factor in determining your floor plan. If you have the room, a freestanding tub is great for resale value in a kid-friendly neighborhood. But if your space isn't big enough for both a spacious walk-in shower and a bath, a shower is best. Choosing a shower over a shower/tub combo is most cost effective, because it would make use of the space that’s there. For high-end property, there might also be a nice soaking tub in there, but the walk-in shower is the top priority. It is most important, however, to consider what is best for you! Do you take baths often but don’t have room for a shower and tub? Consider a shower/tub combo.
3. Design Lighting with Intention
Flattering lighting requires planning whether you have a wide open space or a tiny bathroom. Bathrooms require extra care to light well because they’re small and the angles of light reflection from mirrors can cause additional complications. The best approach to a well-lit space is to incorporate layers of task, accent, ambient and decorative lighting. Just make sure that the light temperature and intensity are the same.
4. Don’t Forget About Ventilation
The last thing you want is to develop mold after an expensive bathroom renovation. This begins with removing moisture. To do that it’s best to have a multifaceted approach: a properly sized window or a bathroom exhaust fan. You can event opt for a sleek, nearly invisible bathroom ceiling fan that will exhaust all the damp air outside without appearing bulky.
5. Utilize Mirrors to Their Full Potential
Most people think of mirrors in bathrooms only for the purpose of checking makeup or hair, but it is also important to think of their part in your greater bathroom design. Mirrors can expand the room visually and add light to the room. If you have a smaller bathroom, consider going for a larger mirror above the sink to expand your space. Go as tall and as wide as possible to maximize the effect. Many homeowners even like to add a second mirror!
6. Make Storage a Priority
Storage, storage, storage! It is very important to consider every storage option you have when it comes to making the most of your bathroom renovation, especially if you are working with a smaller space. Build Niches and Recesses For Extra Room. Consider an in-shower niche, think about a thoughtfully planned vanity, and don’t forget the potential in your walls. Floating shelves, a mirror cabinet, towel racks and hooks, and a built-in linen closet will all come in handy. Be sure to look for these storage opportunities when drawing up your plans to make them feel integrated instead of added-on.
7. Use Color to Your Advantage
Color is one of the most important aspects of your bathroom design. Not only is important to bring yourself into your space, but you need to make sure the color is adding to your design. If you're working in a small space, consider neutrals with very little contrast, as dark colors make the room feel smaller, claustrophobic. And always think twice about painting your bathroom ceiling any color but white or off-white, as this tends to shrink the room down even more. That isn't to say you can't experiment with bold colors, but a neutral color palette will make your small bathroom appear wider and more open. Don’t forget about wallpaper! Yes, you can use wallpaper in a bathroom! The key is making sure it’s placed out of splashing range, and install proper ventilation to prevent moisture buildup. It's a great way to get a lot of look without committing to a pattern in a whole room.
Color can also extend to the grout you choose for your space. To choose the best grout for you, consider these questions: Do you want the grout to stand out, or blend into the tile? Is the grout in a high splash zone, or a fairly dry place? If it’ll be getting wet a lot, as in a shower stall, opt for synthetic grout; go for cementitious grout everywhere else. Will dirty grout drive you crazy? If so, avoid white.
8. Details Are Key
When it comes to details in your bathroom, there are 3 major things to consider: finishes, outlets, and decoration.
Finishes: Because bathrooms are usually smaller spaces, splurging on a few higher-end materials and finishes can be a good investment that can make your space seem very luxurious.
Outlets: you don’t want to get to the end of a renovation and realize you’ve forgotten to consider the outlets. Outlets are one of the must crucial things in your bathroom. Consider adding them in your medicine cabinet or in the vanity drawers. It is always better to have more! You can get decorative outlet covers or paint them to match your wall to hide them in your space.
Decorations: It is essential that your decorations match your design style to avoid a cluttered look. The rule of thumb is to keep the decor minimal especially in a small space. Plants in the bathroom should not be an afterthought. Plants bring much-needed color into sterile bathrooms.
9. Know the Cost
Before you begin any project, it’s important to put your expectations into perspective when it comes to how much money you’re willing to invest and how much things are going to cost. The average cost of a bathroom remodel was $11,364 in 2016, according to the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA). A basic, low-grade renovation with less expensive materials or smaller swaps could run from $1,500 to $5,000, while a top-of-the-line, tip-to-toe renovation could run up to $23,000. NKBA estimates that, broken down, most of this cost comes from fixtures and plumbing (about 29 percent), followed by counters and surfaces (21 percent), labor (20 percent), and cabinetry and hardware (16 percent). Keep in mind: they advise that, all told, your bathroom project should cost no more than 5 to 10 percent of your home’s value.
A good way to make it more affordable is to avoid the complete renovation. Again, make sure you consider what you want to change. Do the layout work for you? Do you love everything but the color? Is there a way to get what you want with out starting over? Consider a smaller change like updating the tile, changing the lighting fixtures, or swapping your shower curtain for a glass door. Also remember that if you can avoid changing the pluming and wiring, you can a save lot!
10. Contact Cal and Lulu for Help!
Don’t feel like you have to do this process by yourself. Find a general contractor, interior decorator, or just a really plumber/electrician to assist you along the way. Cal and Lulu has affordable contacts for all aspect of a renovation. We also can help you find affordable products that look just as nice as the top-of-the-line options!
Do you have any other great ideas to add to this list? Contact us to let us know! And don’t forget to contact Cal and Lulu Designs before your next bathroom renovation!
