What You Need To Know Before Remodeling Your Bathroom

A bathroom is an integral room of your house, but it’s also one than can become outdated very quickly if you’re not smart with your design choices. Whether you are remodelling your bathroom for aesthetic appeal or practical reasons, you absolutely have to do your research beforehand. Otherwise, you may find yourself shocked by overages you didn’t expect and reno deadlines you can’t meet.

To help relieve some stress, lessen the chance of a costly mistake, and save a few dollars, here are some of the crucial details you need to consider before jumping into the project.

Expect To Spend Thousands of Dollars

Although bathrooms often take up less square footage than other rooms, the national average to remodel a small bathroom is $6,500 USD. However, the cost can go up significantly based on other factors, such as:

• Location of the bathroom: There is often additional work and resulting costs if the bathroom is on the second floor or the basement.
• Type of remodelling: Structural remodelling like relocating existing fixtures or adding new ones can increase the cost.
• Size of the bathroom: The bigger the room, the more expensive the project will be.
• Labour costs: You have to pay the contractor and the workers hourly rates, which can go up depending on the remodelling project’s size.

Determine what you can and want to spend and then stick to the budget, scaling back or saving longer if you need to. You also need to put aside part of your budget for unexpected things that can arise, like water damage and mold removal. Things such as these should be taken care of by professionals, which can be costly.

Choose Practical Over Trendy

Remodelling your bathroom doesn’t come cheap, and if you want trendy items and fixtures, the price will get even higher. But trends quickly go out of style and if you design your bathroom remodel around the latest picture you saw on Pinterest, you may find yourself regretting your decision and wanting to remodel again in just a few years. Overall, it’s wiser and more economical to choose a classic, timeless style – especially if you’re planning on selling your house any time soon.

Some of the general things to consider are:

• Bold vs. neutral colours: Bold colours have a shorter lifespan, so choose neutral colours like whites, greys, and blacks instead.
• Bathroom fixtures and furnishings: Think classic designs with clean lines for any fixtures and furnishings, and choose them for their functionality and durability, not just their appearance.
• Walls and floor tiles: Make sure the wall and floor tiles complement the bathroom’s overall decor and stay away from colors that are difficult to paint over.

Details Make a Room

Layout, fixtures, and large components like the bathtub, shower, toilet, and vanity are all important when planning to remodel your bathroom. However, a room’s look and feel is heavily influenced by small details. Unique hardware, a fun shower curtain, and printed towels can all make it seem like a five-star hotel. Accessories like a big three-with candle and professional photos or artwork on the wall can add a lot of character as well, while remaining interchangeable and inexpensive.

These small details also relate to how the room functions. Consider these practical things before you jump into the project:

• Electric outlets: The positioning and number of electric outlets should allow you to plug in and use your hairdryer, electric toothbrush, clippers, and so on.
• Lighting: Big windows can help with natural light. For artificial lighting, consider the position and wattage of fixtures and bulbs.
• Flooring: Bathroom floors tend to get water on them, so choose flooring that accounts for that without leaving behind water damage.

Cut Costs Where You Can

Remodelling a bathroom is an expensive project,, but you can cut costs if you’re looking to save some money. Here are a few ways you can cut costs:

• Recycle, don’t replace: If possible, consider painting old cabinets and adding modern hardware instead of ripping them out. Similarly, look into refinishing your bathtub.
• Do your own shopping: Visit stores and buy the necessary materials yourself. By doing this, you can save on the commission that your contractor gets and the commute time that would add to labour costs.
• DIY: Consider doing some of the remodelling yourself by painting the walls, tearing out old cabinets, etc.
• Sales and discounts: Plan your renovation around a time of the year that generally sees big sales, such as Black Friday. Alternatively, check stores for deep discounts on open boxes or discontinued items, such as flooring and tiles.

Researching the details of a bathroom remodel ahead of time can end up saving you time and money, while reducing stress and helping you feel more in control of situations as they come up.