It's time to finally renovate your bathroom! Now that you're ready to start, it's important to first go over the top priorities to consider so you get the bathroom you've always dreamed of. We're sharing our top bathroom renovation ideas and what you need to consider before jumping into your project.
Make a Bathroom Renovation Plan
Budget
If you don't already know, you should work up an idea of how much you want to spend on your bathroom renovation. Setting up a budget will help guide you as you make decisions about how to renovate your bathroom and what to include in the remodel. Once you've figured out what you can spend and also subtracted the amount allocated for labor, you'll have a clearer sense of what you can spend on flooring, fixtures and extras.
Your Family's Lifestyles and Needs
The larger the family, the more storage space and range of equipment are required. Going over this is important when establishing storage needs and the type of fixtures and furniture to include. If more than one person uses the bathroom at a time, the layout should be planned accordingly - possibly accounting for two sinks, two mirrors, etc.
Or, if a family member has specific physical needs (wheelchair, walking aid) or perhaps you're thinking of your own mobility in a few years' time, apply a few universal design rules, which in the design industry they call "aging in place".
Consider Time
Many people assume that if they're remodeling a small bathroom, it will only take a few days, or that it will take a much shorter amount of time than a larger one. This isn't necessarily the case. Depending on how many items you're changing in the bathroom, your contractor will have to go through all the same steps as a larger bathroom.
However, planning refers to not only defining the duration of the renovation but also certain intermediate steps such as ordering and purchasing tiles, fixtures, custom-built vanity or cabinets to make sure they can be delivered when your contractor needs them. Planning time is also crucial for those with only one bathroom in their house as they will have to decide where to take a shower and use the toilet while the bathroom is being taken apart.
Design Style
When first starting out by thinking about the look you want for your bathroom, there are many factors to consider (like paint color, tile choices, vanities, showers, tubs, faucets, etc.) It can get overwhelming very quickly so start with some research (hello, Pinterest!).
Another fun way to start is with a single item you want to feature in the bathroom and then work the rest of the decor around it.
Final Clean
The final clean should include a thorough cleaning of all the cabinetry, inside and out, ductwork, walls, floor, windows and light fixtures. Although often overlooked in the planning phase, in the case of a major renovation, you may want to consider contracting a cleaning service which means additional costs that impact your budget. If you feel up to doing it yourself, you may need to add a day or two to your initial timing.
Unexpected Surprises
As mentioned earlier, bathroom renovations are complex projects, so it's not unusual for an unexpected problem to pop up. Until you open up the walls, remove the vanity cabinet and tear up the old flooring, you can't predict what you're going to find.
However, you can reduce the risk. When contractors arrive to bid on the job, ask them to check for any hidden signs of trouble. Or, for a more thorough assessment, hire a home inspector or building engineer to check for damage or code violations. If the bathroom floor is accessible from below, remove the insulation to give the pros a clear, unobstructed view of the underside of the subfloor and plumbing pipes. Identifying any problems early on allows you to budget to them, thus avoiding cost overruns.
How to Renovate Your Bathroom
Flooring
Bathroom floors need to be water and moisture-resistant. Some materials are particularly suitable for this purpose:
- Ceramic tile is versatile and hard-wearing. It's also stain-resistant, it withstands bumps and scratches, and repels water and moisture. Tiles can be arranged in many different ways to create beautiful and stylish effects. However, be careful not to choose tiles with very smooth or glossy finishes, as they will become slippery and hazardous when wet.
- Stone is particularly durable, elegant and once sealed it can repel stains. Slate, marble and granite lend a highly sophisticated look.
- Vinyl and laminate come in a multitude of patterns, colors and textures; some with designs replicating ceramic and wood. They're inexpensive and easy to install, can easily be cut to shape and require very little maintenance.
For more information on the best flooring options for bathrooms, check out our other blog here.
Radiant Heat Flooring
Radiant heat beneath tiles makes your feet feel nice and toasty. But you don't need to have it throughout your house; you can simply add an electric mat to your bathroom to make feel like a relaxing spa. Now that's quite a treat for your feet!
Faucets & Shower Heads
Whether for the shower, tub or sink, there are many faucet styles and finishes to choose from—always look for quality and durability.
Shower heads come in all shapes and sizes; choose from body jets of different strengths or opt for a multiple-jet system. Fixed or hand-held, some shower heads produce a rainfall effect, while others create a sauna-like mist spray. For the bathtub, it's useful to have a hand-shower attachment for washing hair or rinsing out the tub (especially if it's a large tub).
Shower Storage & Accessories
Not only would different shower heads be a helpful part of bathroom renovation, but so would shower accessories, that's right, you read the words shower accessories. There are now linear drains that really capture water flow, niches for the wall of your shower for simple, yet helpful storage, and seats or benches to add extra comfort. To learn more about these great accessories, check out our other blog here.
Bathroom Vanities & Vanity Accessories
Remodeling is the perfect time to add storage space to your new bathroom. And like we mentioned earlier, storage is especially important if the bathroom is being shared by two or more people.
For even more helpful storage to go with your bathroom's décor, there are also bathroom vanity accessories. Yes, that's right we said accessories again--like linen cabinets, medicine cabinets and valet cabinets. To learn more about this stylish storage, check out our other blog here.
Ventilation
No room in the house needs an effective ventilation system more than the bathroom. Proper ventilation can prevent condensation from forming on floors, making them less slippery. It also helps towels dry faster so they don't get musty and smelly. And it prevents the growth of mold and mildew. Fortunately, upgrading the ventilation system is a relatively easy thing to do during the remodeling process. Just be sure to consult with the electrician early on in the design process.
Lighting
Installing the proper lighting will make your new bathroom much more attractive, warm and welcoming. Also, the most important reason to improve the lighting is to create a safer bathroom. Dimly lit, shadowy baths increase the chance of someone tripping and falling, especially the elderly, young children and those with limited mobility.
Window Treatments
When it comes to bathroom renovating, we sometimes ignore or forget the windows because of all the other parts that take top priority. It can be difficult to see them as an important part of the space, and also difficult to then choose the right window treatment. So, to help you with this, check out our other blog here.
Now that all the important parts of how to renovate your bathroom have been covered, it's time to get inspired, create a plan, and stop by one of our locations to meet with one of our talented design experts to start the exciting process!
At Avalon Flooring, we want to make sure you're happy from your first step in our showroom to your first step on your new flooring—and as your partner in home design, we'll be there every step along the way. Consider us your "One-Stop Shopping" destination for all things flooring…(and window treatments)!
Our design consultants are equipped with the knowledge to guide you through the wide selection of products we offer, and our expert installation team is professionally trained to make sure everything gets installed the way you envision. We know your home is an expression of your sense of style, and we're here to make sure you'll be proud of it for years to come.
If you have any questions, please email us.
