If your current bathroom doesn’t meet your needs and tastes, its renovation may be on your mind round-the-clock. You might have already created a new board on Pinterest to visualize your space after the makeover. That’s where many homeowners get into a trap of their excitement, making impulsive decisions instead of rational ones. 

An eye-catching picture may hide a zillion things that can annoy you and become unsuitable for real life. That’s why, before you get carried away by another out-of-this-world bathroom design and start ordering its key bulky elements, like a bathtub, evaluate your capabilities and actual needs. Here are a few tips to make your renovation project go smoothly.

Know Your Budget and Stick to It

No matter how small your bathroom may seem, its renovation can still be a big-ticket project. That’s why it’s vital to determine a realistic budget before removing wall tiles. The cost to remodel a bathroom can vary from $200 to $15,000+, so you should be careful with your design decisions. Do you want to change the space from floor to ceiling or just freshen it up a bit? Whatever the case, it’s better to leave room (up to 20%) for unexpected expenses or cost overruns in your budget plan. 

Create a Clear Project Plan

Improvisation doesn’t make you spend time thinking through numerous design combinations but allows you to unleash your fantasy. However, it doesn’t guarantee you a result you’ll surely love. That’s why planning and consistency are keys to a successful bathroom renovation.

Once you change your decisions midway through, you can face additional expenses and problems that need to be fixed. Remember that heating, plumbing, ventilation, decorative materials, and accessories are pieces of a puzzle you need to put together. Without mapping out your plan, you can overlook crucial moments and use the wrong materials or measurements. 

Add Storage Space

If you are about to renovate your bathroom, make sure you have enough storage space there, so all your toiletries and cosmetics won’t clutter up your vanity unit and all open shelves. It’s worth investing in bespoke fitted furniture to ensure all your towels and cleaning products will be placed in special cupboards. Skimping on mirror cabinets and shower recesses can make your bathroom less appealing and functional. 

Take Care of Proper Ventilation

If you want your bathroom makeover results to remain in mint condition for years to come, proper ventilation is a must. This space is especially susceptible to high humidity levels, so it can become home to mold and mildew. On top of that, you can notice peeling paint and warped cabinets and fixtures over time.

The modern market offers dozens of ventilation systems to choose from. While some come with an in-built moisture detector, others are designed for heavy-duty operation. Hence, you can find an option that can ensure sufficient airflow and contribute to creating a healthier environment. 

Hire Trustworthy Bathroom Contractors

 

It’s common knowledge that labor can come up to 60% of your bathroom makeover budget. That’s why some homeowners undertake a DIY project first to cut corners but then hire pros to fix all the mistakes.

Yes, tiling may seem as easy as child’s play, but it involves hundreds of nuances you need to consider, let alone a hands-on experience. Hiring an expert from the get-go guarantees you the best result. They have the required training and top-notch tools to address expected and unforeseen challenges that may occur during the project. What’s more, a knowledgeable specialist can:

– Know the ropes of local building codes and regulations
– Save you from costly mistakes and additional stress
– Complete the project on time 
– Provide a workmanship warranty 
– Aid in selecting quality materials at reasonable prices

Select the Perfect Lighting

Whether your bathroom has a window, more than one lighting fixture is required. Not only can poorly lit spaces be hazardous, increasing the risk of slips and falls, but they also make it challenging to perform hygiene and personal care activities.

On the contrary, too bright or harsh lighting can distort colors and create unflattering shadows while dealing a nasty blow to your mood. That’s why you should carefully analyze the space to add the perfect lighting layers (task, ambient, and accent) to create a spa-like atmosphere. 

Design a Quality Drainage System

If your bathroom renovation project involves tearing out all finished materials, you should seize this opportunity to improve your drainage system. Plumbing and draining issues can put all your makeover efforts on the line as water can soak into the foundation and walls, leading to structural damage.

And a damp environment, encouraging mold and mildew growth, can become the icing on your ‘why I didn’t install appropriate drainage system’ cake. Hence, you need to ensure that water – from a shower, tub, sink, and toilet – flows out and away from your apartment without delay. 

Select the Right Finishing Materials

Bathroom pictures on Instagram and Pinterest can look appealing and inspiring enough to use as references for your renovation project. But you shouldn’t only be guided by the demonstrated aesthetics as the reality can be much different.

Bathrooms endure a lot of wear and tear and are exposed to moisture and humidity, requiring materials that are durable, waterproof, and resistant to mold and mildew. For example, black surfaces usually look dirty because of water spots if you don’t clean them daily. On the other hand, with the right materials, you can change how your bathroom looks and feels, increase its functionality, and boost the house’s resale value.

To Wrap Things Up

We all feel excited about the upcoming bathroom upgrade, imagining how great it will be to wind down there after a long day. But budget blowouts, poor timelines, and unforeseen circumstances can make things warm for you and kill the enthusiasm. To prevent this from happening, you should gain knowledge of common bathroom renovation pitfalls and take corrective measures in advance. 

Hiring experienced bathroom contractors can also be a proactive move to meet your renovation goals. Professionals have a knack for innovative design and are well-versed in dealing with complex bathroom challenges. Even though the bathroom remodeling journey may be riddled with various pitfalls, you can still make the process smoother and hassle-free.