8 important considerations for renovating your bathroomSpectrum Cabinet Gallery
Thinking of renovating your bathroom? Here are 8 important things to consider
When considering remodeling your bathroom there are a lot of different factors to consider. If you are a first time homeowner or have never renovated yourself we recommend doing our research first and talking to some experts.
1. Get an estimate of the cost
Before you go ripping down walls and hauling out old toilets get an outline of how much your renovation will cost. If you plan on doing renovations yourself keep in mind why you want to do them yourself. Is it a fun project that you have the experience for? Are you trying to learn as you go because you think it will be fun or to save a few bucks? If you have the experience then great, but also keep in mind a realistic outline for how much time, experience and money you have. It’s a good idea to over estimate time and cost since there are often unexpected delays’ or materials that you decide to upgrade or that weren’t as cost effective as you had previously planned.
Even if you want to do the renovations yourself consider hiring an expert to do some of the more skilled work such as the cabinetry, plumbing and electrics. These are areas where for safety, time efficiency and time-tested quality its best to let the pros do what they do best. It might cost you less in the long run.
2. Lighting
Consider adding different layers of lighting. Do you want your bathroom to be well light in the morning while you are getting ready, to have ambient spa lighting for evening baths, and somewhere in the middle for the rest of the day? Consider adding different elements to your lighting scheme so your bathroom is well light for all occasions and uses.
3. Layout
Perhaps the most important and least glamorous consideration in a bathroom renovation is where to put the toilet. We suggest putting the toilet in an area where it’s not the first thing you see. If you have the space for it, it can be nice to have the toilet hidden behind a hutch-like cabinet wall or separated somehow from the rest of the bathroom. This is nice so that if the bathroom door gets left open or if you are busy using the vanity, it is somewhat out of sight. In other words, strive to make anything but the toilet the focal point. Other considerations for layout are to make sure you can open all cabinet drawers and doors, as well as the shower door.
5. To stay or not to stay
When looking to remodel its important to budget for removal costs as well as installation. Removing tile from older homes can be a big project and can cost you huge labor costs. If this is the case you might want to consider working with them. Give your bathroom an updated vintage feel.
6. Height and access
If you are tight on space here are some great space savers you can use.
Corner sink
Placing the sink and the vanity in the corner is a good way to utilize a small bathroom space that does have space for one against a wall. The counter space may be a little limited in this set up but they can be built to have ample storage space under the sink.
Small Bathtub
You might think that you need a large space to have a bathtub but now more companies are producing bathtubs that are smaller and you don’t need to forgo the luxury of the bathtub either. Some of these smaller bathtubs can still be modeled to be quite tall and beautifully build. The taller folks may have to bend their knees for a soak as they will be shorter and narrower, but most people will fit.
Shower
If you don’t use your bathtub much this is a no brainer. Opt for a standup shower over a bathtub to save space.
Over the toilet cabinetry
Cabinetry can be added overtop of the toilet to utilize the vertical space above that is not being used to add extra storage. It’s a perfect spot to store extra toilet paper.
8. Ventilation
It’s a good idea to have more than one method of ventilation. Bathrooms can be moist and sometimes smelly places so it’s a good idea to make sure a fan is installed as well as a window. This will ensure that mold and mildew are kept to a minimum and fresh air is able to flow to keep your space feeling like a spa sanctuary.