5 Things to Consider When Remodeling a Bathroom

Giving your bathroom an update can be a game changer. A well-designed bathroom space makes daily life easier and more enjoyable. And as one of the most popular home improvement projects, it can also increase your home’s value average a 71% return on investment if you decide to sell. You start and end your day in the bathroom, so why not turn your bathroom into a calming sanctuary? 

The sky’s the limit when reimagining a bathroom, but it takes proper planning to incorporate everything on your must-have list. Before you start creating mood boards and interviewing contractors, there are a few key things to consider when getting ready for a bathroom remodel. We’re walking through each of them to help save you time, money, and headaches.

1. Bathroom Remodeling Costs

Discussing dollars and cents can feel like a drag, but your future self will thank you. Establishing a budget will help you figure out the scope of the project and keep your costs under control. Think of it like a framework - a budget sets costs parameters with a lot of freedom to make your material selections. Knowing what you have to spend can also help you determine the areas where you want to splurge and scale back. Develop your mood board and create a 3D layout simultaneously so you can get estimated material and labor costs during the design process. 

Tip: When creating your budget, add 10% for any surprises that may come up along the way. 

2. Design Aesthetics

Designing your bathroom is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming. It’s important to get it right the first time to avoid an expensive redesign or change order during installation. Take inventory of your existing bathroom, carefully noting what you like and don’t like. 

When thinking about your new bathroom’s design, think about style and function. As a starting point, ask yourself these questions:

• How do I want to feel in this space?
• How much storage do I need?
• Am I a shower or bathtub person? Or both?
• What’s my design style? 
• Do I want my bathroom’s design to match or complement the rest of the home?

Incorporate your answers into your Pinterest board, mood board, or any other way you organize your bathroom design ideas. Bring this information to your first design meeting with your bathroom remodeler. They’ll appreciate you doing your homework, and it will help them create a bathroom space that checks all your boxes. 

3. When to DIY vs. When to Call in the Pros

When planning your bathroom remodel, you’ll have to decide whether you want to do it yourself or hire a remodeling professional to do it for you. The money you’ll save is a real incentive to do it yourself. You also wouldn’t be beholden to contractor schedules and can do the work on your own schedule. 

But a bathroom DIY doesn’t come without risks. Unless you have some construction experience, it could end up costing you more if you make mistakes or fail to meet specific code requirements. You may also have to purchase or rent special tools and equipment to perform the work. There’s the time to complete the work to consider, too. It will take you longer to finish the project on your own, which increases the time you’ll have a non-functioning bathroom in the home. 

If you’re simply updating fixtures in the bathroom, a DIY is a realistic project. A bathroom renovation that requires demolition and considerable construction work is better left to the pros. 

4. Focus on Functional Style

How a bathroom flows and functions have a significant effect on your space. Adequate storage from vanities, cabinets, and shelving keep toiletries and personal items off surfaces to reduce clutter. Conversely, bathroom furniture can take up precious floor space and make a room look cramped. The type of furnishings you choose may affect plumbing and electrical, too. For example, the plumbing requirements for a floating vanity are different from those of a standing fixture. Using a 3D tool to envision your bathroom’s layout can help you match the scale of your furnishings to the room’s square footage for good balance and flow. Furnishings’ color and style will also impact the design, so seeing how they look in your bathroom can avoid buyers’ remorse during installation. 

5. Consider the Scope of Electrical and Plumbing Works

Wiring and plumbing are the more technical parts of a bathroom remodel. They should be the first things you consider when planning a bathroom remodel because they affect your whole house. It’s possible that your home’s plumbing and electrical system may not function normally during the renovation.

This will require you to make additional housing plans during the renovation. You should assess the scope of the plumbing and renovation beforehand, and it’s best to let a qualified contractor handle this. Ideally, that contractor should also help you obtain any applicable permits.

Final Takeaway

Preparing for a bathroom remodel may feel like moving mountains. Or maybe like a train going off the rails. We get it. There are many moving parts and considerations. That’s why we’ve created our design package services for people who prefer more control over the renovation process. Create your space with our interactive design tool and choose from designer-curated materials to deliver to your front door. From there, select from a list of professional licensed contractors to complete your project. Your bathroom remodel should be simple, stress-free and (dare we say?) fun! Get started with Renno today.