20 Bathroom Remodeling Tips Before You Begin Your Renovation
Planning a bathroom renovation requires careful consideration, regardless of the project’s scale. Whether moving walls and completely reconfiguring the space or simply updating fixtures, proper preparation is essential for success. As someone who has renovated over 10 bathrooms, these expert tips will help guide homeowners through the remodeling process, ensuring both functionality and aesthetic appeal.
1. Choose Practical Floor Tile
Mosaic tile proves ideal for bathroom flooring, as the numerous grout lines provide essential traction in wet areas. This consideration becomes particularly important in shower floors, where slipping hazards increase. Small mosaic patterns not only offer safety benefits but also create visual interest. The additional grout lines serve a dual purpose – preventing accidents while adding texture to the design.
2. Layer Your Lighting
Effective bathroom lighting requires at least three sources: overhead lighting, accent lighting, and decorative fixtures – all installed with dimmer capabilities. This layered approach ensures adequate illumination for various activities while creating ambiance. Proper lighting becomes especially crucial in bathrooms lacking natural light. Strategic placement of different light sources eliminates shadows and provides even illumination throughout the space.
3. The Only Exhaust You Need to Buy
Consider installing an exhaust fan that doubles as a recessed light fixture. This streamlined option eliminates the need for bulky, unattractive traditional exhaust covers while maintaining proper ventilation. These dual-purpose fixtures blend seamlessly into the ceiling design, maintaining the bathroom’s aesthetic integrity while effectively managing moisture and humidity.
4. Save Your Money and Buy a Readymade Vanity
Custom vanities often represent an unnecessary expense when readymade options can be easily customized. Simple modifications like replacing hardware, applying fresh paint, adding millwork, or swapping countertops can transform standard vanities into personalized pieces. This approach creates budget flexibility while still achieving a custom look, allowing resources to be allocated to other aspects of the renovation.
5. Towel Warmers Are the Ultimate Luxury
Installing a towel warmer represents one of the most appreciated bathroom luxuries. Whether wall-mounted or freestanding, these fixtures elevate the daily bathing experience significantly. The comfort of wrapping oneself in a warm towel after bathing creates a spa-like atmosphere that enhances the overall bathroom experience regardless of season.
6. Plan for Cabinet Storage
Thoughtful storage planning remains essential for maintaining an organized bathroom. From well-designed linen closets to drawer organizers, maximizing storage efficiency helps keep necessities accessible while minimizing clutter. Incorporating various storage solutions, including decorative baskets for countertop items, ensures everything has a designated place while contributing to the overall design.
7. A Bathtub Is Optional
Contrary to conventional wisdom, bathtubs aren’t mandatory in every bathroom. Unless it’s the home’s only bathroom, a shower-only design may better utilize limited space. This approach allows for a more spacious shower area and potentially additional storage, particularly beneficial in compact bathrooms where every square inch matters.
8. Integrate Shower Storage
Recessed shower niches or ledges provide essential storage for bathing products without disrupting the shower’s clean lines. This built-in feature eliminates the need for caddies or shelves that can detract from the design while ensuring shampoo, conditioner, and body wash remain conveniently accessible. Properly planned niches can also serve as design focal points when highlighted with special tile treatments.
9. Install the Appropriate Length Shower Curtain
Shower curtains should hover just above the floor, similar to properly hung drapery panels. Short curtains create visual imbalance and appear unintentionally undersized. This simple detail significantly impacts the bathroom’s overall aesthetic without necessarily requiring expensive custom options, as standard curtains can often be modified to achieve proper length.
10. If You Have a Rug, Make Sure It’s Wool
Wool represents the ideal material for bathroom rugs due to its natural moisture-wicking properties, odor resistance, and breathability. These characteristics make wool particularly suitable for humid bathroom environments, outperforming synthetic alternatives in both functionality and longevity while adding texture and warmth to the space.
11. Install Tile or Stone Baseboards
Extending the waterproof membrane from the floor a few inches up the wall and installing tile baseboards creates both visual continuity and practical water protection. This design detail provides an elegant transition between floor and wall while offering superior moisture resistance compared to traditional wood baseboards, which can deteriorate in bathroom environments.
12. Plan Outlet Placement Accordingly
Strategic electrical outlet placement enhances bathroom functionality. Consider outlets for smart toilets or bidets in water closets, in-vanity outlets for charging devices, or lower positioning near vanity tables for seated use. Thoughtful electrical planning accommodates both current needs and potential future technology additions without requiring disruptive modifications later.
13. Purchase Your Tile All At Once (with Overage)
To ensure color consistency, purchase all tile simultaneously with a 10-15% overage allowance. Different production batches often exhibit slight variations in color, veining, or pattern that become noticeable when installed adjacently. This precaution prevents the frustration of trying to match discontinued or differently colored tile if the project requires additional materials later.
14. Your Old or Pastel Bathtub May Not Need Replaced
Reglazing offers a cost-effective alternative to replacing well-made but dated bathtubs. This process can transform colored or worn tubs to white or another preferred color without the expense and disruption of removal and replacement. Since older tubs often feature superior construction and custom dimensions, refinishing preserves their quality while updating their appearance.
15. Choose an Appropriate Bathroom Paint
Bathrooms require specialized paint formulations designed to resist moisture and inhibit mold growth. These antimicrobial paints with appropriate sheen levels withstand the unique conditions of bathroom environments better than standard interior paints. Selecting the proper finish ensures walls remain attractive and durable despite regular exposure to humidity and temperature fluctuations.
16. Consider Acoustics
Bathroom privacy extends beyond visual considerations to include sound management. Proper insulation and solid-core doors significantly reduce sound transmission, creating a more private experience. These acoustic improvements represent relatively simple modifications that substantially enhance comfort and discretion without requiring extensive structural changes.
17. Avoid Light Colored Grout
White or light-colored grout quickly shows discoloration and requires intensive maintenance to remain attractive. Selecting medium to darker grout tones conceals inevitable staining while complementing tile selections. This practical choice significantly reduces cleaning requirements while maintaining the bathroom’s aesthetic appeal over time.
18. Heated Floors Are Worth Every Penny
Radiant floor heating provides exceptional comfort, especially in bathrooms that tend to feel cold. This luxury feature proves more affordable than many anticipate and can often be installed as a DIY project beneath tile flooring. The comfort of warm floors during cold seasons transforms the bathroom experience and may reduce overall heating costs by allowing lower ambient temperatures.
19. Never Underestimate Classic Subway Tile
Subway tile maintains its timeless appeal when properly installed with appropriate finishing pieces and trim. This versatile option provides enduring style without appearing dated or trendy. For renovators working with budget constraints, subway tile offers exceptional value while creating a classic foundation that accommodates various design styles and future updates.
20. Don’t Forget Hooks
Hooks represent one of the most practical yet often overlooked bathroom accessories. Strategically placed near showers, on doors, or along walls, they provide convenient hanging space for towels, robes, and clothing. This simple addition significantly enhances functionality without requiring substantial investment or installation complexity.
Bringing It All Together
Bathroom renovations require balancing practical considerations with aesthetic preferences. By incorporating these expert recommendations into the planning process, homeowners can create spaces that function efficiently while providing daily enjoyment. Whether undertaking a complete reconfiguration or targeted updates, these principles help ensure the renovation achieves both immediate satisfaction and lasting value.
