The bathroom is one of the most personal spaces in a home aside from the bedroom. If you’re considering a bathroom remodel, there are a many questions to ask and details to think about before you begin.
When starting a remodel project, you want to make sure that the new room meets your wants and needs, but is also safely and effectively built. The look you want for your bathroom is the most fun to plan, but there is more to think about than just the colors and materials.
- Find what may exist behind walls and under tiles. Mold and decaying wood may need professional inspection before you can continue your project.
- Test for asbestos in drywall and flooring of older homes.
- In older homes, floor tiles were normally laid directly on concrete. It may be challenging to rip these tiles up so they can be replaced. In these situations, you might want to put your time and money into other aspects of the bathroom and leave the tiles as they are.
- Choose trustworthy surfaces. Porcelain floor or wall tiles may look good, but often chip. Take note of the surfaces that get the most use and make them durable.
- Get professional help for the hard stuff. Details such as plumbing can turn into costly disasters if not installed correctly.
- Don’t forget storage space! Cabinets, baskets, and wall hangers can all add functionality and style to your new bathroom.
- Remember your budget. After a while, everything can add up. Make sure you have a plan before you begin your project!
When you have the basics completed, here are some tips to consider when designing the look and feel of your bathroom.
- Double sinks. If both you and your spouse are often getting ready for the day at the same time, two sinks may be a good idea.
- Do you need a bathtub? Some people love to relax for a while in a bath. Others really only use the shower. If you only take showers, skip the tub and spend more on shower appliances. Make that shower luxurious. However, if you love your baths, hang onto the tub.
- Hide the toilet. Many prefer this as a more private space. You can hide it behind a half wall or a full one, but if you don’t want the cost of drywall, furniture such as dressers or vanities make a great “wall” to hide the toilet behind.
- Add towel hooks on the walls.
- Put in heated flooring. Here in Colorado, heated floors are heaven during the winter.