SAN ANTONIO - While bathrooms often are among the smallest rooms in your home, they’re often the most used and valued spaces in our homes, and are among the smartest remodeling investments in terms of return of investment. Beyond the practical, day-to-day routines, for many people bathrooms are a sanctuary – a place to escape the stresses of daily life, even if only for a few moments at a time. So when remodeling your bathroom, consider these 10 tips for your project.
1. The best place to start with any remodeling project is the budget. Not only will it have a big impact on the type of materials you select for your bathroom renovation, it will also help you set the boundaries of your design.
2. Define the role and requirements of the new bathroom. Planning a bathroom remodel involves more than the positioning of basic fixtures such as the bath, basin and toilet. Make sure your plan allows for plenty of floor for wall space and for extras such as towel rail, mirror and storage.
3. Decide if you need to make any changes to existing services and whether structural work is required. Measure up and note the position of the existing services, windows and doors and work out the plan to get the bathroom fixtures where you want them. You will also need to decide if you need to move any doors, windows or walls and whether you need to make changes to the electrical wiring, water and drains.
4. On the surface, switching your sink and toilet around may look easy enough, but the problem lies underneath and all the costs involved in moving that plumbing.
5. Ensure that you have enough space to accommodate your chosen fittings as well as enough room to move them into position.
6. Sconce lighting at the vanity is the ideal way to get even lighting on your face, and installing it at eye level will help diminish unflattering shadows. Dim lighting is nice for a relaxing bath; bright lights are great for shaving or applying makeup. Adding more overall lighting can make a small bathroom seem larger.
7. Make provisions for future plumbing and allow for access to potential trouble spots such as the shower valve. If possible, fit removable panels instead of sealing these utilities behind fixed walls.
8. Some of the most effective updating in a bathroom can also be the easiest and the cheapest. Changing out all the hardware, such as drawer pulls, faucet handles and shower-heads, can make a big impact. Be sure to use the same finish, such as stainless steel, aged bronze or brushed nickel, to keep the room looking cohesive.
9. Make it easy to clean. No one likes cleaning a bathroom, so why complicate matters by making it difficult to clean? For example, avoid vanities with space underneath the cabinet that attracts dust. Don’t place vanities, toilets and other items too close together to create tight spaces that are difficult to clean. Use larger wall tiles to eliminate grout lines. Invest in shower doors that keep water in a shower or tub and don’t show soap build-up.
10. Bring it up to code. Remember, building codes mean meeting the minimally allowed standards required by your city or state. It may not matter now, but it can be a big deal when you try to sell your home. Spending the extra dollars to bring your bathroom up to at least code, especially in the areas of electrical and plumbing, versus doing simply cosmetic changes, will bring peace of mind, enhance resale value, and avoid problems down the line.
With proper planning your bathroom remodeling project can increase the value of your home and your lifestyle.
