A bathroom renovation is a fun and exciting project. Whether you’ve lived in your home your entire life or just moved in and are ready to upgrade the look of this space, starting your renovation on the right foot is essential. For your project to go smoothly and stay within your budget, you need a clear plan, a set design, and, often, the help of professionals. While a bathroom renovation project might be just what your house needs, it’s not an easy job. Here are our top tips to help your vision come to life.
Start with Planning
Always plan first. Write down why you decided to renovate your bathroom and what you want to achieve. Look at bathroom ideas online to help you brainstorm what you want and need.
If you know what you want and need and have the design prowess to sketch your ideas, feel free to do so. However, it’s also a good idea to involve a professional in the bathroom renovation process from start to finish to help you avoid errors or setbacks.
Decide Your Budget
This is one of the most crucial stages in your bathroom renovation process. Depending on your budget, you may choose a complete bathroom makeover or a few improvements. Changing the worn-out floor tiles and replacing the old-fashioned faucet may be all your bathroom needs to be revitalized while being cost-effective.
Design Your Bathroom
Once you have your concept and general ideas, it’s time to move forward. As mentioned above, employing the help of a bathroom designer and renovation professional can help your idea come to life in the smoothest way possible.
Consider the surrounding spaces, such as a bedroom, hallway or living room, and how your bathroom makeover fits in (particularly if you want to redesign other areas eventually). When working with professionals, it’s essential to keep their advice in mind. However, if there’s something you don’t like, let them know—it’s your bathroom, after all. Here are some other tips to keep in mind:
Try Open, Airy Designs
Think light, airy, and clean lines to make your bathroom feel bigger. Start with light colours that are within the same palette. Consider tile from floor to ceiling, mirrors on the walls, a glass shower door, lights behind the mirror, a pocket door, and high gloss paint to reflect light.
Consider a Neutral Renovation
You might be tempted to install a brightly coloured toilet or stunning tiles in your new bathroom. Consider the potential that you may sell your property in the future and that not everyone will be enthusiastic about having a bathroom with bright pink tiles. Instead, invest in timeless colours and materials that will never go out of style, like neutral tones. To add your own personal touches to the bathroom, consider decorating with removable splashes of colour and patterns.
Use Space-Enhancing Elements
As an alternative to knocking down walls to produce more space, consult with your renovation professional about the possibilities of installing floor-to-ceiling windows or utilizing monotone colours for your tiles and countertop.
Don’t Forget About Lighting
Remember to consider the lighting in your bathroom. Dimmers can create a gentle, romantic ambience, while mirrors can enhance the natural light through the windows. Whether you have a view of breathtaking skyscrapers or a tranquil lake against a mountainous background, enlarge the windows in your bathroom to take advantage of the spectacular views you enjoy.
Eco-Friendly Considerations
You can reduce your carbon footprint by choosing an environmentally friendly bathroom design. Instead of using a regular toilet, consider investing in a low-flow option or a dual-flush type to save water. If you want to save money on your power costs, choose energy-efficient lights that use less energy instead of installing standard light bulbs.
Think About the Future
Consider future needs when designing the bathroom. During the renovation, ensure you and the people you love can age comfortably in the space for many years, no matter what the future holds. Traditional bathroom layouts can often pose dangers for people with limited mobility. Consider making your new bathroom more accessible by installing an ADA-compliant shower, toilet, and better lighting.
Choosing Materials
Consider the bathroom finishes and vanity when starting a bathroom makeover to set the tone for a luxurious and glamorous look. First, choose three tiles that look good together. Use one on the floor, one throughout the main room, and one on the shower walls. Then, choose a vanity that will look good against the new backdrop.
Opt for Long-Lasting Surfaces and Materials
Choose the right surfaces for your bathroom when you renovate it. Not only should these surfaces look good, but they should also be able to handle a lot of water. We often recommend porcelain tiles for walls and floors because they don’t stain, grow bacteria, or smell bad over time. Choose bigger tiles to reduce the number of grout lines and make it easier to clean. Other than tiles and floors, you’ll need to consider items like:
- Bathroom fixtures
- Tubs
- Toilets
- Shower heads
- Shower enclosures
- Cabinetry
When deciding on the items to include in your bathroom renovation, keep the following in mind:
- Quality and Durability: Nobody wants to redo their bathroom every year, which is why it’s essential to choose high-quality materials and fixtures that last.
- Safety and Comfort: Everyone enjoys a beautiful bathroom, but it should also be safe and comfortable. For example, while those polished marble tiles may look beautiful, they may lead to slippery floors and falls when damp.
- Maintenance: Consider easy-to-maintain materials and colours for your bathroom renovation project if you don’t have much time for regular cleaning.
Structural Considerations
During demolition and construction, examine for damage to waterproofing, especially in basement bathrooms. Ground and higher-level bathrooms require the same waterproofing and structural assessments, particularly those extending through neighbouring walls.
Water Considerations
Aside from choosing high-quality faucets and shower fixtures, checking your plumbing is essential. Years of use may have caused corrosion or blockages, and dealing with these issues during your renovation will prevent costly repairs down the line.
Lighting, Electrical, and Ventilation
Your bathroom may not have proper lighting or ventilation, depending on when it was built. Consider upgrading these elements to enhance visibility and air circulation. Additionally, check all electrical and update if necessary.
Bathroom Renovation Costs
Bathroom renovation experts will provide an estimated cost after plans are drawn. You can trim it down or add additional elements based on your budget. If you’re over budget, examine alternative materials before cutting anything. In most cases, there are more inexpensive options that can still fulfill your project needs.
Do it Yourself or Hire a Pro?
Many believe they are skilled enough to paint, change tiles and faucets, and even do a whole bathroom makeover on their own. While this is true for some, most people need the services of a professional to perform the work correctly. Contractors can often complete the project quicker than what you’d accomplish by yourself. The best professionals will bring their years of expertise combined with knowledge of the newest trends, highest-quality materials, and industry-leading practices.
Decorating After Renovations
Small changes can sometimes make a big difference in how your bathroom looks. Change the colour of your towels to give your room a new look. Using white towels, for example, makes the room feel like a spa. Darker neutrals, like charcoal gray, are in style because they exude high-end luxury and add a touch of glam. If you want to add some colour but don’t want to paint or tile, your new best friend is a set of brightly coloured towels.
Choose Tremblay Renovation for Your Dream Bathroom
When it comes time to renovate your bathroom, our experts at Tremblay Renovation are here to make your dream bathroom a reality. We’ve served the Ottawa area since 1989, completing high-quality projects like yours. Contact us today or call us at (613) 748-9999 to get your bathroom renovation project started.
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