There’s quite a lot that goes into remodeling a bathroom. Even if you hire a professional bathroom designer and a general contractor that will take care of construction and installation, there’s still a lot of planning that goes into it. You want to make sure all your time, money, and effort pay off in the end and you’re left with a bathroom that you love. So to make it a little easier for you, here’s what you should consider when planning for a bathroom remodel.
Decide What You Are Trying to Achieve
Before you decide on anything, think about what you’d like your ideal bathroom to look like. Without worrying about the constraints of space and money, imagine what you would love this space to be. Consider how many people will be using it, if it will become the master bathroom, and will it be used often or just as a powder room. Do you just want an easy to clean bathroom? Is storage or relaxation more important? Do you just want to update the look for resale value? There is a lot to think about for the overall purpose of your bathroom. Most importantly, you need to decide if you’re just updating for a new look, updating for resale value, or improving the functionality and storage.
Research and Budget
Before we get any further, it’s best to know what you plan on spending for this project. A basic remodel can cost anywhere between $2,000 to $12,000. To keep down the price, see if you can make any updates without moving the existing plumbing or wiring.
Find a Professional
Depending on how intricate your project is and how much you plan to DIY, you might consider hiring a professional. A professional bathroom designer might be able to think of things you may have overlooked or not considered. For the complexity of routing plumbing, laying tile and flooring, installing toilets, and more leaves a lot of room for error. For major structural changes, it might be best to hire an architect. In some places it’s required by law to have a professional to work on plumbing and electrical. When in doubt, hire a pro.
Refine Your Plan
Create an idea-book to organize the layouts, styles, finishes, and colors that you like. Make sure you have a plan for where everything will go and if it functions the way you want it to. Are there enough outlets? Now is a good time to choose your materials, finishes, and colors. Make sure everything works together and isn’t going to clash with the rest of your house. Again, look to photos that inspire you.