What NOT to do During Your Next Bathroom Remodel
A bathroom remodel marks an exciting chapter in the enhancement of one of your home's pivotal spaces. Whether you envision a tranquil spa-like retreat or a practical, family-friendly bathroom, the opportunity to revitalize this area is undoubtedly exciting. However, amidst the excitement, it's crucial to tread carefully and avoid common pitfalls that can derail your renovation journey.
In this guide, we'll delve into five common mistakes encountered by homeowners during bathroom remodels and provide practical solutions to ensure a smooth and successful renovation experience:
Underestimating the Budget
Choosing the Wrong Fixtures and Finishes
Not Factoring in Enough Storage Space
Choosing the Wrong Size Fixtures
Neglecting to Hire Professionals
#1 - Underestimating the Budget
Underestimating the financial investment required for a bathroom remodel is a common pitfall among homeowners. The misconception often arises due to the relatively modest size of bathrooms compared to larger living spaces. However, this oversight fails to account for the specialized materials, fixtures, and labor involved in bathroom renovations. From plumbing and electrical work to tiling and cabinetry, every aspect demands meticulous attention and precise craftsmanship, contributing to the overall expense.
To avoid budgetary surprises, it's essential to conduct thorough research and establish a realistic financial plan from the outset. Here's a breakdown of potential costs for a typical bathroom remodel, categorized into low, medium, and high ranges:
Budget Refresh ($10,000 - $20,000): This budget tier allows for fundamental renovations and essential upgrades, providing homeowners with the opportunity to refresh their bathroom space without undertaking extensive modifications. While comprehensive overhauls may be challenging within this budget, it still enables the replacement of fixtures, updating of lighting, refinishing of surfaces, and modest cosmetic enhancements.
While this budget tier offers significant potential for improvement, homeowners may need to take on some or all of the work themselves, depending on the scope of the remodel. Hiring a general contractor or designer to oversee the project may not be feasible within this budget range. However, with careful planning and resourcefulness, homeowners can achieve a refreshed and revitalized bathroom space that meets their needs and budget constraints.
If you think that your next bathroom project falls into this range but need help with the design and planning, we’d recommend scheduling a design consultation with us or using our Designer-for-a-Day services. These options are designed to provide invaluable guidance and expertise while ensuring that clients maximize the value of their limited budget.
Medium Range ($20,000 - $50,000): This budget range often accommodates substantial renovations and comprehensive upgrades, allowing homeowners to realize their vision for a transformed bathroom space. It facilitates the replacement of flooring, upgrading of countertops and cabinetry, installation of new plumbing fixtures, and addressing of minor structural modifications. With careful planning and strategic resource allocation, homeowners can achieve significant improvements in both aesthetics and functionality while maintaining cost efficiency.
Additionally, it's important to note that investing in a bathroom remodel within this budget range often represents the "sweet spot" for maximizing return on investment in terms of home value. Bathroom renovations can significantly enhance the appeal and functionality of the bathroom, contributing to overall home value and marketability. By allocating resources strategically and focusing on high-impact upgrades, homeowners can not only enjoy a more comfortable and stylish bathroom but also potentially recoup a significant portion of their investment when it comes time to sell their homes.
Many of our clients end up in this range on their remodels. It offers the flexibility to engage professionals for design and project management, alleviating the need for homeowners to undertake any or part of the work themselves. By collaborating with skilled professionals, homeowners can navigate their renovation journey with confidence, ensuring that their vision is executed to the highest standards while adhering to budgetary constraints.
High Range (Above $50,000): At the upper end of the budget spectrum, this tier offers the flexibility for larger-scale projects and extensive customization, suitable for homeowners seeking tailored solutions or requiring more significant structural changes. This investment level provides the opportunity to reconfigure layouts, relocate plumbing fixtures, and incorporate custom millwork tailored to individual needs.
Our clients who fall into this category for their bathroom renovation projects are typically in their “forever homes” and wish to make it tailored specifically to their lifestyle and needs with premium materials and personalized finishes meant to last a lifetime.
#2 - Choosing the Wrong Materials & Finishes
When beginning a bathroom remodel, one of the most critical decisions is selecting the right materials and fixtures. Unfortunately, many homeowners fall into the trap of choosing options that are ill-suited for the unique challenges of the bathroom environment which can lead to a host of issues, ranging from aesthetic compromises to structural damage. Here's how to avoid this common mistake and ensure your bathroom renovation stands the test of time:
Prioritize moisture-resistant and durable materials. Porcelain tiles, for example, are an excellent choice for bathroom flooring and walls. Not only are they highly resistant to water damage, but they also offer durability and easy maintenance. Plywood over MDF cabinetry and millwork is imperative in a bathroom to ensure the stability and longevity of your cabinetry and selecting damp-rated lighting fixtures will ensure safety and durability for years to come.
When discussing safety it’s important to touch on flooring materials. As designers, we’re trained to select flooring materials in wet environments that meet a certain coefficient of friction to ensure that your floors are safe when wet. We often steer our clients away from glossy floor tiles or stones because, while they may look beautiful, it’s just not worth the slipping hazard.
Finally, consider the maintenance requirements of your chosen materials and fixtures. Opt for options that are easy to clean and maintain over time, minimizing the need for frequent upkeep. Sealed grout lines in tile installations can prevent mold and mildew growth, while countertop materials like quartz require less maintenance than natural stone such as marble that can be easily stained. Many of our clients have been loving large format porcelain tiles for their shower surrounds, these reduce grout lines to next to nothing and make cleaning a breeze.
By prioritizing materials and fixtures that are suitable for the bathroom environment and considering factors like durability, safety, and maintenance, homeowners can create a space that not only looks beautiful but also functions efficiently for years to come.
#3 - Not Factoring in Enough Storage
We’ve all seen those beautiful minimalistic bathrooms with floating vanities and virtually no storage. That may be why insufficient storage space is a common issue in bathroom design, often leading to clutter and compromised functionality. When planning a bathroom renovation, it's crucial to consider storage needs comprehensively and begin any design by assessing storage requirements based on the items needed to be stored, such as toiletries, towels, cleaning supplies, and personal care products. Understanding these needs upfront will help plan for appropriate storage solutions tailored to specific requirements.
The vanity area serves as a primary storage zone in the bathroom. Opt for a vanity with ample cabinet space or drawers to neatly store essential items out of sight. Seek options with built-in organizers, such as drawer dividers or pull-out trays, to maximize storage efficiency and maintain organization. In addition, to maximize storage vertical space must be used efficiently, installing tall cabinets or shelving units can take advantage of unused wall space. Incorporating built-in storage niches or recessed shelves in shower or bathtub areas provides convenient storage for toiletries without cluttering countertops.
This vintage guest bathroom had a large vanity but very little storage comparatively, which was a major issue for the homeowners. In our design, we’re able to keep the vintage charm they love while adding significantly more storage more in keeping with a bathroom of this size that meets the needs of a growing family.
In smaller bathrooms or where space is limited, getting creative with storage solutions is key. Floating shelves installed above the toilet or beside the bathtub can display decorative items or provide additional storage for towels and toiletries. Storage baskets or bins under sink cabinets or on open shelving can help corral small items and maintain organization. Also, consider investing in multi-functional furniture to maximize functionality. Look for vanity mirrors with built-in storage or medicine cabinets offering both mirror space and concealed storage. Combination vanity and linen cabinets can consolidate storage and save space, particularly in smaller bathrooms.
#4 - Choosing the Wrong Size Fixtures
Showers should be 78-80 inches above the finish floor, faucets should extend no more than the sink drain, and toilets should be placed 15" off the wall. There are endless rules of thumb and standards for placement and it’s critical to understand these before diving into fixture selection for your bathroom to ensure everything works together.
Considering these guidelines is vital because selecting fixtures that are either too large or too small for the space can significantly impact the efficiency of layouts and the overall ambiance of the bathroom. Fixtures that are too large may result in cramped spaces, hindering movement and limiting functionality, and fixtures that are too small might appear disproportionate, disrupting the visual harmony of the room.
To avoid this common mistake, start by accurately measuring your bathroom space, taking into account dimensions such as length, width, and height. With these measurements in hand, you can select fixtures that are proportionate to the available space. In smaller bathrooms, opt for compact fixtures like pedestal sinks or corner showers to maximize floor space. In larger bathrooms, consider larger fixtures such as double vanities or freestanding tubs to fill the space appropriately. Placement and layout are also critical considerations. Ensure there is adequate clearance around fixtures for comfortable use and easy cleaning. Pay attention to traffic flow within the space and position fixtures accordingly to promote seamless movement.
Having an interior designer review your floor plan and fixture selection can ensure you're not making any of these common mistakes. By carefully considering these factors and adhering to common rules of thumb for fixture placement, homeowners can ensure their bathroom is not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional and comfortable for everyday needs. After all, a well-designed bathroom enhances both the practicality and enjoyment of daily routines.
#5 - Sacrificing Function for Style
While aesthetics are undoubtedly important in bathroom design, prioritizing style over function can lead to practical issues that impact daily life. We briefly touched on this aspect in our discussion on storage, emphasizing the importance of efficient usage of space. However, it's also crucial to consider how the bathroom will be used on a day-to-day basis.
One common trend in modern bathroom design is the removal of bathtubs in favor of spacious showers. While this may enhance the sleek, minimalist aesthetic of the bathroom, it may not be the best choice for families with young children. Bathtubs offer versatility, providing a safe and convenient bathing option for children, as well as a relaxing retreat for adults. Sacrificing a bathtub for the sake of style alone may limit the functionality of the space, particularly for households with diverse needs. We often advise our clients to have at least one bathroom in their homes with a bathtub and generally reserve shower-only bathrooms for primary suites to preserve resale value and functionality.
Another aspect to consider is the practicality of certain design elements, such as floating shelves. While floating shelves can add a contemporary touch to the bathroom and create the illusion of space, they often lack the storage capacity needed for everyday essentials. Items placed on floating shelves may be more prone to clutter and dust accumulation, detracting from the overall cleanliness and organization of the bathroom.
When designing a bathroom, it's essential to strike a balance between style and function. Opting for fixtures and features that not only enhance the visual appeal of the space but also cater to the practical needs of the occupants is key. By carefully considering how the bathroom will be used and avoiding design choices that sacrifice function for style, homeowners can create a space that not only looks beautiful but also functions seamlessly in their daily lives. After all, a well-designed bathroom should not only be a visual masterpiece but also a practical and comfortable sanctuary for relaxation and rejuvenation.
If you're in the midst of planning a bathroom renovation and feeling overwhelmed by the complexities discussed in this article, we understand. We're here to offer guidance and support to ensure your project is a success. Our team is ready to discuss your needs and provide expert advice to help you avoid common mistakes and achieve the bathroom of your dreams. We invite you to take the next step by filling out this form to book a complimentary 20-minute call with our lead designer to discuss your project further. Let's work together to bring your vision to life, with confidence and peace of mind.