Have you and your family been living with a bathroom that’s just too small for your needs? Perhaps that old bathtub and discoloured sink feature regularly in your nightmares. Are you a little embarrassed to let your guests use the bathroom when you’re entertaining? Renovating is a great solution for tired old bathrooms, and can be the cost-effective solution to updating your humble abode. It can however, be a daunting process. If you’ve been thinking about a bathroom renovation for a while, but just don’t know where to start – fear not! We’ve compiled a list of the key steps to consider when planning your bathroom renovation. Despite your fears about the project being too complicated, too expensive or too disruptive to consider, here you’ll see just how worthwhile it can be – with a little effective planning.
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Budget and timeline
First things first: how much money have you got to work with? Just like any household expenditure, when planning your bathroom renovation, the importance of budgeting cannot be overstated. The amount of cash you’ve got to play with will determine every aspect, from the layout and size, to fixtures, fittings and final furnishings. It’s time to sit down with your trusty notepad, calculator and a cup of tea, and get cracking on the figures. Having a clear idea of your funds will also help your contractors to plan the best approach to your renovation.
Next: How long do you have? Is your timeline flexible, or are you working towards a strict deadline (the parents coming to visit, or the upcoming sale of your property, for example)? Expectations around deadlines are very important for your renovation specialist and other contractors to understand. It is important to be realistic, and to consult openly with any third parties that you engage, so that everyone is on the same page.
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Goals and purpose
Why are you renovating? While it may seem obvious to you, have you really sat down and outlined the pros and cons of your bathroom renovation, and listed the ‘must haves’ (new tub, bigger shower area) versus the ‘can do withouts’ (his and hers basins, skylight)? Do the following apply, and which is most important?
- Extra space for a growing family
- Replacing old and tired tub/shower/vanity
- Re-designing to suit the rest of your home
- Accommodate guests
- Allow for easier use by multiple family members (does Dad need to shave, while the kids are brushing their teeth?)
- Better ventilation and/or lighting
- More storage
- Increase the value of your home
A set of clear objectives, when planning your bathroom renovation, will help you to make the hard choices and keep the end goal in mind (not to mention, keep the budget on track).
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Location
Have you considered moving the location of your bathroom to a more suitable area of the home? This approach will, of course, require a more substantial investment. You need to consider ease of use, and proximity to other amenities in the house when planning your bathroom renovation. Your budget and timeline may have an impact on any plans to relocate your bathroom, so be sure to discuss the realities of this kind of project with your renovator, and pick their brain for expertise on the issue. After all, an experienced renovator may have a solution which you’ve not yet considered.
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Floorplan and design
It’s amazing the difference a good layout can make to a bathroom. While you may have been considering a move from one end of the house to the other, a re-think of your bathroom’s existing layout may actually achieve the functionality you’ve been hoping for. There are plenty of online tools to help you design and lay out your new bathroom. We’d suggest taking a look at some of these, such as the Reece 3D Designer, while keeping in mind your list of objectives. If you’re stuck for ideas, this is where your professional renovator will come into their own. They’ve seen it all, and can give you a good idea of what works and why – as well as the most cost-effective ways to achieve your desired result.
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Fittings, fixtures and finish
Ultimately, the size of your room will determine the types of fixtures you’ll be able to accommodate. A smaller bathroom may mean you can’t quite fit that stand-alone, claw-footed bathtub. But don’t worry: The options available to you are many and varied. Check out the latest list of Reece products, and you’ll see that there’s a great solution for any space. Choosing your new tiles, tub, shower cubicle and vanity is as easy as taking a look around the Reece website, or consulting your professional renovator for their best recommendations for price, functionality and style. You may want to follow a theme in texture and materials, which will give your bathroom a warm, modern or minimalist feel. Check out our earlier article Top 5 Bathroom Trends for Your 2017 Renovation, for some inspiration.
When planning your bathroom renovation, follow this simple steps, get in touch with your local Gold Coast bathroom renovation specialists – and before you know it, you’ll be enjoying the new bathroom of your dreams.
