Don't think of a bathroom as an afterthought in your renovation, it's a space you'll use daily.
Bathroom renovations happen because it’s outdated, or you bought a new house and didn’t like the bathroom, maybe you are doing the house up to sell—the reason you’re renovating influences how you go about it and what is essential for your bathroom. Most people renovate because they want a bathroom that would be a reflection of them and at the same time, deliver the comfort they need.
Ventilation Pitfalls & How To Avoid It
When it comes to bathroom remodel, a lot of homeowners tend to neglect the ventilation. Ventilation is crucial for a timeless bathroom renovation project.
A bathroom that’s not correctly ventilated contributes to several problems, such as the build-up of mould and mildew.
Improper ventilation can ruin the expensive upgrades made in the bathroom remodel, such as the floors, walls, and even cabinetry.
A bathroom is steamy and damp by nature, so always install adequate ventilation systems to keep moisture to a minimum, for example, an extractor fan. Most cases of damp are due to condensation.
Most bathroom remodels require some form of ventilation, either through a centralized system or through window installation.
Shower doors, screens and panels need to leave enough space for ventilation. You can even add a second fan depending on the size specifications of your bathroom.
Layout Pitfalls & How To Avoid Them
It is best to plan a bathroom layout and stick to it. Once the design of the bathroom gets finalised, do not change it.
Avoid making any further changes to your existing plan
If you make fewer alterations, your plumbing costs will be lower. If you have to move some key elements, then at least keep the toilet close enough to connect to the existing soil pipe. To ensure the pipes and waste are in the right positions, you need to choose all sanitaryware before plastering and tiling. It is valuable to show the design layout to the electrician, tiler and other related trades to make sure they can’t see any issues that will interfere with their part of the project.
You want a good flow in the bathroom
You don’t want to walk straight into the toilet or see one either. It is crucial to think of the placement of the door; there should be enough space to close it comfortably. Always plan a bathroom renovation around what is functional and do it from the perspective of the people that use it.
Design Pitfalls & How To Avoid It
A good rule to use if you desire to use more variety is to stick to three different materials, colours or textures. Stick with white colours and mix items from different suppliers, to offset affordable buys against luxuries such as a quality bath. Avoid cheap fixes such as shower trays or plastic baths that are difficult to seal and make watertight alterations.
Keep the design simple in your bathroom renovation.
It is better to avoid curves, decorative mouldings and non- essential ornamentation. The design is more cost-effective and more comfortable to fit out if you keep it simple. It is always a good idea to blend the design of an ensuite bathroom with the bedroom. It’s unnecessary to use the same brand for all your fittings and fixtures, but it adds cohesion when you make the finish similar.
Use up all of the space in the bathroom, if it is on the smaller side, you will have to think creatively to design the area to look bigger. You can use large mirrors to make a small bathroom feel spacious and light. A frameless mirror covering one whole wall is also handy. To avoid misting up after showers and baths, you can try and fit heated pads behind the mirror.
Storage Pitfalls & How To Avoid Them
Nothing ruins a newly renovated bathroom faster than clutter, so don’t forget about storage. It’s essential that the bathroom is liveable and you think about what you want to store.
Storage is often entirely missed or the last thing you think about in a bathroom renovation.
Storage space is more necessary than we realise, and cabinets can have a significant advantage in the bathroom. Ample cabinets can give you space to store linens and toiletries. Modular furniture can also be wall-mounted, making effective use of space in clutter-prone areas of the bathroom. If you look at your lifestyle and how you use the area that will help you plan a useful bathroom.
Material And Lighting Pitfalls & How To Avoid It
Not everything needs to match precisely to blend in with the rest of the house, but if you choose a different design, it can be too distracting. Make your bathroom an extension of the room that flows well into each other. Appropriate bathroom flooring, waterproof paints and sealed wall tiles, these are products designed to withstand high volumes of water.
It is best to choose materials that withstand the conditions of a bathroom.
Getting the balance of lighting is essential and you should consider some different scenarios in the bathroom.
Budget Pitfalls & How To Avoid It
People mistakenly think the bathroom costs less as it is such a small area in the home. There are quite a few trades involved in a bathroom renovation process. As you set up a budget for a bathroom renovation, it’s a good idea to have extra for the unexpected problems.
If you have a limited budget, then you need to keep the footprint of the bathroom the same.
You can always use different things to give the illusion that space is more significant. It is very advisable to keep the bathroom plumbing fixtures as close to the original as possible to save quite a bit. If you can design within the current bathroom space, this brings costs down. It’s useful to discuss fixtures, finishes and budgets of the project.
Your opportunity to expand your bathroom depends on your budget and style needs.
Planning a major home renovation can be very overwhelming and finding the right information can be difficult. To help you we have developed a free guide that is beneficial for anyone who is in the planning stage of a major renovation. I know you will enjoy it. It is packed with super practical information covering 7 of the biggest mistakes made when planning a major home renovation.
Click on the link below to download the 7 Biggest Mistakes To Avoid When Planning Your Major Home Renovation.
Download our FREE guide and avoid mistakes that will cost you money and time on your renovation.