How to Get the Most Out of A Bathroom Remodel

Conventional wisdom is that bathrooms and kitchens sell a house. But whether you plan to sell your home or enjoy it for decades to come, bathrooms and kitchens consistently rank highest on people’s remodeling wish lists. If you think about it, these are our most intimate spaces. A bathroom is a place where you will spend personal time every single day, preparing for the day ahead or unwinding from the day you just had. Kitchens do the same thing, but instead of alone time, they allow for family time. Families gather in kitchens in the morning to power up for everything the day will throw at them. Then they convene in the kitchen again at night as they relax and recount the day that was. So it is no surprise that people want a fresh look and a touch of luxury in these very personal spaces.

When it comes to remodeling a bathroom, you can spend a lot of money. There are endless touches and niceties that can drive up the cost of your personal spa space. But you don’t have to break the bank to get a bathroom you’ll love. Here are some TrustDALE tips for how to get the most out of your bathroom remodel without blowing your budget.

Prepare for the Remodel

The best way to ensure you don’t blow your budget is to start with a budget. Many homeowners dive right into thinking about all they want for their remodel and only look at the prices after the fact. That’s a surefire way to overshoot your budget and end up either disappointed or broke. Instead, sit down and figure out exactly what you can afford to spend on your bathroom remodel before you do any other research. Knowing your budget will help you keep your plans realistic. It will also give you a sense of what you can and can’t do so you can make more educated decisions about your remodel.

Once you know your budget, take stock of your bathroom. Note what you like and what you don’t. Try to make an actual list of the top five things you absolutely want to change. Next, think about how the bathroom will be used. For a master bath, will two people be using it at once? If so, you need lots of room and possibly a double vanity. Will you be using it as a spa as well? For secondary bathrooms, are they just for guests or are there other family members who will use them? For powder rooms or half baths, will they get heavy use or just an occasional guest? If you know who will use the room and how, you can plan your materials and design accordingly.

Finally, think about your overall design style. Do you want something to match the rest of your home? Do you want a modern design or something more traditional or something rustic or something spa-inspired? Knowing your design likes and dislikes will make it easier to decide what specific features to include.

Heated Floors

This is a huge trend right now in bathroom remodels. If you will be putting in new flooring, adding heated floor mats is not a huge expense. But the benefits are terrific. A heated floor will give more ambient heat to a bathroom in a colder part of the house, and it will keep your feet warm and toasty on a stone or tile floor. A heated floor also dries more quickly, reducing the chance of slips and falls. Heated flooring is also a great way to make an impact on buyers if you intend to sell your home. Buyers will remember the house with the heated bathroom floor.

Upgrade Your Mirror

Along with heated floors, heated mirrors are an excellent way to add a touch of luxury to your bathroom. Heated mirrors won’t fog up when you shower so you can go straight from showering to putting on makeup or shaving.

Wall-to-wall mirrors have gone out of style. In their place, homeowners are installing design piece framed mirrors. These freestanding mirrors are part of the decor of your bathroom. You can get creative with the mirror frame and match whatever style you have chosen for your bathroom.

One new trend in mirrors and other accessories is to use asymmetrical pieces. An asymmetrical mirror can add interest and uniqueness to any bathroom.

If a bathroom is in a part of the house with a view, some homeowners are putting the vanity in front of a window instead of a mirror. The mirror can be to the side of the window, or you can use a mirror on a stand.

Trends in Faucets and Fixtures 

One way to get a big bang for your buck with a bathroom remodel is to update your faucets and fixtures. Even if you aren’t making any massive changes to your bathroom, new faucets and accessories can breath new life into a bathroom. Current trends are moving away from the old shiny gold and steel materials and towards pewter and gunmetal. Depending on the style of the fixture, they can look strikingly modern or vintage. Either way, they add a bit of depth and texture to your bathroom.

Another trend in bathrooms is exposed plumbing. Often, the cabinets under a vanity collect piles of unused products and trash. Instead, ditch the cabinets and let the pipes show. This is generally a vintage look, but it could also be used in a more industrial design.

Update the Shower

Your shower is probably the most intimate space in your home. It is a place where you relax by yourself on a daily basis, free of your devices or any other distractions. So a luxurious shower can have a very high return on investment just in terms of the regular enjoyment you get out of it.

If you have the room, many homeowners are installing shower benches. These are a great place to store your shampoos, conditioners, and other products. A bench is also a great safety feature, especially for older bathers. Along the shower bench, there has been a trend toward barrier-free shower entrances. Right now, they are still rare enough that a barrier-free shower entrance will get some attention from home buyers. Removing the curb that separates the shower from the rest of the bathroom can open up the space and make your bathroom feel larger. It also makes the bathroom accessible to people of all abilities.

Another update that many homeowners are making is to remove the drain from the shower. Of course, you can’t eliminate all drainage, but you can kiss that unsightly round drain in the middle of your shower goodbye. In its place, homeowners are installing linear drains that can be much less visible.

Work With Professional Remodelers

Some updates may be within reach of a reasonably experienced do-it-yourselfer. But if you want to get the most out of a bathroom remodel, nothing beats the pros. If you are considering a bathroom remodel, check out these TrustDALE certified bathroom remodeling professionals. In addition to installation, they can help you design the perfect bathroom. They are up to date with the latest trends, materials, and techniques. And when you use TrustDALE certified businesses, you are always protected by Dale’s trademark Make-it-Right Guarantee™. So go ahead, get inspired, and get the most out of your bathroom remodel.