There’s bound to come a point where you need a brand new bathroom. Unfortunately renovating a bathroom not the easiest thing to do. There’s so much to consider and, even when the work starts, things can come up that make renovating a bathroom more difficult than anticipated. But, to make your renovation as smooth as possible, here are 6 tips for a successful bathroom renovation.

Renovation Of A Bathroom

Budget Properly

The biggest problem homeowner’s tend to have with any renovation is proper budgeting. Most people underestimate how much it will cost to renovate their bathroom. Do a little research online so you know what costs to expect. To make budgeting smoother you should add 10-20% extra on top of your planned budget. That way you’re covered in case something goes wrong or you need to spend a little more than expected. Proper budget planning goes a long way.

 

Make Preparations

The bathroom is one of the most important rooms in a house. Everyone in a household makes a few “visits” to it every day and bathroom renovations are not the fastest projects to undertake. When you get your bathroom renovated it’s important that you understand the bathroom isn’t going to be accessible for a few days and you need to prepare. Most homes have at least two bathrooms so the biggest inconvenience will be traffic—but if you have an older or smaller home or apartment you may have to consider asking a neighbor if you can borrow their bathroom for a few days. Preparing yourself and your family for less access to a bathroom will make the renovation go just a bit easier.

 

Bring in a Plumber

Almost any bathroom renovation is going to need a plumber. Even if you’re going to give it a go yourself you should consult a plumber. If you’re hiring bathroom renovation contractors you need to ensure at least one of them is a plumber. Luckily there are literally hundreds of great plumbers that are in LA, Chicago, New York and most major (and minor) cities and towns across the country. It’s the only way to avoid costly mistakes like a damaged water pipe or shoddy plumbing that leaves your toilet inaccessible for longer than you expect. It can eat away at your budget to bring in a plumber but it saves a lot of time, stress, and money in the long run.

 

Fully Consider Your Space

Your bathroom may look small but there’s a good chance that if you really thought about it there could be a lot more space than you currently have. Think about how much space there really is in your bathroom and how you can make the most of it. You can also consider investing in space-saving units that look small but hold a lot of room for things like towels and laundry. Is your tub or shower too big? Consider getting something a little smaller. Find out how big your bathroom really is and work with the space.

Bathroom Sketch

Focus on Function

That beautiful tile mosaic you’re looking at will be nice for a little while, but after a bit, you’re going to appreciate an efficient toilet or new sink rather than the tile mosaic. To get the best bang out of your money invest in better features and fixtures. Of course, you should get a design you like but you should be spending more money on the functional parts of your renovation: toilets, showers, tubs, and sinks than you do on tiles and decorating. If you have money to burn then go for function and fanciness. But, if you have to pick just one then function wins out every time.

 

Plan to Change the Plan

Do you know the phrase “expect the unexpected”? It’s something you definitely need to do when planning any renovation—and this is especially true with bathroom renovations. Make a plan but be flexible enough to make adjustments if the time comes to alter the plan. Maybe it’s going to take longer than you think and you need to find different bathroom alternatives, or it’s going to cost more than you expect. Maybe that ideal color scheme that you thought up doesn’t work after all. There are lots of things that can change and they can overwhelm you if you aren’t ready. So be ready for change and go with the flow.

Renovating a bathroom doesn’t need to drive you insane. If you aren’t fully prepared for all the work that comes with a renovation though, it most certainly will cause a lot of stress. Just do some research, put together a solid plan, and be prepared to land on your feet when the rug is swept out from under you.