Plan a Great Bathroom Remodel
by Mary Butler
In your home, the bathroom is most likely the smallest room, but also one of the most important due to its frequent use. These two reasons alone make your bathroom remodeling project especially important and challenging to plan. Ideally, your new bathroom design will maximize your bathroom's limited space, make it more stylish and functional for you today, and appeal to others in case you want to sell your home someday.
Research Bathroom Remodeling Ideas
The first step in planning a bathroom remodeling project is to find examples of bathroom designs that speak to you. Clip magazine photographs, surf the Internet, browse design centers, and compile a stack of samples representing the styles and materials you like, from bathroom tile to sinks and faucets.
Outline a budget and determine whether you will do the project yourself, hire a contractor, or split the work. Surface changes, such as paint, caulking, and changing out a medicine cabinet, are easy for do-it-yourselfers. But if you plan to install new bathroom plumbing fixtures, re-glaze the tub, or add recessed lighting, hiring someone who can get job done quickly and professionally might be the way to go, especially if you're still finding your way around a toolbox.
If you have a particularly tricky space, consider hiring a licensed bathroom designer who can help you map out the best way to proceed and assist with purchasing fixtures that fit the space well.
Stick with Bathroom Remodeling Basics
Selecting colors from the "cool" color palette such as pastel tones, neutrals, and whites can create a feeling of spaciousness--and allow for quick and easy style changes down the road. Be sure to assess your lighting and light fixtures. Recessed lighting with task lighting around the mirror works well in tighter spaces.
One of the easiest ways to modernize your bathroom is to open up the space. Think about swapping out a large bathroom vanity for a pedestal sink, replacing a clunky older toilet with a sleeker model such as a hatbox design, and removing wall-hung shelves, racks, or any decorative accessories that stick out and make the room appear smaller.
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