Aside from your kitchen, your bathroom is one of the most important spaces in your home.
Not only do family members spend a lot of time in the bathroom (some more than others) getting ready for their day, it’s also a place used for a bit of refuge and relaxation. It’s no wonder then that many people think about bathroom renovations as a top priority when they’re considering home upgrades.
Remodeling bathrooms doesn’t need to be an overly pricey proposition, with the right contractor and smart bathroom design. The possibilities are vast – you can add a massage tub using soothing jets to help the stress of the day melt away, or even build a sit-down shower.
Another popular addition during bathroom renovations is to add a double-sink vanity, allowing two people to groom at the same time. This option opens up the opportunity to add a larger mirror, which can be lit from above or from the sides for the best visibility.
This is of course is also the perfect time to choose a new bathroom paint scheme that is relaxing (earthy tones are always popular), and to redo the flooring (make sure it’s a waterproof plank or tile).
But how do you upgrade for a small bathroom? A smart bathroom design can also enhance even a tiny bathroom space, while improving its function and that of the surrounding space. For example, you could relocate a bathroom wall and create a hallway closet space for much-needed additional storage.
Instead of a long tub with a shower in an already cramped bathroom, you can replace it with an enclosed shower that has a rain showerhead that dispenses water directly from above. You can also replace any bulky hanging lights with LED pot lights, which save space as well as energy.
Letting an expert general contractor assess your bathroom space can help you transform it, and you can do it in less time and for less money than you may expect. Make sure you choose a contractor that has a portfolio of bathroom renovations to show, and that can handle everything from demolition, to drywalling, to installing or moving plumbing.
Putting bathroom renovations as your to-do list on your checklist is a great way to improve the overall feel of your home, and studies have shown it’s also one of the best in terms of return on investment. So don’t put off remodeling bathroom spaces in your home any longer!
You should never think of a bathroom renovation as an extra expense. Even the smallest upgrade adds a tremendous amount of benefit. Remember that you and most other people spend a huge amount of time in the bathroom. What you do in there is your business, of course, but no matter what it is, don’t you want to do it in luxurious comfort?
At the very least, you do not want to do it in a place with a distracting leak, a toilet that refuses to flush, or while looking at a nondescript plain wall. You see, a renovation is not just about form, it is about function as well. Consider some of these benefits involving both those things.
1. Improve Your Own Enjoyment and Relaxation with a Renovation
Your bathroom is not just a place to perform a function. It can be, and that is how some people use it. Consider your own comfort and relaxation. Even small changes can make a huge difference. You can place something soft onto that cold, impersonal toilet seat.
You can make a small space feel larger with changes to colors and patterns. Many people do not think of them that way, but those small changes are, in fact, renovations.
There are also the big changes. Turning the tub into something more spa-like, so you can go from simply taking a bath, to luxuriating in bubbly pleasure. You can upgrade the shower heads and even add more of them, to make a shower much more appealing.
Some people even like to add small screens in the wall or mirror, so they do not miss a show, a game, or just to have something to look at.
Always consider your comforts. Outside of everything else, it is probably the number one benefit to a bathroom renovation.
2. Improve the Appearance of the Bathroom and the Home
A bathroom renovation will, of course, make the bathroom look better. But it will also make your home as a whole look better.
Have you ever gone to someone’s house, admired it and then walked into their bathroom? Was the bathroom the equal of the rest of the home? If it was not, then you should have suggested they think about renovating it.
Appearance is not everything. It is pointless to make a bathroom look better without adding functionality, but appearance does count for a lot. Do not be the person with the gorgeous home and hideous bathroom. This goes for all of your bathrooms as well. Some people will upgrade the main bathroom, but neglect the second or half bath. Your other bathrooms deserve love too.
Besides, a nice appearance also adds to your comfort as mentioned previously. The two can go hand-in-hand.
3. Add Space to Your Bathroom with a Remodel
Space is important on many levels. When you walk into your bathroom, do you have to turn sideways to get something done? If you sit on the toilet, are you literally right next to or within touching distance of some other bathroom fixture? You need some space in there.
This also goes back to your own comfort. No one should feel claustrophobic in their own bathroom. There are two ways to add space with a bathroom remodel.
Add more space with construction
Add virtual space by switching out fixtures and components
Both of these options are viable. If you have the means, then adding literal space can help a lot. If your bathroom fixtures are already up to date, then spacing them out is all you need.
If you cannot add physical space, you can start the process of swapping your components for other, more efficient ones that save space. That is one way to make your current space seem larger than it really is.
In addition, that extra space can turn into space you can use to declutter the rest of your home. You can add more cabinets in the bathroom or additional storage space for towels and linens.
You can move the bulk toilet paper from the garage or kitchen and put it where it belongs. There are a lot of possibilities; it is up to you and your contractor to figure out how best to utilize them.
4. Increase the Value of the Entire Home with a Bathroom Renovation
Most remodeling work increases a home’s value. When selling a home, potential buyers often look to the bathrooms as a statement of the home in general. If the bathroom is nice, they assume everything else is nice as well. Some people go out specifically looking for remodeled bathrooms.
A bathroom remodel can literally pay for itself in its return on investment. It does not always happen that way, but if you pay attention to the details, you can make your bathroom work for you. Even if you have no plans on selling anytime soon, it will feel good knowing that your bathroom put work in for you already.
5. Improve the Cleanliness of Your Bathroom and Home
A more open and spacious bathroom gives you the ability to clean it more effectively. In fact, there is a psychological aspect to a more beautiful bathroom. Simply because it is new and renovated, you may have more of a drive and incentive to keep it immaculate. When dealing with your old bathroom, you can become a little lax in keeping it clean.
Additionally, old fixtures and bathroom components can hide things that contribute to bad hygiene. For instance, rusty pipes carry stuff to your shower, bath, and sink that you probably do not want touching you.
All that buildup on your shower head is not anything you want mixing with your water. These things include bacteria, germs, and pathogens. A quick upgrade, or a complete overhaul, can make that particular problem go away.
6. Improve Your Home Renovation Confidence
Many people want to make large and sweeping renovations to their home. But they are scared of the process, and all that it entails. A good place to start with is the bathroom. As mentioned, you can make small or large changes.
Either way, you will gain the confidence of knowing that not only is it possible to perform a renovation, it is also not as hard as you previously thought. You may just suddenly find yourself wanting to redo the kitchen, convert a bedroom, or finally get around to finishing that basement.
Let your bathroom renovation represent that first step towards turning your home into your dream home.
7. Save Money on Utilities and Add Energy Efficiency to Your Home
You do not have to go completely “green.” However, simply updating old fixtures can help you save money on water. It is also an easy way for you to help your fellow human beings as well. Many people assume that these upgrades will cause you to lose out on your comforts, but that is not true.
Low-flow fixtures sound like they cannot handle comfortable pressure, but they absolutely can. That is why many are trying to move from the “low-flow” title and call them “high-efficiency” instead. The same goes for lighting.
You can also save a lot of money by doing these smaller upgrades yourself. Swapping out a shower head is not the most difficult thing in the world. Neither is putting in some new light bulbs. Of course, if you want to go beyond that, speak to your contractor.
8. Improve Your Overall Health
Much like improving cleanliness, a bathroom upgrade can also improve your overall health. There are two different levels to this improvement; psychological and physical.
Remember that all of those old fixtures could hide a lot of things that can make you sick over time. The same is true of your walls and other immovable surfaces. Mildew and mold can build up without you ever noticing.
Keep in mind that bathrooms represent a moist and humid environment, which is perfect for mold propagation. This is especially true of older homes, or homes that have never had any changes to the bathroom. Over long periods of time, that growth can occur and make you sick without you realizing the reason.
There is also a psychological effect. A newly renovated bathroom that looks and feels good, will make you feel good. It is as simple as that. And while it is not the one thing that can bring you out of a depression, it can definitely lift your spirits a little every time you step into it. When you feel good, you feel better. That is just a fact, look it up.
What Are You Waiting For? Start Your Renovation
You may think that a remodel or renovation will cost too much. It is true that these things can get a little pricey, especially if you need several different subcontractors. But even when the price is high, there is still a good return on your investment over time.
As you can see, you do not have to go all out for your renovation. You can do small things, or just one thing at a time. There is nothing wrong with a slow renovation. You can simply get new faucets installed, or change the shower head.
You can get a paint job on the walls, or add color and decorations. You do not have to break the bank to make your bathroom cleaner, more efficient, more comfortable and better looking.
For larger jobs, always consult with a professional. It’s important that somebody who knows they’re doing advise you on the best way to go about making a major change to your bathroom. There is nothing really stopping you from starting. Do some research, see what is out there, and get to it.
