Thinking about a bathroom remodelling project? Cowan Building investigates how to make your bathroom renovation a huge success.
Everyone loves a brand-new bathroom! But with any bathroom remodeling project, it’s important to get off to a good start. Before you start, getting a good clear picture of your bathrooms budget is important. Take the time to examine exactly what you are looking for and how much you must spend.
Bathroom budgets can be tricky as with so many options, that can add to your costs, it’s important to get the exact budget out in the open first. Plumbing and electric costs can add to your end project, and these can cost more than just a standard pull-out and refit project. It can help to get a quote from a professional on what you are hoping to achieve and then work within that clear budget frame for your new bathroom remodel.
When it comes to bathroom renovations, as a general rule of thumb, the experts suggest not spending any more than 15% of your home's total value on any one room. This is because the bathroom will not proportionally add value to your home. In other words, if your home is worth $200,000 you should not spend more than $30,000 on your bathroom remodelling project.
Bathroom remodelling can bring in a pretty good return, with some experts suggesting estimates of returns of $1.50 to $2.00 for every $1.00 spent. Let’s face it – the bathroom and kitchen are the one place in the home that dates quickly, particularly if the previous owner was into the more trending fashions of the day – cue those 1970 styles - and not the traditional characteristics that tend to age well.
Remodeling Bathroom Costs
The cost of remodelling a bathroom can vary depending on what you want to achieve in your result and all the extras you are wanting to include. They can cost anywhere from $10,000 to over $100,000. Again, your budget and home's total value will also play a factor in how much you are willing or should spend.
Full bathroom remodelling costs including replacing bathtubs, showers, toilets, and vanities, can cost anything from $20,000 to $50,000. If you are also considering adding new toilets or perhaps splashing out on some fancy new additions – think bidet toilets, heated floors, fancy vanities, and heated towel rails – the costs could blow out dramatically.
To save money – consider keeping everything where it once was. This will decrease your plumbing bill which can add hugely to your bathroom remodelling costs. Moving toilets, showers, and vanities can come with a very hefty price tag.
This is where planning is paramount. Get busy with a vision board, do some research on costs of this vision board, and adjust accordingly with the budget you have. It’s always best to leave some money aside for unforeseen circumstances – after all, no one really knows what is lurking behind those 30-year-old bathroom tiles!
Bathroom Renovation
Now is the time to really get into the planning phase. Once you have a good indication of bathroom remodelling costs and the bathroom renovation budget, this is when the fun begins. Consider all the things you love and loathe about your current bathroom. What functionality is it lacking? Perhaps not enough storage? The shower is too small? Or the bathroom vanity is in desperate need of an update. Is the vanity mirror too small? Or too big? Or are you just considering a new walk-in shower, new bathmat, and a good lick of paint or new bathroom tiles?
Having a good solid plan of what you not only want your bathroom remodelling to look like but also how it will function will allow you to design your project plan. This will make it much easier for your bathroom designer and builder to understand what you are expecting with the outcome of your bathroom renovation.
Small Bathroom Ideas
Not all of us have the pleasure of having a large space at our disposal when considering a bathroom renovation. The great news is that there is plenty of stunning small bathroom remodel ideas lurking on the internet. One good tip is to consider if the small bathroom has a bath that is not used? Yes, baths do make good resale but not every bathroom needs to have one. If you have a second bathroom with a bathtub then consider getting rid of the bathtub completely.
Walk-in showers are a great option, not only are they highly functional they can also make a smaller space seem much larger. Think floor-to-ceiling glass doors that allow for an unobscured view of the shower and add to the openness of the room. If you do have a shower curtain and not glass – hang the shower curtain high, this will add to the room being larger.
Stay away from dark block colours that can add a boxed-in effect to your new bathroom renovation. Light bright neutral colours with accents of deeper shades in bathroom vanities and vanity mirrors, bathroom fixtures, and fittings, work well. Think black shower fixtures and white bright tiles – stunning. Or add a feature wall with decorative bathroom wallpaper designs. Just because the space is small does not mean it needs to be boring!
Clever storage is also important, think high shelves or tiled alcoves for bathroom products. Floating vanities are also great as they add an element of air and lightness to the room. Large vanity mirrors can also allow the space to seem much larger than it is.
With some great preparation, clever ideas, and considering your functionality needs, you can create the perfect bathroom for your home. Regardless of whether your bathroom remodel is for a small space or an ultra-large area. Happy planning bathroom lovers!