Bathroom Remodeling: Essential Tips to Keep in Mind

Ready to tackle bathroom remodeling? Whether the desire for a refresh is because you’ve grown tired of the outdated style or hope to increase your home’s value, remodeling a bathroom takes some major considerations. Done correctly, you can transform a drab space into the spa-like retreat of your dreams. 

However, a bathroom remodeling project requires time and effort to get it right. Much more than painting walls and swapping out mirrors, a bathroom reno requires coordination to tie in with the rest of your home, reflect your personal style and all while providing functionality. 

Here are some of our top bathroom remodeling tips. Plus, we suggest the most aesthetically-pleasing and hardy flooring for this water-prone space. 

Flooring Ideas 

Raintree Waterproof Hardwood, Laguna Vibes, Egret

Flooring can provide an excellent foundation that ties together the overall design of your bathroom. And according to Consumer Reports, 80 percent of homeowners prefer a more practical, durable bathroom flooring over something that’s stylish. The good news is that it’s rather easy to find bathroom flooring that accomplishes both. 

Ceramic tile is often the first thing that comes to mind when choosing a durable, attractive flooring option. However, ceramic tile does have its drawbacks. Fortunately, in today’s age with modern water-resistant and waterproof flooring, this is not the only option.  If you love the tile aesthetic, we recommend luxury vinyl tiles which are more durable, softer underfoot, and affordable than ceramic.

When choosing the best flooring for your bathroom, stick with one of the following. This way, you can rest assured that you’re using the absolute best materials, capable of withstanding moisture damage and continuing to look amazing in high-traffic areas. 

Vinyl Sheet

Vinyl sheet flooring, and vinyl flooring in general, offers a more affordable option for bathroom remodeling projects. Capable of resembling anything from hardwood planks to ceramic tiles and high-end stones, vinyl sheet makes an attractive alternative. In place of less impervious flooring such as solid hardwood and tiles, which can buckle, cup and break, as well as invite moisture through grout and planks, vinyl sheet offers a significantly more durable solution. 

Beauflor Metro Plus Uptown Wheat

Since vinyl sheet typically comes in rolls of 12 or 13 feet, it also completely eliminates any seams in smaller bathroom spaces. Although, it is advised to incorporate a tile or rubber baseboard to prevent water from seeping under the outer edges. Able to take on lots of water, vinyl sheet flooring is perfect for splash-zones and even more ideal for a child’s bathroom, which sees lots of playtime. It also makes a great laundry room flooring. 

Vinyl Plank and Tile

Vinyl plank and tile flooring is available in multiple constructions and a great choice for basement bathrooms which can increase your home’s resale value. Vinyl plank and tile also offer a wide range of styles, colors and textures–from rustic wood-like planks to stones and concrete. 

Palmetto Road Intrigue Waterproof Tile Collection

Metroflor’s Deja New collection offers vibrant floor colors, from greens to reds and indigo blues. You can even mix other stones and weave looks from the collections to create an eye-catching bathroom floor design.

Waterproof  

Many homeowners desire hardwood, but it’s simply not practical in bathrooms. That’s where waterproof flooring comes into play. As a top contender for bathroom remodeling projects, waterproof flooring–and waterproof hardwood, in particular–can offer a convincing alternative. 

With the revolutionary Raintree waterproof hardwood collection, you will install 100 percent authentic hardwood floors that have the same modern advances, durability and performance of vinyl. Designed with an SPC-based rigid core beneath a real hardwood veneer, and a reinforced NINJA H2O Core technology, these hardwood floors are completely waterproof. You’ll never have to worry about topical spills in the bathroom ever again. And since they’re real hardwood, it will also increase the value of your home. 

Laminate

Laminate flooring is another wonderful option for bathrooms. However, it is only considered water-resistant, not waterproof, so there are some considerations and precautions to keep in mind. For instance, laminate flooring installed in a bathroom requires an extra bit of protection from moisture and splash zones, such as a waterproof silicone caulk. This extra barrier is both flexible and impenetrable, unlike a water-absorbing standard grout, and often necessary to prevent a voided flooring warranty. Able to naturally expand and contract, the silicone caulk can also fill in any gaps or cracks along the floor. 

Lacking a bathtub or shower stall, powder rooms and half baths are excellent places to install laminate flooring, due to less spillage and splash zones. For a fantastic water-resistant laminate flooring option, take a look at Beauflor's Hydrana collection, featuring noise-reducing properties and a material that offers a softer underfoot for standing at the vanity. Resembling textured wood planks, the Hydrana collection is offered in several shades and wood tones to complement any color palette. 

Other Remodeling Tips

Choosing the decor style and a suitable flooring for your bathroom remodel is a wonderful way to begin the process. It can help you to become inspired and work literally from the ground up. But once you’re at this stage, it’s important to follow through. From maintaining focus to making a plan and sticking to a set budget, here are some further remodeling tips to keep the momentum going.

Keep Purpose in Mind

When it comes to a bathroom remodeling project, be sure to keep the purpose of the space in mind. Is it a guest room bath in need of some hospitable finishing touches? Or is it a fixer upper that needs a full reno from the ground up? However much effort you put into your bathroom remodeling project, consider how it’s used. If you never take baths, replacing it with a sleek, large standing shower might make the space more inviting. If it’s a bathroom that hosts lots of kids, it’s important to make fixtures, cabinets and flooring entirely kid-friendly, splash-proof and safe.

Create a List of Must-Have Upgrades

Once you acknowledge the main purpose of the bathroom you wish to remodel, make sure to take a look around and create a list of must-have upgrades. Depending on who most frequents the bathroom, it also helps to ask other family members for any requests. If you and your partner share an ensuite master bathroom, a double vanity sink might be a high priority, as is a separate water closet. Since bathrooms tend to lack natural sunlight and have limited windows at best, you might want to also consider changing lighting fixtures to enhance the ambiance and offer proper space to get ready for the day. Also, consider adding dimmer switches. 

Map Out a Design Plan

Not only should you create a list of must-have upgrades, but your bathroom’s layout should also make sense for your lifestyle and also blend into the home. While it doesn’t have to be matchy-matchy per se, it still helps to create a more uniform look. For instance, you might want to avoid contrasting finishes that clash and distract from the rest of the home. In general, bathrooms should be treated like an extension of the surrounding rooms or space. For an ensuite master bath, carry the theme from the bedroom. 

Mapping out a design plan also means taking time into consideration. You don’t want a bathroom remodeling project to drag on for months, so setting a concrete plan will ensure you’re in and out fast. The typical bathroom takes roughly around 30 to 90 days to complete–without distractions and having everything scheduled and in place! In other words, have your rubber duckies in a row and resist making changes to the plan. Otherwise, you might wind up with more hidden expenses, unreturnable items and, of course, a delayed end date, which could mean sharing your only bathroom with more people. 

To set a plan in motion, speak to remodeling contractors to determine how long it will take for all components–from painting to installing floors and hanging lighting. Seeking a professional’s advice can help make your bathroom remodeling plans go smoothly.

Maximize Your Bathroom Space

One of the best things you can do when remodeling a bathroom is to maximize the space. Adding extra cabinetry, hidden compartments and possibly even removing walls and fixtures can open up a compact and tight-feeling bathroom, making it more inviting. 

For instance, glass shower doors on tubs and showers can make a bathroom appear deeper, especially since they’re typically installed along the farthest wall. If you have a cramped powder room, pedestal sinks can open up the floor space and make the bathroom appear spacious. Installing wall-to-wall cabinetry and mounting flush medicine cabinets can provide all the storage space you need as well, which works nicely for bathrooms lacking counter space. While it might take some creativity, finding ways to maximize your bathroom space can make a more functional, clutter-free area. 

Consider Your Budget

Before you undergo a bathroom remodeling journey, consider your budget. Knowing how much you can allocate to this space will help you further break down what to spend on items like fixtures and finishes, as well as the flooring. According to HomeAdvisor, the average bathroom remodel costs $10,724. A good chunk of the cost is labor, which averages 50 percent of the total project. While materials stay relatively consistent, the cost of labor can fluctuate based on your region and seasonal demand. 

It’s also a good rule of thumb to allocate 20 percent of your budget for unforeseen and unexpected costs. (Hint: There’s a good chance your bathroom remodeling project will encounter a few surprise expenses.) 

Design for the Future

When it comes to any remodel, you need to consider your future plans, not just your current living situation. For example, are you a newly married couple who plans on having kids soon? Then you might want to remodel that secondary bathroom to be more kid-friendly and child-proof. If you intend to sell the home in roughly five years and are remodeling the bathroom to improve your ROI, it’s important to take notice of materials that can both increase your home’s resale value and attract potential buyers. And if you plan to live in the home for the foreseeable future, it’s especially important to design it in a way that brings you enjoyment through design and functionality. 

Consider Heated Floors

If you are installing new floors, consider using a floor heating system. More commonly used to keep tile flooring warm, heated flooring systems can also be placed beneath many other types of flooring. A luxurious addition to any bathroom, it can make the flooring warm against bare feet as well as maintain a more comfortable ambient air temperature. 

Eager to Remodel Your Bathroom?

Desperate for a bathroom remodel? While any reno project can be overwhelming, we recommend taking baby steps. And the first step is to get inspired, choosing a great foundation that can tie together the space. Once you do that, you can turn to the paint, countertops and more, transforming your bathroom into the luxurious spa or playtime area your family will love and appreciate for years to come. 

Find your perfect floor at Twenty & Oak! We offer a wide range of water-resistant and waterproof flooring that is both stylish and durable, giving you the best of both worlds. You can also check out our virtual flooring showroom to discover something you like and order samples to see exactly how it comes across within your own home. 

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