5 Tips for a Bathroom Remodel in 2023 that will Save You Time and Money!
Bathroom remodels are one of the most exciting renovation projects a homeowner can undertake. After all, who doesn’t relish the thought of creating a spa-like oasis within the comfort of their own home?
However, many homeowners are woefully unprepared when it comes to planning and executing a successful project. If you are one of these people, the following breakdown will provide a comprehensive look at everything you need to know regarding your bathroom remodel.
1. Estimate Your Budget and Secure Financing
When planning any type of home renovation, it is critical to have a solid idea of what the project will cost and have the financing on hand prior to breaking ground on the work. Unless you are planning to sell the house upon completion of the project and use a portion of the capital gains to pay for the project, it is best to pay with cash and avoid taking out costly loans to pay for home improvement. If you do not have sufficient cash to pay for the project, consider the following ideas to secure lower-cost financing than you will receive with an unsecured personal loan:
Refinance your home and use the equity to pay for the renovations
A home equity loan, in which a lump sum is borrowed against the accrued equity of the house
A home equity line of credit, which provides a revolving credit line against the equity of your home, a beneficial option for those looking to perform small projects in a piecemeal process
Having a budget and financing in place is especially essential for a bathroom remodel, as there is a wide range of project types. According to Remodel Magazine there are several tiers of bathroom projects that will carry a wide range of average costs in the South Atlantic region. These include:
Midrange bath remodel ($23,134) - this may include simple upgrades such as replacing the backsplash, switching dated fixtures with black bathroom faucets and installing a new toilet.
Universal bath remodel ($37,310) - this may include more comprehensive upgrades, such as switching out an old tub for a walk-in shower, replacing the flooring, and installing a new sink and vanity.
Upscale bath remodel ($72,856) - this may include luxury bathroom upgrades that include adding to existing space and replacing all old materials with modern materials.
While your project may fall anywhere within this spectrum, you can reasonably expect to see between a 50% and 60% return on investment in the form of increased resale value upon completion of the project.
2. Plan a Lighting Scheme
Freestanding Marble bathtub with timber floors and beautiful natural daylight.
As a quality bathroom is all about atmosphere, lighting is a critical component in bathroom design. Bathrooms must be able to provide bright ceiling light for the wee hours of the morning, capitalize on natural sunlight during the day, and create soft, soothing light for evening relaxation.
As a result, a layered approach works best for bathroom lighting. Some ways to implement this include:
Bright, warm LED lights for overhead fixtures
Skylights or Large windows with adequate shading
Softer vanity lights and mirror flanks
It is also important to plan your wall colors to best absorb or reflect the light to match the overall mood you are trying to create.
3. Choose Sustainable Products
Sustainability is the name of the game in 2021. Not only can sustainable features protect the environment and reduce the cost of homeownership, but they are extremely attractive to buyers on the resale market. Ways to include sustainable products into your bathroom remodel include:
Low flow sink faucets, showerheads, and toilets to help conserve water usage
Durable surfaces, such as a pebble shower floor or quartz countertop, can be easily cleaned and will not require energy-consuming maintenance or replacement
Tankless water heaters, which have been shown to use 22% less energy than gas storage models.
4. Create Seamless Transitions Between Flooring Materials
The flooring choice can often get tricky in a bathroom, as there are generally a number of transitions. While you definitely want to use some type of durable, slip-resistant, hard surface for your bathroom floor, you also need to make sure that it transitions well with your shower tile, area rugs, and hallway flooring. Fortunately, there are many types of flooring that can help you match your floor choice with a variety of design schemes.
5. Include Safety Features
Roughly 80% of home accidents occur in the bathroom. Therefore, not only can safety features be of benefit to the current homeowner, but they will be extremely appealing to an ageing population on the real estate market.
Some ways to enhance the safety of your bathroom during a re-modeling project include:
Adding shower seats
Building walk-in doors for the bathtub
Including ADA grab bars in the shower and around the toilet
Adding a non-slip finish to the floor
Using vanities with rounded--as opposed to pointed--sides and edges
The Best Advice for Planning a Bathroom Remodel
Although bathroom remodels are among the most exciting projects a homeowner can undertake, many homeowners struggle with how to effectively plan and execute them.
By considering the tips outlined in this article, you have all of the tools at your disposal to ensure that your bathroom remodel turns out as successful as possible.
For supplemental resource on this topic check out the article by Porch What You Need To Know About Remodeling The Bathroom
Skylar Ross is a contributor to the Innovative Building Materials blog. He is a content writer for the construction and home improvement industries with an interest in landscaping, outdoor remodeling, and interior design. Skylar is focused on educating homeowners, contractors, and architects on innovative materials and methods of construction that increase property value, improve sustainability, and create a warm and welcoming ambiance.
