Everything you need to know to renovate your bathroom

Bathroom renovations are a fun and functional home improvement project that can add serious value to your real estate investment. Whether you’re giving your powder room a DIY makeover or working with a contractor to transform your ensuite, here are some key things to consider when renovating your bathroom:

Photo Credit: bmak

It can be hard to estimate total bathroom renovation costs, but it helps to prepare a budget in advance. Room size, materials, plumbing costs, installation costs, and the overall scope of work will all impact how much you spend, with average cost of bathroom remodel cost ranging from $5,000 to $20,000.

When planning bathroom renovation costs, don’t forget to factor in labour — professional plumbers and contractors typically account for 20% of all projects. While they can be a pricey undertaking, your bathroom renovation costs are well worth it; most remodels result in a return-on-investment of about 70 percent.

If you’re wondering where to get ideas to renovate your bathroom, try browsing Pinterest, Houzz, and Instagram to discover the latest design trends from bathroom designers. Dramatic free-standing tubs, spacious walk in showers, gorgeous marble bathroom vanities, natural stone floor tiles, statement wallpaper, colouful ceramic bathroom tiles – there’s plenty of virtual inspiration to be found online via content-sharing platforms. Doing some research and creating a mood board will help you channel your favourite interior designers and envision the perfect colour scheme and design aesthetic for your bathroom makeover.

Lighting is key in any home renovation project, especially in a bathroom where you need plenty of shadow-free light for applying makeup, shaving, and practicing your skincare routine. So, what are the best bathroom lighting ideas for your space? Here are a few options:

• Bathroom wall sconces: install a pair of wall scones flanked on either side of your mirror at eye level to provide even illumination – this way the light is evenly diffused across your face.
• LED mirror: for a modern look that delivers a lot of bright, flattering light, consider a functional selfie-ready mirror with built-in LED lighting around the edge.

Pendant lighting: if you’ve got a lot of space to work with, a dramatic pendant light in the centre of the room or above the tub gives your bathroom an elegant, spa-like feel.

One of the easiest ways to renovate your bathroom is to swap out old hardware for fresh fixtures. Whether you like industrial brushed nickel, glamorous brass or trendy matte black, different metallic finishes will transform the look of your space with minimal cost and effort.

Create a cohesive look by selecting bathroom faucets, towel bars, toilet paper holders, showerheads, and other hardware that complements your design style. For a streamlined contemporary look, try installing sleek wall-mounted faucets over your sink.

Looking for some small-space tips to make the most of your tiny bathroom? These bathroom renovation ideas will maximize your square footage without blowing your budget:

• Invest in a floating bathroom vanity: create the illusion of more space with a wall-mounted floating vanity.
• Install a recessed medicine cabinet: avoid cluttering up your countertops by hiding toiletries in a built-in recessed medicine cabinet with deep shelving.
• Switch to sliding shower doors: sliding or ‘bypass’ doors are the best shower doors for small bathrooms as they don’t take up any floor space when opening.