5 BATHROOM RENOVATION MISTAKES TO AVOID
If you’ve decided to invest in your dream, you want to make sure you’re doing it right. There’s nothing worse than putting your blood, sweat, and tears into bringing your beautiful vision to life and instead, ending up out of pocket, with disaster on your hands. All because you made a few common bathroom mistakes that could have easily been prevented along the way. Knowing what others have done wrong will help you to avoid making those same mistakes yourself. Go into your project prepared. After all, the more prepared you are, and the more you know, the further your bathroom dream can go!
So save the hair pulling for someone else. Instead, read about these ten bathroom mistakes to avoid so you can walk away knowing what not to do when you’re first starting out. Follow our advice and you’ll soon be putting your feet up at the end of a long day, enjoying the bubbles in your shiny new tub, worry-free.
WHAT NOT TO DO – A HANDFUL OF THE MOST COMMON BATHROOM RENOVATION MISTAKES
1) FLYING HIGH OVER YOUR INITIAL BUDGET
If the budget you set isn’t realistic from the get-go, it won’t be long before you get a shock to the system as the bills start piling up. So many people who throw their heart and soul into renovating their bathroom lose track of costs and get carried away in the design process. While picking out their dream fittings, passionate homeowners often forget to consider the cost of plumbing, draining, ventilation, and the general trade work associated with renovation projects. Before long, they have already gone way beyond the original budget and have become stressed beyond measure.
HOW TO AVOID UNNECESSARY STRESS AND KEEP WITHIN BUDGET
Renovating your bathroom is no time for anxiety. It should be a time for excitement and new adventures. Start by planning things out methodically. Do your research and make sure you know exactly what bathroom mistakes to avoid. A reasonable bathroom renovation investment for a Sydney home is approximately 3% of the property value. So not only will you enjoy a bathroom full of tranquility and relaxation, but you’ll also still have a good chance of increasing the overall value of your home if you do choose to sell at a later date. When selecting the centrepieces of furniture that will frame the ambience of your room, don’t forget to set yourself a price range, and consider the cost of fitting, as well as other trade work you’ll need doing.
What’s more, make sure you double-check with your contractor to see if there are any discounts going. More often than not, you will be able to find high-quality products on offer at great prices. So remember to ask the right questions and work with the right team of honest professionals, who not only have your best interests at heart but also have a large network of suppliers who can find you a great deal.
2) TRYING TO DO TOO MUCH
From overcrowded spaces to garish patterns that clash, many homeowners get so carried away in their vision that they lose focus of what actually works. When visiting an innovative showroom, it can be so easy to fall in love with particular features and fittings, tiles, and styles. But pack your space with too much and you risk not only going overboard, but also miscalculating scales, mismatching tiles, or choosing furniture that compete with one another for the centre of attention.
HOW TO USE YOUR SPACE WISELY AND ALIGN YOUR VISION WITH BEST PRACTICES
Less is often more. Try to stick with one theme and choose consistent furniture and patterns that complement one another. When deciding between all your favorite features, seek the advice of a professional designer who can walk you through the best options for you and your vision. Also, remember to be realistic. If your bathroom is small, choose furniture that fits the scale of the room and try to maximize space by using alternative storage techniques like mirror cabinets.
If your bathroom is spacious, think about creating different zones and don’t try to fill every inch of space. After all, simplicity can speak volumes.
3) MAKING SHORT-SIGHTED DECISIONS
Living in the moment is great for the soul but not so good for increasing the value of your house! Two common bathroom renovation mistakes which can directly impact the return on investment of your new bathroom include:
- Choosing fixtures that are trendy now but date easily
- Deciding to scrap the only bathtub in the house in the search for practicality and more floor space
HOW TO MAKE WISE DESIGN DECISIONS
Trends come and go. And although there’s nothing wrong with opting for a statement bathroom, it’s important to recognize that it may well be out of fashion within a year or two. Knowing where to draw the line between what’s trendy now, and what styles will stand the test of time is key. If you’re prepared to make subtle compromises between your dream bathroom and what actually suits the style and structure of your home, you’re bound to create a room that lives up to your vision, and also adds value to your property in the long-run.
It may be worth discussing your ideas with an expert too, to check there are no holes in your plan. Many homeowners decide to remove the only bathtub in their house, for example, to make room for extra space. The risk in doing this is that you may reduce your pool of potential buyers. Many young families, for example, need to bath their children. Others looking to completely change the layout of their current bathroom, forget to factor in the cost of those changes. Acknowledging and planning for the plumbing, electricity, building, and ventilation works associated with major structural changes will help you to budget accordingly. Researching the ins and outs of bathroom renovations before you get started can save you heaps of time, money, and stress!
4) TAKING STORAGE SPACE FOR GRANTED
Don’t compromise beauty for practicality. Clutter has the power to turn almost any stunning new bathroom into a haven for chaos! Many people get so absorbed in the aesthetics of their new tranquil hub that they forget to consider the main function of a bathroom. Choose incorrectly, and you can end up with insufficient storage space, or worse still… storage space that is just as useless as it is glamourous!
HOW TO MAKE ROOM FOR YOUR TOILETRIES IN STYLE
Choose wisely. Consider your daily bathroom routine before making any final decisions. Have you thought about eye-level storage? Have you considered using wall space? Have you looked for storage inspiration? Have you chosen a highly functional vanity, mirror, or tallboy that accommodates for your toiletries without compromising on style? There are many sneaky design tricks you can follow to get that extra space without losing the roomy feel so often associated with a minimalist bathroom. Here are a few ideas from our showroom to trigger your imagination and ensure your essential bathroom supplies have a space of their own, without wreaking havoc on your newly-built room of tranquility!
5) MISSING THE LITTLE DETAILS
It’s so easy to focus on the centrepieces; to get lost in the design; to become fixated by the aesthetics and ambience, that the little things so often get forgotten about until it’s either too late or too costly to change. From major bathroom mistakes such as poor ventilation and lighting to simple things like lack of privacy and tiles that aren’t aligned – it’s the small details that can make such a big difference to the overall quality and success of your bathroom renovation.
HOW TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO DETAIL
Firstly, make sure you’ve planned out your renovation project well before getting started. Things like poor ventilation, lighting, and privacy can be avoided from the get-go. Consider working with a qualified bathroom renovator who can help you plan out your project and guide you through every step. If you do decide to go it solo though, don’t forget to think about the practicalities of your design idea.
Transforming your bathroom into a unique and therapeutic space within budget and without stress doesn’t have to be difficult. There are several ways to make your bathroom renovation easier. For starters, planning properly is always a winner. And not being afraid to seek advice when making key design, supply, and building decisions will certainly save you a bunch of headaches too! What’s more, now you know the top 5 bathroom mistakes to avoid. Use this knowledge wisely and you’ll soon be on your way to fulfilling your bathroom dreams!
Thinking of renovating your bathroom and looking for a little more guidance? Chat to one of our bathroom experts today and fire any questions you have our way.