Bathroom renovations are one of the most popular home extensions or ways to revamp your space – and, more often than not, homeowners will attempt an upgrade themselves.
Why? For the smallest room in the house for one, it’s the most used by all members of the family and for that reason, tends to get shabbier faster. It’s also tempting to think that replacing fixtures and fittings can spruce up your bathroom’s style for less than it would cost to fit-out a new kitchen.
However, before you take the sledgehammer to that decrepit vanity or broken shower, you should read this.
Are you guilty of these five most common bathroom renovation mistakes?
- Spatial planning. Some of the worst bathroom renovation mistakes are the result of lack of preparation. You use this room daily, so it's vital to plan out the space to suit your needs exactly. Start by thinking about how you use the room and what elements you’ll need easy access to (for example, you should place the heated towel rack nearer the shower, so you don't have to cross a cold winter bathroom dripping wet). It might be your dream to have a spa bath, but will it fit into your ensuite? Do you really want to see the toilet the minute you walk in the door (it’s also nicer to have it nestled behind the door in case you accidentally walk in on someone else)?
- Unskilled DIY. It’s tempting to have a crack at the plumbing or tiling yourself, but the bathroom is the one room in your house that you should always call in the professionals to do. There’s a lot that can go wrong when it comes to plumbing, waterproofing and tiling and it’s pricey to redo if your bath starts leaking or the tiles won’t stay put. Plus, this is a wet area, so issues can crop up with bad plumbing that might take a fortune to fix – like damp getting into your walls, floor or ceiling. Play it safe and call in an expert.
- Bad lighting. Getting the right balance for your lighting is essential. For make-up application, you'll want to ensure no shadow lines are being generated near mirrors, for instance. Consider that LED lights can change the colour of skin tone and make-up easily. Also, think about the different parts of the bathroom – atmospheric lighting over the bath makes for a more relaxing soak.
- Inadequate ventilation. By law, you need to have at least a window that will open, but anyone who’s dealt with creeping mould due to a poorly designed bathroom will tell you that it pays to add extra ventilation that will vent the damp air quickly. Extraction fans are a must – choose the fan power depending on the size of your bathroom.
- Not enough storage. Storage is often the last thing on your list or missed entirely when you’re renovating a bathroom. But you’ll really notice it once it comes time to use the room every day. Think carefully about where you’re going to keep loo paper, make-up, cleaning products and dirty laundry. You should even go as far as checking that regularly used bottles and containers will easily fit in your chosen cupboards.