You’ve been on Pinterest and found the bathroom design of your dreams — you can’t wait to start renovations to make it come to life. We know how exciting that feeling can be, but we also know that the most successful bathroom renovations are the result of careful and thorough planning.
We’ve created a list of questions to ask when remodeling a bathroom so that you can go into your renovations knowing exactly what your goals are.
It’s easy to look at your bathroom and see all the things you want to fix, but it can be helpful to start the renovation process by identifying what you already like about your bathroom. If you know what aspects of your bathroom are working, you can ensure they’re included or enhanced in the remodeled design. This will also help you to keep your budget down, as you won’t find yourself making unnecessary changes.
If you’re a bit stuck, consider the following:
Now that you know what you love about your bathroom, you can shift your attention toward things that you want to fix or improve. After all, something must have spurred on the need to renovate your bathroom, and these are the most important things to address.
Some common reasons for bathroom renovations include:
As you brainstorm, create a bathroom renovation checklist, making note of your favorite and least favorite things. This is a fantastic thing to have at the ready if you plan on hiring professionals to design and implement your new bathroom, as they’ll understand your exact goals for the space.
Structural bathroom changes are an important consideration, and they can greatly impact the cost and timeline of your renovation. A structural change includes any major work to the bones of your bathroom, such as the walls, ceiling, floor and fixtures. There are four main types of structural changes:
Once you’ve determined what structural changes you need, you can add this to your renovation plan to account for the extra budget and time it’ll require.
Your bathroom style influences the colors you’ll use, the materials you’ll select and the decorations you’ll purchase. Looking at bathroom inspiration pictures is a great way to find bathroom remodel ideas and identify a style that resonates with you. Start by looking at pictures of all types of bathroom styles and then begin to narrow it down. You may find that you’re drawn to certain design elements or like the overall feel of a bathroom design.
Do a quick search of all these styles to find one that fits your vision and the rest of your home.
Colors are an essential part of bathroom renovations, as they can dramatically alter the feel and style of the room. Painting your bathroom a new color is also one of the easiest renovations you can do. The most challenging thing is choosing a color!
A good place to start is to examine the colors throughout your home. Do you want to incorporate these in your bathroom or pick something different? You may have a favorite color that you’d like to use or a color you’ve always loved but never used in your home. If not, your chosen bathroom style can also help point you in the direction of certain color groups.
A color wheel can help you narrow down color options, especially if you have one color in mind but need to find secondary colors for decor. Look into the types of color schemes to see what other colors will go with your chosen color. As an example, monochromatic schemes use varying shades of the same color, while complementary color schemes use colors opposite each other on the wheel.
Color psychology is another way you can choose colors for your bathroom. To evoke feelings of calmness and relaxation, for example, use greens, blues, purples or grays. Your bathroom will feel like a sanctuary perfect for getting ready or winding down.
When you have an idea of the colors you want in your bathroom, the 60-30-10 rule will help you distribute them. The main color should make up 60% of the room, like on the walls. Your next color should be 30% of the room, such as on cabinets and curtains. The third color — your accent color — is only used in 10% of the room. Think artwork, towels and rugs.
Understanding how many people will need to use the bathroom at once can impact the choices you make regarding its design and functionality.
If you’re looking at primary bathroom remodel ideas, you’ll notice they often include a double vanity so that two people can use the bathroom at once. Children’s bathrooms generally have a bathtub and lots of space so that parents and their children can be together during bathtime. If you want to access a bathroom from two sides — such as between two kid’s rooms — you could create a Jack and Jill layout with two doors. If you only need the bathroom for one person, you can make it smaller and include fewer fixtures.
Another thing to consider when renovating a bathroom is the fixtures that require plumbing. Installing anything related to plumbing can get costly, and certain structural renovations — like altering the layout of your bathroom — will also require some plumbing work.
A few plumbing-related fixtures that would require careful consideration are:
Start by understanding the plumbing in your current bathroom. Make a note of where your pipe outlets are, and try to determine if the pipes run in the walls or the floor. These are all factors that can have an impact on your renovation. You may also need to replace your pipes if they are too narrow for your new fixtures or if they are old.
Lighting can transform your bathroom and make it a place you’re happy to spend time in. When you’re deciding on how to renovate your space, you’ll need to determine what lighting you need.
Most people install bright ceiling lights in their bathrooms, but there are other lighting fixtures you can choose. If you’d like to see yourself in the mirror better at night, you can add some lighting around or above your mirror. Wall sconces can add light to dark parts of the room, and accent lights can bring attention to certain design features, such as paintings and mirrors. You could also consider installing dimmable lights so that you can make your room feel dark and moody while taking a bath or bright and happy while doing your hair.
A bathroom’s function will inform the design and construction of the room, so you’ll want to think about it early on. Most bathrooms are used for personal care, but you should think about the other activities you’ll need room for.
Here are a few bathroom functions that you would need to design and budget for:
Bathroom storage is an essential consideration during a bathroom remodel, especially if you are currently struggling with a lack of storage space. A bathroom with sufficient storage can go a long way in keeping your home clean and tidy.
To determine what storage you’ll need in your ideal bathroom, think of the things you often reach for, as well as those you need less frequent access to, like extra toilet paper. As always, it’s a good idea to make a list. To help you get started, here are some common items that people store in their bathrooms:
You’ll also need to factor in how much space you have for storage. With smaller bathrooms, you’ll have to get savvy with shelves and optimized wall-mounted cabinets. Larger bathrooms have the flexibility for free-standing cupboards and larger vanities.
Wellborn Cabinet is a family-owned cabinet and cabinet accessories manufacturer. We’ve been the leading cabinet maker in the United States for more than 50 years, and we are proud to supply heirloom quality cabinets that last.
If you’re planning a bathroom renovation, we can help you create a bathroom that meets your functional and aesthetic needs. Our Bathroom Goals Worksheet will guide you through all of the questions in this article and more so you can start your planning process. Upon completion, a Wellborn Cabinet designer will contact you to help bring your project to life. We have a wide range of cabinet styles and finishes to fit any bathroom design and can customize them to fit your specific needs.
Fill in our worksheet or find a dealer to start your journey today!
