5 Tips for a Successful Bathroom Makeover

Some might say it’s just a bathroom, but to you, it’s a retreat. The only problem is that yours isn’t giving off the vibe you envision for this in-home getaway. In other words, it’s time for a bathroom makeover.

The project could be a lot to take on, but it’s nothing you can’t handle. Here are five tips to help make your bathroom update a success:

Crunch the Numbers
No matter the type of home improvement project, you should always make sure you have enough funds before diving in. Bathroom makeovers can cost thousands of dollars. You could pay for it with money you’ve saved up over the years, or you could try to get a loan or explore other financing options. Regardless, make sure you can afford it.

You also might want to consider how much time you plan on spending in the house—most homeowners won’t invest a ton of money into a dream bathroom if they plan on leaving. Still, you could justify a bathroom project if your space is outdated and you think a makeover will make it easier to sell your property.

Drum Up Design Inspiration
Log online or flip through a few design magazines until you find a handful of bathroom looks that spark your interest. You might not be able to incorporate all the features you love, but the designs might help you choose colors, hardware, countertops, and more.

Break Down the Budget
Once you decide on an overall amount you can spend, you should sit down and figure out where each dollar will go. Most of the time, you can bet that labor will cost about a third of the budget. Unless you’re planning a more superficial update—painting, updating hardware, swapping the shower curtain, etc.—you should pay an expert to handle the brunt of the hard work.

Then, you can figure out what you must include and what you can cut if money’s tight. In most cases, you should eliminate luxurious extras if money’s running low—you’ll need new tile, but you won’t need a steam shower. If you’re going all out, you could include these extras, as well as foundational updates such as new plumbing, windows or even electrical rewiring.

Have a Back-Up Ready
If your home only has one bathroom and you’re planning to knock it down and replace it entirely, where will you go in the interim? If you have another bathroom in the house, you’re in luck. Otherwise, you might have to arrange with neighbors to use their facilities, stay with a loved one for a few days while the water’s off or rent a portable toilet. No matter what, have this plan in place before you’re in desperate need of a bathroom and have nowhere to go.

Stick to the Plan
Throughout the process, you’ll want to check back in with your plan and budget. Make sure that your spending is in control and that you’re sticking to the design you initially envisioned. Veering from either might cause the project to take longer or cost much more, both of which would make the project more of a stressor than it should be.

If you take all the above precautionary steps, you can go from planning to completion as painlessly as possible. Even better, you’ll end up with the bathroom of your dreams.

Your retreat is waiting.

Source: Megan Wild/RISMedia’s Housecall