Planning Bathroom Renovations

Bathrooms are one of the busiest rooms in the house as well as a key feature when listing our home for sale. Old, dated houses have bathrooms that reflect the era they were built. Think peach tiles and bronze taps. But before you swing that mallet, think about these factors in a bathroom renovation.

The layout

Once a hole is drilled in a concrete floor, you can’t take it back! Meet with your contractor/builder and even your plumber to finalise the design of your bathroom. The layout of any home ranges from a basic diagram or a more complicated sketch. Both are from a bird’s eye view. The basic one below includes a tub, shower, toilet and two basins.

Master bath layout by Houseplans Helper

Bathtub, shower or both?

Renovating the bathroom gives you the chance to design it how you want it. Bathtubs are great to sink back and relax in. Showers with a rainfall showerhead are just as good. Or you can combine the two. This depends on your budget and how much space you have to use. Of course you also have to think “economically”. What option saves the most water?

Of course you can have fun with the aesthetics. Modern design has caught up to water efficiency. Hardware stores stock WELS approved fixtures that don’t scrimp on style.

The toilet

Again, this comes down to finalizing the layout and having the holes drilled. Will you have the toilet in the bathroom or have it next door? It depends on preference. You can save room putting the toilet in the same space. However, there’s more privacy and less “traffic” in the bathroom when it’s separate.

Toilets are water-hogs (12 litres per flush) so you have to shop around for one that’s friendly on both the environment and your bills. Go for one that has both half and full-flush options.