Last Updated on November 6, 2022 by Jason Nguyen
Bathrooms can either be a purely perfunctory room, or they can be a luxurious spa escape. If you are looking for that stay-at-home spa experience, use these five steps to help you design and realize your dream bathroom:
What are the steps in a bathroom renovation?
Planning and design are the first and probably most important steps in a bathroom renovation checklist. You’ll need to decide what you want to change, what you can live with, and what your budget is. Once you have a good idea of what you want, you can start shopping around for contractors or other professionals to help you with the project.
Demo and prep work are next on the list. This is where you’ll tear out the old fixtures and prepare the space for the new ones. It’s important to do a thorough job here so that your new bathroom looks its best.
Installation of new fixtures and finishes is where things really start to come together. This is where you’ll install your new toilet, sink, bathtub, shower, and other features. Pay close attention to the details here so everything looks perfect when it’s finished.
Final touches and cleanup are the last things on the list, but they’re still important. This is where you’ll add any final touches to the space, like painting or installing new trim. Then, you’ll need to do a thorough cleaning of the entire area to remove any dust or debris.
1. Gather Ideas
The most important step is gathering ideas. Do this online in a scrapbook. At the start while you are saving for the cost of your bathroom renovation you don’t need to be too worried about choosing ideas that go together.
After you have saved enough for the down deposit or can qualify for a loan, you will then want to go through and pick from the design details you like to create a great bathroom idea.
2. Create an Outline
Professional tradespeople work best when they have a concrete ideal to help you with. That’s why after you have gathered ideas, it’s time to put pen to paper.
This can be done on something as simple as a grid piece of paper, or by using interior design software (there are free versions available online). This way you can show your plumber and designer a visual representation of what you want done.
3. Work With a Great Plumber
Don’t be too set on your initial design, however. You will need to workshop it at the very least with a plumber. Bring your house floorplans, ideally with plumbing details, and workshop your design with them. There may be reasons why your current bathroom floorplan is the way it is, and changing it may be out of your budget.
4. Know When to DIY, and When to Call in a Professional
There are absolutely areas that you can handle in order to save money. It doesn’t take a lot to learn how to tile, for example, especially with the sheer number of online and video guides available. You can even practice beforehand to get the hang of it.
Knowing when to DIY or call a plumber is key. Tiling and painting your bathroom might be a simple matter, but the fact of the matter is if you are looking to install a shower, tub, sink, or toilet, you are going to need the experts on hand.
The same applies to the electricals in your home – do not, under any circumstances, do this on your own. It isn’t just a matter of safety; plumbing and electricals need to be done by certified technicians to ensure quality and safety. You may be invalidating your home insurance policy by doing anything less.
5. Have a Backup Bathroom
If you don’t have a second bathroom with a shower, you are going to want to have a backup solution. Perhaps a friend or neighbor who will allow you to use their shower while yours is being renovated, or a gym membership that has a great shower space for the few days yours is out of commission.
Having this backup bathroom in advance saves a lot of stress and hassle, allowing you instead time to DIY parts of your bathroom renovation in comfort.
