Planning the remodel of a bathroom can be equally exciting and confusing. If your budget permits, the best approach you can take is to hire a professional bathroom designer to help you eliminate the guesswork.
But whether you are hiring a professional bathroom renovation company who may supply a bathroom planner as a word.doc or if you are going DIY, there are a few important considerations that you need to be aware of. Remember, the bathroom is one of the most used areas inside the home. Poor planning and design can lead to several woes.
When writing out your bathroom planner for the upgrade of this important home space, there are four essential factors to consider when renovating your bathroom as most people only do this job a couple of times in their lifetime.
Location
Ideally, bathrooms should be placed near kitchens, laundry areas and bedrooms. The reason behind placing a bathroom near kitchens and laundry areas is that you need to optimise your home's hot water system. A shorter distance between these areas will translate to a more efficient distribution of heated water, and it can also help lower plumbing costs.
Placing the bathroom near bedrooms, on the other hand, will facilitate ease of use.
However, there are cases wherein this is not possible. The best solution to this is to install a continuous flow water heating system.
Size
Before designing the bathroom, it is advisable to get an accurate measurement first. After this, you can draw a rough sketch for the layout and shape of the new bathroom. This will allow you to assess what will fit and what fixtures you have to leave out. One trick seasoned designers use to fit more into a small space is to place the bath, shower and vanity along one wall.
Number of people in the household
Consider the number of people in your household as well as their specific needs. For example, if you have children or elderly people in your home, you have to ensure that the new bathroom adequately meets their needs. For larger households, separate bath and shower and toilets can help minimise chokepoints.
Available resources
Before starting the project, you need to determine how much you can comfortably spend without compromising your finances. It is fairly easy to indulge with different materials and equipment for a bathroom, and keeping a firm budget will help you avoid overspending.
Consider, as well, the amount of time needed to finish the project, especially if there is just one bathroom in the house. You may have to make arrangements for a temporary bathroom or even accommodations.
A few tips on choosing materials and fixtures
Your choice of materials will depend largely on your personal preference and budget. For tiles, you may want to opt for ceramic, glass, natural stone or porcelain in neutral colours which stand the test of time.
For small bathrooms, consider wall basins with pedestals or shrouds. If you have extra space, consider semi-recessed, above-counter basins or even multiple basins.
In choosing tapware, start off with the basin tapware and proceed from there. Consider using mixers which offer good water flow and temperature control. If you have ample space, consider jetted bath or large soaking tubs. If there is little space in the bathroom, a corner tub might be your better option.
In choosing a bath, shape and size should be your primary considerations. Do make sure that taps are within easy reach.
You can save space in the bathroom by using wall-faced or wall-hung toilets. If you wish to save on water consumption, choose either a dual or low flush toilet.