Planning a new bathroom can be an exciting time for home renovators and DIY enthusiasts. The internet has made it easier than ever to find inspiration online and access a vast range of suppliers and bathroom companies.
But with so much choice, it can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming to choose the look, products and suppliers for your new bathroom project.
To help you keep a clear head and get started in the best way for you, here are three tips to focus on in the Planning Stage of your fabulous new bathroom.
New Bathroom Planning Tip #1: Decide if DIY is right for you
Renovating even a small bathroom, en suite or cloakroom can still be a time-consuming and demanding project. To ensure the best outcome for your home, give some serious thought to whether you have the time, energy, and desire required to persevere through all the work ahead.
Planning your new home sanctuary may feel exciting to begin with, when the work is all about vision boards and beautiful inspo images, but will your enthusiasm carry you through the evenings spent grouting tiles or figuring out how the toilet cistern plumbing works?
Of course, you can always call in the experts if you need to later on. But being realistic about whether you really want to DIY the project in the beginning stages can help you to choose the best option for you, i.e. the one that considers your free time, lifestyle, family commitments and abilities.
New Bathroom Planning Tip #2: Budget wisely
New bathroom installations can soon escalate into bigger or more expensive projects, especially once you’ve begun the process and are dealing with unexpected costs or challenges. This is why it makes good sense to get clear on what type of budget you want to invest in the project.
For example, you may be tempted to go for a chic new look on a shoestring, and that’s certainly possible with online tutorials and reclamation sites. Or you may be tempted to blow the budget because you deserve that luxury bath time after a hard day’s work.
While there’s no right or wrong – this is your home, after all – there are some guidelines to bear in mind, if you want your bathroom upgrade to be a sound investment in your property.
A rule of thumb when it comes to working out what to spend on property renovations is to use a percentage of your home value. For example, a general tip is to spend 10% of your house value on a new kitchen, and perhaps 5% of the value on your main house bathroom.
However, this can vary widely – depending on what you paid for your home, whether you’re hoping to flip it for profit, and also how long you plan to stay and enjoy the bathroom yourself.
A good way to get a sense of what would be a wise amount to invest is to go online and see what some of your neighbouring homes have sold for, and what types of bathrooms they have. If you spot a pattern, such as those with top spec fittings and decor sold for a premium, you might find that it makes sense for you to splurge a little with your renovations.
New Bathroom Planning Tip #3: Get Expert Advice
One last tip for getting your new bathroom upgrade off to a good start is to take advantage of any expert advice that is available. Installing a new bathroom is a significant undertaking, yet the experts have learned many tips and tricks that can help you save time or money. They may even have some genius ideas that you hadn’t even thought of.
Even if you don’t end up using specialist bathroom designers, many companies are more than happy to come to your home and provide a quote, free of charge with no obligation. These companies are experienced in renovating or installing new bathrooms of all styles and budgets, and they are usually very generous with their advice and ideas – even if you choose the DIY route in the end.
So, if you want to tap into this wealth of expert insights, arranging a free quote from a company you admire can be well worth your time in the long run.
Upgrading your bathroom can be an exciting and fun project. Yet, it can also be easy to overlook the more practical aspects when faced with all those shiny showrooms and inspiring images online.
You may be living with your bathroom renovations for a number of years, with the whole family using the room regularly, so it can be well worth taking a little time to consider these Getting Started Tips.
Then, once you’re clear on the right practical options for you, you can get to work with the fun of planning and preparing for your fabulous new home sanctuary.
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