9 Things to consider before renovating your bathroom

One easy and effective way to breathe new life into your bathroom is by renovating it. Indeed, a renovation can make even the dullest of bathrooms look stylish and appealing once again. However, bathroom renovations take a large chunk out of any home renovation budget. That’s why it’s very important to look at all considerations before you get started.

To give you an idea of how much bathroom renovations cost Australian homeowners, I turned to finder.com.au. They state that the average cost of a basic renovation is $13,250, while a standard renovation costs around $19,150. On the higher end of the scale, a premium bathroom renovation will cost just under $30,000.

These costs are certainly on the higher side. That’s why it is so important that you do all you can to ensure your renovation runs smoothly. One mistake can see you budget skyrocket.

As the head of purchasing at Ross’s Discount Home Centre, I often assist customers who are undergoing a bathroom renovation. And over the years, I’ve developed some key points of consideration that help bathroom renovations run without a hiccup. Today, I’ll share some these with you. So, continue reading this post to discover what are to consider before starting your bathroom renovation.

1. Don’t overcapitalise

In my experience, most people simply jump into their bathroom renovation without paying close attention to their budget. These are often the same people who complain that a renovation is an overwhelming and expensive affair. However, things need not be this way. With a little planning and by setting and sticking to a budget, your bathroom renovation can be a breezy affair.

First of all, create a realistic budget. My rule of thumb is that your bathroom renovation budget should not exceed 5% of the value of your home. Moreover, you should divide your budget into two parts. Keep 65% of your budget for construction costs and 35% for fittings and fixtures. But remember – simply creating a budget is not the end of it. You’ll need to stick to your budget at every stage of the renovation.

2. Stick to a timeframe

One mistake that I constantly see people make is that they assume a bathroom renovation to be small project and therefore, won’t take up much time. However, this is not necessarily true.

I’ve dealt with numerous Perth bathroom renovations, and let me tell you, any renovation is time consuming. You’ll have to deal with the same tasks whether your bathroom is small or large. As such, you must create a reasonable timeframe for your project and plan well ahead.

3. Hire a bathroom designer

Sure, you may have some really creative ideas for your bathroom renovation. However, I highly recommend you to consult a designer before you put on your designers hat. Professional designers are highly experienced and are able to offer solutions to problems that you may not have thought existed.

Always remember – Perth bathroom renovations are only as good as their design. So, forget about doing everything on your own and hire the best designer you can afford for a truly gorgeous outcome.

4. Create extra space

We all dream of owning a large bathroom that can serve as our own private retreat. But, this certainly isn’t possible for everyone, especially those with limited space. This is why many homeowners seek to extend their bathroom to create extra space. However, extension costs, council permits, certifications and delays are some things that these people need to deal with.

In my opinion, it is far smarter to try and create space inside a bathroom rather than outside. The cost of stealing space on the inside is minimal compared to extending an existing footprint.

It is not always possible for you to visualise how you can repurpose potential space. But, if you hire a good designer, the experts will create extra space at half the price of adding new space.

5. Inspect your plumbing

If you’re planning a major bathroom update, then you should inspect your plumbing closely. With age, a home always encounters plumbing problems such as clogged or broken pipes and electrical wiring issues.

Let me shed some light on this. The average diameter of pipes for residential plumbing is 1½ inches. This drain sees massive amounts of hair and gunk go through it. You can consider upgrading to 2-inch diameter pipes. The cost difference is negligible and it will reduce clogging dramatically.

However, tampering around with plumbing is not a good idea if you are only planning on adding a few fixtures. In such a case, you will end up spending a lot for very little returns. Only tamper with plumbing if there are existing problems that need to be dealt with.

6. Install adequate lighting

If I have to stress one point, it’s that every bathroom should be well lit. And, if you’re updating to add more light to your bathroom, then there are more than a few things to can consider.

The easiest way to add more light to your bathroom is by installing recessed light fixtures. You can do this all over the bathroom ceiling and over the shower unit as well. The lighting around your vanity and mirror should also be highly functional. Bright fixtures go a great way when it comes to shaving or applying makeup. If you’re willing to splurge, you can also include dimmer switches to control the light in your bathroom.

Another option you can go with is by adding a window to your bathroom. However, unless you have problems with ventilation as well, I recommend you not to choose this route. Adding a window will make your project a massive one. If you can do without it, you should.

7. Consider storage

If there’s one area which makes even the most aesthetic looking bathrooms fail, its inadequate storage. I’ve met way too many homeowners seeking better storage solutions for their bathrooms because theirs has limited, or no storage space at all. Such bathrooms are very impractical and they are not functional at all.

This is why you should always add as much storage as possible. Think about it; there’s no such thing as too much storage space! Your vanity draws and cabinets should always offer adequate storage space for your needs.

Also, one great thing about cabinets, drawers and vanities is that they can be custom designed to accommodate plumbing. Here, at Ross’s Discount Home Centre, we have a great collection of bathroom cabinets and vanities for you to choose from. By choosing our products, you can get rid of all problems you have with storage.

8. Choose between a shower and a bath

Another thing to consider before updating your old bathroom is to choose between a shower and a bath. If you love the luxury of a bath or have young children then you’ll want to fit in a bath. If you’re limited for space, consider a shower/bath combo. We have plenty of attractive baths and bath screens for you to consider in this instance. However, if you strapped for time and never have a bath, then a shower will suffice. For this, we also have a great range for you to choose from.

For the best bathtubs, showers and bathroom accessories in Perth, look no further than us at Ross’s Discount Home Centre. We have everything in stock for you and a whole range of styles, designs and finish options you can choose from.

9. Measure your bathroom

Finally, the last consideration to make before you renovation is to get a proper measurement of your bathroom. While this may sound like a given, there are multiple measurements that need to be taken. These include measuring the pipes, bathroom accessories and electrical wiring.

Improper measurements will waste a lot of your time and money during the renovation. That’s why you should be very sure about your measurements before kicking off your renovation project. I recommend you to consider the help of a builder to measure your bathroom properly. They’ll make sure that no measurement is wrong or faulty.

Conclusion:

Perth bathroom renovations are something that I deal with all the time. If you’re planning an upcoming bathroom renovation, you should consider a few things before starting your project. These include creating a strict budget and timeframe, hiring a good designer, creating extra space, considering lighting and plumbing, considering storage space, choosing between a bathtub and a shower and measuring the bathroom accurately. If you do all of these tasks before your renovation starts, your project is sure to go smoothly.

And, for all bathroom renovation products that you may need, look nowhere else but us at Ross’s Discount Home Centre. You’ll find everything ranging from vanities, baths, showers, toilets, bathroom tiles and accessories at our store. When it comes to Perth bathroom renovations, we’re your one-stop-shop for all products, tools and accessories. Moreover, our products are all reasonably priced, so you needn’t worry about blowing your renovation budget when you choose us.

Purchase your bathroom renovation products from our online store today to avail of free delivery across Perth Metro!