Remodel My Bathroom Please
Tips for Remodeling a Small Bathroom
I’ve never been afraid to tackle a challenge but when I set out to remodel my bathroom I thought that perhaps I had bitten off a little more than I could chew. Even with my small space, I wanted to be able to walk in and feel like this was a much bigger room. Remodeling a bathroom is always a big job but working on a smaller room can be particularly challenging. How do you use a small bathroom remodel to create the illusion of space? How can you incorporate all those bathroom essentials into a much smaller space without it becoming claustrophobic and cluttered?
Create A Plan
Creating a good bathroom design is not easy. Only with careful planning can you ensure that what you end up with is not a bathroom disaster but the perfect bathroom makeover. You need to answer some basic questions before you even get started. Think about your purpose for the remodel. Are you hoping to create storage solutions or does your old and dated bathroom just need a facelift? What is your budget and how quickly do you need to have this project completed? How much of the remodeling can you do yourself? Do you need a total renovation or will a cosmetic makeover do the trick?
Now that you know why you want to undertake your small bathroom remodel, it’s time to put your pencil to work. Create a floor plan of your current bathroom and determine if you can work with the basic layout or if you will need to relocate plumbing. If your floor plan includes relocating sinks, showers, or tubs be sure to factor in the necessary building permits. Check your budget to ensure that you have the resources to work with professionals to move water lines. Sketch out your ideas to scale, if possible. Once you have your ideas on paper you can start to shop for fixtures such as vanities, sinks, and toilets.
Make Simple Choices
Since your goal is to make your small bathroom feel larger, choose fixtures with size in mind. There are many scaled down options available today. Replacing your tub with a corner shower, for example, will reclaim lots of valuable real estate. Low profile toilets and compact sinks are particularly good choices for small bathroom remodels. If storage is not your key consideration, a pedestal sink will provide a nice open feeling. If you prefer a vanity, choose a simple design that takes up as little floor space as possible. The fixtures you select can also help to create your new open feeling. Choose smaller fixtures with clean smooth lines. Small cabinets hung above the toilet or vanity can help provide storage without taking up valuable floor space. When paired with mirrors, wall hung cabinets can be an excellent solution.
Keep Decor Clean
When developing your plan for decorating remember that less is more when it comes to small bathroom decor. For tile, paint, and flooring keep colors crisp and clean and embellishments to a minimum. Clean, simple lines will reinforce the feeling of space. Cool neutral tones for both tile and paint will help lighten the room. Additional lighting can be effective in giving your new bright room the right feeling. Strategically placed mirrors give the illusion of width or length to the room.
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As tempting as it is to add accessories to your new bathroom, keep these to a minimum. Clutter is your enemy when it comes to decorating a small bathroom. Pictures, such as those of windows, can be used effectively but be sure to leave plenty of open wall space.
Remodeling a small bathroom can be one of the most rewarding renovation projects you can undertake. An added bonus is the additional value it can bring to your home. With bright colors, space saving fixtures and furniture, and judicious use of accessories, mirrors, and pictures you can turn that small cramped space into something you will love. Now, when I walk into my brand new bathroom I don’t think tiny, I think beautiful. The only question is, why did it take me so long to remodel my bathroom?
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Small Bathroom Designs