Showered With Style How to Plan Your First Bathroom Renovation
Whether you’re renovating for your own enjoyment or for an investment property, proper planning will ensure you end up with the result you want without going over-budget or cutting corners on design or quality along the way. Follow these recommendations to ensure your bathroom reno runs smoothly and gives you the result you are after.
Make a Style Decision
This might be the most important first step because it’s going to influence the rest of the renovation. To ensure you have a cohesive look that stays under budget, you need to make a solid decision on the bathroom style direction you are headed in from the get-go and then stick to that. One of the main reasons budgets blow out is because people jump in too soon then get halfway through and make a drastic twist in the style they are going for and then have to redo a whole lot of the bathroom.
Don’t make that mistake. Take the time to research and decide in detail on the perfect bathroom space for your home. Be sure to plan everything and make choices on what you want the colors, the cabinetry, the tapware to be before you start buying or building. Collect images and create a collage of your vision.
Plan the Layout
Once you know what style you going for, figure out how you are going to adapt that style to the space you have. You might really want a claw-foot tub but if it’s not going to fit into the space that you have, you will have to revise your decisions and go for an alternative.
Draw an outline of the space you’re working with and experiment with different layout options, to ensure that you are going to end up maximizing the space you have available. Don’t just set out one layout option and jump straight in, create a few, stick them on the wall, envision what it would be like and then make a decision after letting the ideas sit and stew for a while. And make sure that your final layout will fit within your budget constraints – depending on your budget you might not want to alter the plumbing set up too much. If you’re unsure about costs, get in touch with a plumber in Melbourne to discuss your layout options and get a quote.
Budget Your Bathroom
Speaking of budgets – once you have a layout in place, then add up how much you think it all will cost. Get a quote where you can and shop around online or in-store for the best prices on fittings and fixtures. Get a good idea of how much it’s all going to cost and then add some. Always over budget to ensure you don’t get caught out with hidden fees. Adding at least an extra 10% onto your initial budget is recommended. Then, once you commence work keep track of every expenditure you have and check in regularly on how you are going in sticking to your budget.
Stay On Top
Stay on top and in control of the renovation from the get-go. Be organized and plan for as much as you can, then keep track of everything once the reno starts. The last thing you want to do it make rushed decisions or cut corners when you are halfway through and be left with an end result that you aren’t entirely happy with.
A quality bathroom is something you will enjoy and that buyers will pay for, so think of your bathroom renovation as a real investment in your property. It can be a big hassle, but once it’s done you will be so glad you did it and you’ll get years of enjoyment out of it.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
