If you've decided to give your bathroom a makeover, it's important to spend as much time as possible planning the re-design. Whilst the idea of devoting hours upon hours of your evenings and weekends to this task might not sound very appealing, it really is worth it; the more thought and preparation you put into this process, the more likely it is that the finished project will meet your expectations.
Consider your household's needs
Think carefully about the needs of your household; ideally, the bathroom should be designed in such a way that it is suitable for everyone in the property who will be using it. For instance, if you have an older relative living with you who has mobility problems, try to factor their physical limitations into your planning process; you might for example, want to consider installing ergonomic and easy-to-reach faucets and light fixtures, or adding handles in the shower or bathtub. If you have a large family, it may be wise to install two sinks, so that more than one person can brush their teeth or do their hair and make-up at the same time.
Take your household's bathing preferences into account too and if they differ from yours, try to find a suitable compromise; for example, if your other half loves to take long, leisurely baths, but you prefer quick showers and would rather install a space-saving shower cubicle rather than a cumbersome tub, the solution might be to opt for a compact shower-over-bath unit.
Create a sensible budget
Bathroom renovations can be quite expensive; in addition to purchasing a new suite and flooring, you may also have to buy decorative items, fixtures, fittings, paint, lighting and cabinetry, and of course, you'll also to have to pay for the services of tradesmen such as plumbers and electricians. As such, if your budget is quite small, it's important to identify the areas in which you may be able to cut costs and the areas in which it could be worth investing a little bit more money.
For example, a lot of homeowners opt to buy an inexpensive bathroom suite, which they then 'upgrade' with high-end faucets. This is a great way to achieve a luxurious look without going over your allotted budget. Decorative accessories are another category of items on which you can scrimp; low cost soap dishes, shower curtains, hand towels and trinkets often look just as good as their more expensive counterparts.
Conversely, it is generally wiser to purchase the highest-quality plumbing fixtures you can afford; cheap fixtures are much more likely to break or burst, and thus leave you with a serious water leakage that could cost a small fortune to repair.
Share14 September 2016
My yard is in the shade of both of my neighbour's homes for most of the day which makes it quite hard to grow some of my favourite plants. Even though the yard is shady I still want it to have some nice look ground cover and be a cool place to entertain people. I have used a combination of shade resistant plants and pavers to create a lovely space that is good for entertaining all year round. This blog has some tips on creating a pleasant atmosphere in your shady backyard, particularly if you have a yard that is too shady to grow many kinds of plants.