If you've been planning to update your bathroom for months, with ever-evolving schemes and designs, it's pretty easy to get carried away with all the possibilities and excitement. But don't overlook the practicalities of all your grand plans!
Remodelling a bathroom is by no means an easy feat, not to mention the disruption and dust that comes with it. It's not usually the most affordable project either and as a result, it's not something that you're going to want to repeat in the near future.
Get it right and you will have a beautiful, relaxing and enjoyable space to unwind in at the end of a busy day. Get it wrong, and it can quickly become a stressful and expensive experience that you wished you had never started.
Whilst you might have a clear idea of how you would like the bathroom to look aesthetically, this is typically only a small amount of the work, with a whole lot of hidden elements, such as drainage, ventilation and materials that need careful consideration.
If you would like your bathroom remodel to run as smoothly as possible, read on for some of the most common mistakes people make (and how to avoid them!)
Lack of windows
No windows mean less ventilation. And a lack of ventilation is a problem for obvious reasons. Nobody wants a refreshing morning shower in a dingy and damp room with no natural light.
If you have the opportunity, try to position your new bathroom on the outside of the house in a room with a window. There's nothing quite like enjoying a hot bath with a view or a bright room swamped with natural light and fresh air.
If this isn't possible, a skylight could be another option to introduce some light into your space and bring with it that feeling of tranquillity and calm.
If you can't have either, please, make sure you have an adequate ventilation system instead (see below for more on that!)
Lack of storage
Adequate storage space should be one of your primary considerations in your new bathroom.
I always try to incorporate as much storage as possible into bathrooms as most people will have a lot of items they want to be hidden away. Toiletries, cosmetics, towels, medicines - you'd be surprised at just how much space this all takes up.
Having places to keep all of this will keep your bathroom clutter-free and organised. Vanity units, tall boys, wall-hung units, free-standing cabinets or in-built cabinetry are all good options.
Image: Pinterest Don't ignore ventilation Proper ventilation is essential and should always be considered when planning a bathroom renovation or remodel. It's easiest to install it on an outside wall so this is worth bearing in mind, but it can be installed on an inside wall and ducted out. You may also want to link it to your lighting. Good ventilation is especially important in a bathroom with wallpaper, as one of the most humid rooms in the house, without it, the paper will peel and your walls could be more liable to mould. And it's not just your wallpaper that could take a hit, appropriate ventilation can also prevent premature ageing of your bathroom itself. In the UK, your bathroom must be ventilated by either a window or an extractor fan. If it's just a toilet only, usually a window is fine. If it's a shower and bath you'll likely want an extractor fan too. There's a good amount of options on the market these days, no-noise, moisture detection, over-shower, and even Bluetooth-controlled extractors with speakers and lighting! It's worth doing your research as ventilation is not something you want to scrimp on. Not enough lighting Often overlooked or left until it's too late, bathroom lighting can severely affect the functionality of your bathroom. You might think the existing bathroom light is fine as it has been that way for years, but there is no better time than a bathroom remodel to install some more adaptable lighting. After all, bathrooms serve many uses - a room where you wash and get ready in the morning to a calm and relaxing space in which to unwind at the end of the day. Too dark and you won't be able to see what you're doing properly, too bright and it won't be very relaxing! Ideally, creating layers of lighting is your best bet. From wall lights on either side of the mirror to a series of downlights and even highlighting bathtubs or under vanities with LED lighting. Dimmers are well worth it in my opinion, as they really will give you so much more control and flexibility over the amount of light in the space. Bear in mind too, that all bathroom lighting should be IP rated for safety. Poor drainage You'll want the drainage and waste disposal from your bathroom to be installed correctly.
Correct installation will mean that foul air from the drain is prevented from entering your home. The pipework should also be airtight and at the correct gradient so that wastewater can drain away properly. If you're considering a wet room, the fall of the floor will need to be steep enough for the water to drain and the pipes will need to work correctly to avoid water pooling on the floor. This will all need to be considered in the planning so It's worth asking the experts to carry out this work for you. Unsuitable materials When you're choosing materials and tiles it's important to make sure they are suitable. As the most humid and steamiest room in the house, a bathroom really needs to have hardwearing elements that are easy to maintain and clean.
Porcelain and ceramic are a fab choice for sanitary ware, countertops and wall tiles - they're waterproof, stylish and cost-effective. There are also so many fantastic styles of porcelain tiles you'll be spoilt for choice.
Marble looks stunning but will need sealing correctly and spills need wiping up quickly or it can stain.
Floor tiles will need to have some grip so you don't slip when the floor gets wet and if you plan to have underfloor heating you need to make sure the flooring you choose is compatible.
Not consulting the bathroom experts
I think you'll probably agree, that bathroom installation can be tricky and therefore it's always a good idea to have an interior designer, a specialist bathroom designer or an experienced builder or plumber on hand.
It isn't always the case that a bathroom needs to work with its existing services. It is often possible to redesign a bathroom where the layout isn't compromised due to existing drainage and water supplies. However, reconfiguring a bathroom can be expensive so often, it comes down to the location of the soil stack and whether or not this can be moved.
You will want to know what type of hot water system you have, as this can affect your choice of fittings and you'll also want to think about how you will heat the room too, so it really is well worth enlisting the help of experts early on in your project to get it right from the offset.
I hope you have found this helpful!
If you're thinking about renovating or extending your home you'll want to check out this post where I share my considerations for planning such a project.
Dani x
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