So uh, you wanna redo your bathroom huh? Good idea, but let me tell you, it’s not as easy as just picking tiles and paint. Bathrooms get messed up real quick coz there’s water everywhere and stuff gets old, cracks, leaks, and looks ugly after some time. Plus you use it like every day so yeah, it kinda needs to be nice.
I tried renovating my bathroom last year and trust me, there were mistakes and headaches everywhere. But it turned out okay in the end. So here’s some tips I learned so you don’t mess up like me.
Why renovate bathroom?
Well, maybe your bathroom looks super old, the tiles are cracked, the shower leaks or faucet drips or you just wanna a new look. Some people fix it coz water damage, others coz they want more space or better lights. Or maybe you just want a fancy shower or tub to relax in.
Step 1: Budget!!
Before you do anything decide how much you wanna spend. Bathrooms can be cheap or crazy expensive depends on what you want. And dont forget plumber and electrician cost too. I learned this the hard way when I tried to fix pipes myself and flooded the floor lol.
Step 2: Make a list of what you want
Write down stuff you want like new shower, bigger mirror, storage space, better light. Helps you stay on track and don’t buy random things you don’t need.
Step 3: Measure like a crazy person
Measure your bathroom space properly. I once bought a cabinet too big and had to return twice. Waste of time.
Step 4: Pick a style
Modern, vintage, farmhouse, whatever you like but dont make it look weird compared to your whole house. You dont want bathroom looking like spaceship if your home is old style.
What to renovate?
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Tiles – Floor and walls. Big tiles look clean, mosaic look fancy but cost more. Slippery tiles bad idea, can fall and hurt yourself.
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Fixtures – Faucets, showerheads, toilets. Go for water-saving if possible. Dont be dumb like me and buy fancy shower that wastes lot of water.
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Vanity and storage – Where you keep stuff. Floating vanities look cool and make bathroom look bigger.
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Lighting – Very important, especially near mirror for shaving or makeup.
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Mirror – Big mirror make small bathroom look bigger.
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Shower or tub? – If you like baths keep tub, else walk-in shower with glass door good but glass gets dirty fast and slippery.
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Flooring – No carpet pls! Tiles, vinyl or concrete better.
DIY or hire pro?
If you handy maybe you do small stuff yourself. But plumbing and electric tricky and dangerous if you dont know what you doing. I tried fixing pipe once and flooded whole bathroom lol.
Hiring pro cost more but worth to avoid disasters.
Mistakes people make
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Not budgeting right
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Ignoring ventilation (mold grows fast)
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Choosing slippery or cheap tiles
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Bad lighting make bathroom dull
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No storage = clutter everywhere
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Rushing things = bad work
Tips to make it easier
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Make timeline and try follow it (not easy)
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Compare prices online before buy
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Keep plumbing where it is, moving pipes cost lot
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Use water efficient stuff
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Add plants or nice towels for cozy feel
How long it takes?
Depends on size and work. Small bathroom done in 1-2 weeks maybe. Bigger one take month or more. Delays normal.
How much it cost?
Varies lot. In India simple reno start around ₹50,000 but can go lakhs for fancy stuff. Labor big cost too.
Final words
Bathroom reno hard but worth it. Plan good, budget smart, don’t rush, hire pros for plumbing and electric. Soon you have bathroom you like (and not just for pics lol).