How to Stay on Top of Your Bathroom Renovation

Whilst bathrooms may be one of the smallest rooms in your house, they can often be the most complex, balancing multiple not only style and functionality but tasks, put simply there is a lot of activity that takes place behind the scenes. Good project management is vital for any type of renovation, and I absolutely essential with a bathroom.

Often one of the smallest rooms in the house, your bathroom can be one of your trickiest interiors projects. The fine balance between style and functionality is key and, with a bathroom, a lot of the action is behind the scenes. Here are some tips to ensure a successful bathroom project.

Think about the bathroom layout

Often when refurbishing a bathroom, the tendency is to keep the current layout but having a designer review the space and provide alternatives could offer a better end result. Keep in mind considerations such as waste pipes as certain items such as the toilet may be best kept due to the ability to hide piping and minimise boxing. If the current layout works, that’s great but don’t be afraid to view alternatives.

Don’t forget the smaller item

Often the designer will begin with the big ticket items (toilet, shower, basin) and that is fine, but don’t forget the smaller storage items and accessories like toilet roll holder, mirror or mirrored cabinets and towel rails. Remember the bathroom has to be functional as well as visually appealing.

Measure the space…then measure again!

Measure your room as precisely as you can and, when planning your layout, don’t forget to allow for tiling, panelling, towel rails, etc, which will all make the space smaller. It doesn’t seem like a lot, but 10mm can be the difference between a basin being perfectly in line with an edge to having it jutting out ever so slightly.

If you have any cupboards, then make sure there’s room to open them, and check the door doesn’t bang into anything. A useful tip for small bathrooms is to rehang the door to open outwards, giving you a little more space inside. If opening outwards, you may need to plain the door if to open over existing carpet.

Think carefully about your finishes

When it comes to fittings, it’s important to think about the functional side as well as design. Family bathrooms may require storage that is floor standing to avoid knocked heads and gloss finishing to enable regular cleaner. If you live in an area with hard water consider the materials used as they may become stained and/ or require regular wiping to reduce limescale.

Be transparent about your budget

Often people budget for the bathroom itself (toilet, shower, basin) but do not account for fixture & fitting and preparation work. When removing your existing bathroom, walls may become damaged and plastering required to ensure a smooth finish, if not being tiled over. New and additional pipework may be required if a layout change is taking place, many retailers show their product without pipework, you will also need to think where the water will go. Porcelain tiles are harder to cut so may be more costly to fit than ceramic, so it is a good idea to be upfront about your budget with your designer and installer.

Remember to consider your bathroom electrics

Electrical work may be required for your new bathroom and thinking about sockets, switches, extractor fans, shaving and lighting points will be important factors to consider. Depending on the ambient you are trying to achieve your decisions will vary as well as regulatory/ safety aspects of the project.

How will you heat the bathroom

Often overlooked, will you simply be using a towel rail or require underfloor heating and if so will that be wet (piped) or dry (electric). A towel rail will be great to dry those towels but in the winter months will it keep you warm. When choosing underfloor heating the decision to go wet or dry will impact the installation and ongoing costs. Wet underfloor heating tends to incur a higher install cost but may be more economical in the long run than dry when considering running costs.

The added extras!

Like all aspects of life, bathrooms are becoming sanctuaries that can include tech gadgets to manage lighting, sound and window coverings, ensure you discuss these early in the project as adding during or after can cause some unwanted disruption.

About us

Teak Interiors is a family-run kitchen and bathroom business based in Hurst, Berkshire, specialising in the renovation of home interiors. To discuss your project, contact us today!