The bathroom is an essential part of any home. Whether you’re getting ready for the day ahead or winding down with a relaxing bath at night, it is crucial that your bathroom remains a warm and inviting space. If you recently moved into a pre-owned home, or even if you just have an itch to give your bathroom some love, it may be time for a remodel. Not only will it spruce up the space with modern elements, but a bathroom remodel can also increase the value of your home when executed properly. If you believe that you’re ready to take on this extensive, yet extremely rewarding project, then check out these three mistakes to avoid before starting the process.  

1 – Don’t Set an Unrealistic Budget

It truly is no secret that bathroom remodels and renovations can be pricy. Can they be done on a budget? Absolutely. But if you set a budget and strive to stick to it, it’s important to understand what you’ll be getting for the money you put aside. The bathroom tends to be one of the most expensive rooms to renovate, only being the runner up to the kitchen. Of course, this is due to the number of plumbing fixtures needed for your remodel. For example, faucet brands such as Delta, Kohler and Brizo may not come off as an expensive item at first, but when you take into account the design elements, features, and overall advancements that these faucets have acquired over time, they can get pretty costly. The same goes for kitchen appliances such as ovens and refrigerators. Brands have evolved over time to offer consumers better designs with better features, but price still comes into play as a major factor to take into consideration.  

In 2012, Consumer Reports noted that a master bathroom remodel should cost no more than 5-10% of your home’s value. This means that if your home is valued at $150,000, then you can expect a budget of $7,500 to $15,000 for your master bathroom remodel. The National Kitchen & Bath Association puts the national average at about $16,000. With this rule of thumb in mind, know that the final decision is yours to make depending on your own circumstances. Depending on whether you just want a mild remodel to change up the space or a heavier, more elaborate bathroom renovation, this and other factors will impact your budget. Feel free to call your local Lafayette kitchen & bath store or research online to get some price estimates.  

2 – Don’t Forget the Layout

There are so many components that go into the bathroom, and since it’s one of the smallest spaces in your home, it’ll need the proper layout. This is a step that needs to be taken before even thinking about purchasing anything for your remodel. Sketching the floor plan for your bathroom can be a simple process if you choose to not hire a professional for the job. Even if you’re personally planning it all out based on your measurements, it’s a crucial step that you really can’t afford to forget or botch.  

When remodeling, customization is important and you can think of the layout as the groundwork needed to make your decisions. Designing your layout is also important because it’ll come in handy when you’re ready for the fun part, such as choosing your new plumbing appliances, lighting, etc… Keep in mind that changing the location of plumbing tends to be one of the most expensive parts of a remodel, so you can use the layout to design your new space around fixtures such as the toilet. Finally, planning a layout allows you to ensure that your bathroom is functional for each person in the house as you have the opportunity to maximize every inch of the bathroom.   

3 – Don’t Bypass a Showroom

Before you decide to visit a big box retailer, or even order your plumbing fixtures online, you can never go wrong with visiting a home showroom nearby. Home and lighting showrooms are great options because they are equipped with a wide variety of brands, models, and prices to choose from when it comes to picking out the products of your dreams. Seeing the appliances, fixtures, or lighting that you desire up close and personal can help make the decision easier as well. You’ll also be able to measure your desired finds to ensure that they’ll fit in your layout.  

Home showrooms are gold mines in getting design inspiration. Even walking through your local lighting store can give you an idea of what you like and what you don’t. Not only is a local home showroom stocked with the best products, but their staff is tasked with giving the best advice for your circumstances. They can give functional advice based on the brands or products that you have in mind.  

A few other benefits include not having to worry about damages from shipping your items across the globe. You’ll also be able to buy all of the appliances, fixtures, and supplies needed for your remodel in one place instead of visiting multiple stores. And the list goes on… 

Before you set out to buy all of the new plumbing fixtures for your bathroom, be sure to follow these tips. Plan out your budget accordingly so that there are no surprises along the way. Sketch out your floor plan or seek expert, professional advice to assist. And finally, come see us! We’re ready to show you around and help you find the items that will make your bathroom remodel work best for you.