How to Plan for a Bathroom Remodel

How to Plan for a Bathroom Remodel

The trick to making the renovation of your bathroom a success is solid planning, both in establishing what you want from the space and knowing what to ask your designer. Three professionals answer key questions: What do I want in the bathroom from a functional perspective? Cat Hoad of Absolute Project Management suggests thinking through key elements such as a bath, bidet or Japanese-style toilet, cupboards for linens, and a convenient place for bathroom products. If you're installing a shower, the design you'd like is also something to assess early on. Sara Levy of Sara Levy Designs suggests using waterproof board and waterproof the flooring around the shower area.

How do I want it to look? Think about whether you want it to be a relaxing space or a quick shower zone, and the look you're aiming for, whether modern or traditional. Create an ideabook of things you like and don't like to show your designer.
When designing a bathroom, it is important to choose items that make you feel good in the space. A designer can help you with wall and floor coverings, colors, faucet shapes, bath sizes and finish. How much you can change a layout will depend on whether you live in a house or an apartment, how it's constructed, where the existing soil pipes are and whether it's feasible to move them. It is also important to consider whether other layouts are possible, such as using formerly boxed-in walls or borrowing space from adjacent unused areas.