Think About a Bathroom Remodel Project This Fall
You've been in that room a thousand times. You've seen it from a dozen different angles. It could be your personal bath off the Master Bedroom or the bathroom you and your friends and guests frequent. Maybe its the one your kids use the most. You've thought about doing something with it, but don't know what ... and your life is so busy you soon put those thoughts out of your mind and get on with other things. A bathroom remodel just sounds difficult.
Well, you can't easily rearrange the "furniture" or move the toilet over a bit, but you can do other things that will give that room a fresh new appearance which will look like you did something pretty substantial! First, take a look at the three items that take up the majority of bath remodeling effort, energy and expense. The tub, toilet and sink/vanity.
If your tub is cracked, chipped or an ugly, dull salmon color you may have to deal with that. The tub is by far the biggest problem ... and your options are; replace, reline or reglaze. You can replace it yourself, a medium to difficult job, but one you can do for a few hundred dollars. Lining or glazing a bathtub, however, are jobs best left to a professional. Liners leak if not properly made and installed, and glazing uses chemicals and processes that are not good for the environment and may involve having the family move to a hotel for a few days.
Toilets, if yours must be replaced, are fairly easy to do by the average homeowner. Available for $200 and up, they come in a lot of styles and, if you have an old 3+ gallon flusher, you probably should replace it. Most people take toilets for what they are, though. A simple white fixture that goes with nearly everything. So, if your tub and toilet are functionally fine, and look okay you're in position to remodel with very little expense or inconvenience. Really, most fixtures are white or off-white and everyone expects that.
The sink/vanity, however, is another story. if this is a guest bath, the sink is the one thing everyone entering will see and, more importantly, use. Here is where your thoughts and energy should go. Bathroom sinks and vanities today come in styles and looks that, just a few years ago would have been unimaginable! And you can remove what you have and replace it in a day with a wild, unique fixture your guests and friends will talk about. Go to a bath showroom or a big box retailer and see. Or, search online for "wild bathroom sink" or "unique bathroom vanity" and see. Its not about matching the tub and toilet anymore!
The idea is to have your bathroom reflect your home, in style and feel. With a sink/vanity that accomplishes that, you are free to play! Would a new tile floor and a bit of color change everything? Tile is easy—just ask the people at the home improvement retailers. Tile is available for less than a dollar each for a 12"x12" ceramic tile and this alone changes the room. You will have to pull out the toilet and raise the floor flange, but that's not that hard, either. For less than $150 and a weekend of your time, you could have a beautiful floor that will impress everyone!
How about a skylight? Tubular skylights are a DIYer's dream! Inexpensive and easy to install, if your bath is located below a roof. In fact, a new skylight or even new lighting will make an amazing difference to a small area like a bathroom. And, lighting fixtures can be had for less than you imagine. One of the main complaints people have with their bathrooms is the lighting. More light here makes everything look better.
Color is always an easy way to change things. An accent wall, a window treatment, a shower curtain, art, towels and a plant or two can make all the difference! Even a rug that reflects your home's style and colors, on your new tile floor, can say a lot. If you'll start thinking a little outside the box, and focus on those things you feel you can do yourself without a big budget or big time allotment you'll begin to look around your bathroom with new eyes. For more information, along with free tips and ideas, go to RemodelQuickTips.com and click on BATHROOM BASICS. Here you'll also find a free Bathroom Remodel Checklist that will help you organize and focus.
About the Author
Durand Demlow is a designer, home remodeler and web site developer. His knowledge and experience has allowed him to create a website focused on helping do-it-yourselfers and homeowners. Here you'll find free tips and ideas to remodel and decorate, utilizing four decades of knowledge and hands-on home renovation experience. His website, RemodelQuickTips.com is an ever-changing resource of DIY concepts and advice.
