Trending Bathroom Renovation Ideas to Transform a Space
When considering which spaces to remodel in the home, bathrooms nearly always top the list of both homeowner and homebuyer priorities. It’s often the first room one sees in the morning, and the last stop before bedtime, and the guest bath or powder room will be visited by many visitors over its lifetime. And there are so many fun options for what can be done in a bathroom! So why not remodel a bathroom space to match your personality and style?
There are many ways to modernize and personalize a bathroom ranging from relatively easy and affordable cosmetic upgrades to complete renovations that can include moving walls to expand the space or adding windows to bring in light, whatever is needed to make the space exactly as wanted by the homeowner. After years of people relegating the primary bath to the bottom of the renovation list (usually because no one except the primary homeowners spend time there), we are happy to be finding more homeowners prioritizing their primary bath as a treat for themselves to have more enjoyment in their own home, taking it from being a place for daily business, to a place for relaxation and peace. Dimmable lighting, heated floors, beautiful special tiles, light fixtures and colors; getting rid of the tub to create a shower for two, or adding a beautiful freestanding tub with a handy bathtub tray with a place for your glass of wine, a book, or a phone (but no working allowed in the tub!) - so many ways to turn the primary bath into a respite from a busy demanding life.
With so many options, and so many requirements, we recommend not skipping the design phase for any major bathroom remodel. Design services are essential in exploring both aesthetics and what can be done in a bathroom within code limitations. Bathrooms have a smaller footprint, require a full range of trades to be successful, and there are also code compliance requirements that need to be considered when developing the new floor plan. Design services are also essential for evaluating universal design considerations to ensure that people can use the space regardless of their age or abilities. Also, the use of design services and 3D walkthroughs give a better sense of flow and function for this relatively small but highly functional space.
Whether you are living in a studio condominium or a multi-level house, here are five trending renovation ideas to spruce up one of the most important rooms in your home.
Convert An Outdated Tub into a Walk-In Shower
Walk-in showers are in demand, both for their beauty and functionality. They are safer for people who have difficulty climbing in and out of a tub to take a shower, and many homeowners report that they just plain do not use the tub and would like that floor space for other things, like a larger shower or additional storage. Many clients are asking us to get rid of the old built-in tubs in the primary bath and opting for a larger walk-in shower, or retiling the outside of a built-in to give it a completely new and updated look. Fun tiles, modern fixtures, and options for glass doors can instantly make the entire bathroom look and feel amazing! All that said, for resale value it is always recommended to leave at least one tub in the home.
Freestanding Tubs
When opting to keep a tub, most clients are asking us to replace old built-in tubs with beautiful freestanding tubs. These days this style of tub comes in at many different styles and price points, and options for jacuzzi as well! Adding in some beautiful wall tile either rising just above the tub height or tiling the whole wall behind the tub creates a beautiful background for these elegant fixtures.
Fun with Colors and Patterns
Oh, the Texas tile – the classic orangy-earthy looking tile that accompanies expresso brown cabinets in so many Texas kitchens and bathrooms! Most people want to replace it with either white marbled tiles, sometimes with black accents or feature walls, or bold colors and textures. Beautiful wallpapers can make a small powder room pop with personality (love it!). The black-white-wood combination remains very popular these days for a clean contemporary but natural look. Tile selections are another area where design services are a plus, to enable homeowners to see different tile combinations prior to making final selections.
Try choosing a bold tile pattern for the floor, shower, or tub – black and white, subway tile, colorful accents, deep greens and other jewel tones, and natural-looking stones; or a fun wallpaper or dark accent wall. Another fun option, wainscoting or shiplap can provide a classic, antique, or farmhouse feel depending on the color and style. Any (or all!) of these can help make your bathroom perfect for your family and guests.
Power Up the Powder Room
That little room in the hall, the one that gets the most activity per square foot at any gathering, has so much potential to be a fun eclectic space! Keep it in the same theme as the home or do something completely different, at a fairly affordable price point this little room can become a family favorite!
Wet Rooms
We love a nice wet room! Especially for people who would like to have both a freestanding tub and a large walk-in shower but don’t quite have the space for them, a wet room can be the perfect solution, combining a free standing tub within the same enclosure as the walk-in shower. Beautiful and also very functional for families so parents can shower while the kiddos are taking their bath!
Adding On
Tiny bathrooms especially the primary bath, or only having one bathroom in the home, is both uncomfortable for the current homeowner, and a serious risk for the future sale of the home. In these cases, it may very well make sense to either move walls in the home to enlarge an existing bathroom, or add onto the home with a new primary suite, en suite, or an extension to enlarge the bathroom. Adding on now allows you to enjoy your home more while living there, and future home buyers will find the property much more attractive.
Spruce Up the Space with New Mirrors, Light Fixtures, Drawer Pulls, or Fresh Cabinet Colors
If tub to shower conversions or major tile purchases are outside the budget, try purchasing a new mirror, light fixture, and set of drawer pulls all in the same theme. Most do-it-yourselfers can take this on, along with applying a fresh coat of paint!
Stylish bathroom mirrors can become the focal point of the space. Light fixtures can also be used not only to brighten a dark or windowless room but also to establish an overall updated look. Chandeliers (yes, they can be used in the bathroom!), adding recessed lighting, and backlit LED mirrors are all trending now and not going out any time soon. Changing out drawer pulls can also provide a fun update as they come in an endless variety of appealing shapes and styles. If you want to go extra funky – there are some really unique knobs out there to reflect any personality and preference.
Whereas painting walls is something most of us can take on, painting cabinets is not. If you are going to have this done make sure your cabinets are in good condition, and have the job done by a professional who will both refinish and paint the cabinets to look like new. Also check online, you may find a good deal for a new vanity that could convince you to replace what you have instead of painting it. That said, good quality cabinets don’t come cheap, if your cabinets are good quality then refinishing and painting may be the right path. And just like with walls and tiles, you can have some fun with beautiful pastels and jewel tones for cabinets as well!
Align your Dreams with your Budget
The hardest part - whether it’s a full overhaul, a simple cosmetic makeover, or actually adding to the square footage of the existing home – aligning what you really want with the budget you can afford maybe the most difficult part of your project. The options for revamping a bathroom are endless. Have fun, be bold, and do what you can to give the space a whole new personality and optimize your enjoyment of it!
See some of our kitchen and bath work here, and contact us to learn more about how we can transform your bathroom into one of your favorite spaces in the home!
