Remodeling A Small Bathroom
Small Bathroom Design
Ever dream of having a huge, luxurious bathroom you could land a plane in? Most people would love it, but the truth of the matter is that most bathrooms are the smallest rooms in the house. But that doesn't mean it has to stay that way. If your bathroom feels like it's closing in on you, there are things you can do to make it bigger, short of demo-ing half your house and starting all over. Small bathrooms make for warm, cozy feelings that are the reason most people in a recent survey named their bathrooms as the room they felt most secure in. That's one of the positive things they have going for them. Naturally, the negative is that they can feel cramped and confining. There are things you can do, though, to add space to your tiny bathroom. If you're considering a bathroom remodel, home remodeling contractors in Scottsdale recommend starting out by asking yourself the following questions about your small bathroom remodeling project.
How much do I have to spend?
Determining your budget ... sounds pretty obvious, huh? Okay, so if it's so obvious, why do so many homeowners get into trouble from this step above all others? The answer is simple; they weren't honest with themselves about how much each product and service would cost, and so they just simply ran out of money. Bar none, creating a realistic budget for yourself is the most critical part of your entire bathroom remodel. Sure, you need to know the cost of the type of toilet you want, the size and style of bathtub you want, etc. However, if you don't determine your budget beforehand, you'll easily become swayed after finding items that you feel you just can't live without. Determine your budget before you even start window shopping or even looking at magazines. Once you know how much you can spend, you can begin shopping and, if necessary, moving monies around within your budget parameters. For instance, if you allocated certain expenditure for the shower, but the one you have your heart set on is more, take a little cash from another part of the project, always remaining within your pre-determined budget.
What do I need?
Of course, there are certain things you can't do without in a bathroom. Needless to say, whether it's a full or half bath, you need a toilet. Next, if it's a full bath, decide whether you want a tub or just a shower. Showers typically take up less room, and many of today's showers are designed with apartments in mind, so they're even more space-conscious. Consider a shower with a curbless or lipless bottom that sprays water onto a tile floor that contains a drain in the center. If you refuse to give up your luxuriously relaxing baths, try a small corner bathtub that will fit into a smaller space. At this step, it's also vital that you take into consideration the amount of storage space you need in the bathroom.
What do I want?
The next step is to decide what you want. Tempting as it may be, avoid performing this step before the previous step. At this point in the project, you can always go back and finagle things a bit, but once you've begun remodeling, believe it or not, it's easy to forget something that's vital to your bathroom, especially if you've already got your eye on what you want. Dreaming of a vanity area? Don't rule it out in a small bathroom. If you opt for less storage space or a shower over a bathtub, you might be able to swing it. Try scaling down unnecessaries in the bathroom, such as big ticket items that don't add functionality. There are also tricks you can do in your bathroom remodel that will help the space look bigger, such as added mirrors, track lighting, and glass shower doors. Another trick is to take every item and scale it back to its next smaller size.
Do I need any permits?
Lastly, before you begin your bathroom remodel (or any other home remodeling project, for that matter); you must do some digging to find out what permits you need. If you're going with a bathroom remodeling contractor versus DIY, your contractor likely will know and tell you what permits you need. (However, be sure to ask your contractor during the interview process whether he or she acquires permits, or if you need to do it.) Be sure to schedule all necessary inspections and to follow all building codes that are relevant to your area.
And now ... you're ready to remodel!!
How much do I have to spend?
Determining your budget ... sounds pretty obvious, huh? Okay, so if it's so obvious, why do so many homeowners get into trouble from this step above all others? The answer is simple; they weren't honest with themselves about how much each product and service would cost, and so they just simply ran out of money. Bar none, creating a realistic budget for yourself is the most critical part of your entire bathroom remodel. Sure, you need to know the cost of the type of toilet you want, the size and style of bathtub you want, etc. However, if you don't determine your budget beforehand, you'll easily become swayed after finding items that you feel you just can't live without. Determine your budget before you even start window shopping or even looking at magazines. Once you know how much you can spend, you can begin shopping and, if necessary, moving monies around within your budget parameters. For instance, if you allocated certain expenditure for the shower, but the one you have your heart set on is more, take a little cash from another part of the project, always remaining within your pre-determined budget.
What do I need?
Of course, there are certain things you can't do without in a bathroom. Needless to say, whether it's a full or half bath, you need a toilet. Next, if it's a full bath, decide whether you want a tub or just a shower. Showers typically take up less room, and many of today's showers are designed with apartments in mind, so they're even more space-conscious. Consider a shower with a curbless or lipless bottom that sprays water onto a tile floor that contains a drain in the center. If you refuse to give up your luxuriously relaxing baths, try a small corner bathtub that will fit into a smaller space. At this step, it's also vital that you take into consideration the amount of storage space you need in the bathroom.
What do I want?
The next step is to decide what you want. Tempting as it may be, avoid performing this step before the previous step. At this point in the project, you can always go back and finagle things a bit, but once you've begun remodeling, believe it or not, it's easy to forget something that's vital to your bathroom, especially if you've already got your eye on what you want. Dreaming of a vanity area? Don't rule it out in a small bathroom. If you opt for less storage space or a shower over a bathtub, you might be able to swing it. Try scaling down unnecessaries in the bathroom, such as big ticket items that don't add functionality. There are also tricks you can do in your bathroom remodel that will help the space look bigger, such as added mirrors, track lighting, and glass shower doors. Another trick is to take every item and scale it back to its next smaller size.
Do I need any permits?
Lastly, before you begin your bathroom remodel (or any other home remodeling project, for that matter); you must do some digging to find out what permits you need. If you're going with a bathroom remodeling contractor versus DIY, your contractor likely will know and tell you what permits you need. (However, be sure to ask your contractor during the interview process whether he or she acquires permits, or if you need to do it.) Be sure to schedule all necessary inspections and to follow all building codes that are relevant to your area.
And now ... you're ready to remodel!!