We love ALL things bathroom (if you couldn’t tell by the name of our blog and the content of our posts.) So we’ve decided to do an all-out renovation series highlighting all the goodies you need to know about a bathroom renovation. The crown jewel of all bathrooms is, without a doubt, the master. So naturally, that’s where we decided to start. Each day, we’ll feature a different aspect of the remodel you need to take into consideration and some general guidelines to follow. And, as always, should you have any general questions or questions for our Contractor–be sure to leave them in the comments box and we’ll respond here and possibly in our upcoming “Ask the Contractor” video on our YouTube channel!
In case you weren’t aware, your best bet is to choose the bathroom vanity you’ll be using first. It’s far easier to decorate around this item (as there are plenty of paint, hardware choices, etc. to match) than it will be to find a specific vanity to correspond with several distinct elements you’ve already chosen for the room. (Your selection of bathroom vanities that will work in your space is NOT endless unfortunately.)
What is the Best Order to Select Your Various Bathroom Elements for a Bathroom Remodel?
We’ve mapped it out for you as well as “building” a room for you in pictures along the way. Before you go design crazy, though, there are a few things you should do first that will keep your project realistic, less stressful, and less prone to mistakes. First, you’ll want to set out a realistic budget. You don’t want to get halfway through the project and have to stop to figure out where the money is going to come to finish it. Get detailed about this budget. You can get rough estimates for everything online, down to how much for how many cans of paint you’ll need. Next, you’ll want to confirm or redesign your layout including your vanity, tub and/or shower, toilet, linen cabinet, dressing table, or whatever other element you will be including. After mocking up this layout, you’ll also want to measure your available space for each element. This will make shopping for these items much quicker since you’ll know exactly what you need. We’ve got a worksheet for measuring for a vanity here, if you need some guidance on how to measure things for your remodel. If you are moving existing plumbing, you’ll also need to factor that in as an expense.
Once you’ve done all that, and are armed with the necessary measurements, it’s time, my friend; it’s time.
1. Start with the vanity. Make sure to pay attention to the color of sink included if you are purchasing a vanity WITH a top included. You’ll want to select the next items in the same tone (usually white or bisque.)
2. Choose your shower and/or tub design. While many don’t have the space for separate fixtures like this… it’s always fun to dream. Remember, you’ll be corresponding any the tub/shower surround with the color of your sink.
3. Yes, indeed, it’s toilet time. With the variety of toilets available, you can now have both form AND function.
4. Mirrors are up to bat next in your remodel. If you are looking for a oval mirror for your bathroom that matches exactly with the finish of your vanity–you will want to order it from the same manufacturer. Otherwise, we recommend matching to compliment the hardware, as matching across manufacturers is almost impossible.
5. Next choose matching hardware for your vanity, tub, and shower. For many homeowners, this is going to be aligned with the existing hardware on the bath vanity they have picked out.
6. Next up is your flooring. Whether you choose a natural stone or engineered tile, you’ll want to compliment the vanity countertop you have chosen. If you have a walk in shower, you can carry this tile up for the walls of this as well.
7. Finally, it’s color time. We love the feature at Glidden.com that allows you to look at the color pallet variety on your computer at home. Of course, you’ll want to paint samples on the walls, but this is a great way to get started!
