Renovating a bath can seem like a daunting task. Fear not! We’ve put together this list of trade secrets to make your bathroom renovation a breeze!
1. Storage: If you are going to completely gut your bathroom and start fresh – make sure to include storage solutionsin your plan. Niches in your shower will help avoid frustrating clutter. Make sure your linen closet is large enough for more than just linen, and if it isn’t, use a vanity rather than a pedestal sink to make up for lost space.
2. Materials: The floor of your bathroom should be made of a a non-slip material. A textured finish stone or ceramic will prevent you and your guests from slipping. Check out Ann Sacks’ Nocchio “planks”. When choosing vanity tops and tub decks, be sure to avoid natural stones that are porous. They will absorb any drip or spill and stain. Opt for a metarisl like granite or quartz, which will be much more durable and maintenance free.
3. Sinks: When choosing your sink, make sure you choose the one that is right for your needs. If you’re short on space, a pedestal sink is right for you. If you need lots of storage, consider a vanity. A vessel sink also allows for storage underneath, but will encroach on valuable countertop space. *Important: When choosing a sink, think about the faucet you are going to need. For example, vessel sinks need wall-mounted or very tall deck-mounted faucets.
4. Shower or Tub: From a re-sale standpoint, it is better to have a really great shower than a mediocre tub, which will come in around the same price-point. If you would like to make an environmentally friendly choice, a tub takes about 70 gallons of water to fill, while a 10-minute shower will only take between 20 and 50 gallons of water (depending on your showerhead). Lastly, if any elderly people are going to be using this bathroom, a shower will be much safer. If you can have both, go for it!
5. Electrical: Make sure your wiring is 20-amp to handle all of those hair dryers and straightening irons. Many older homes are wired with 15-amp.
6. Lighting: Bathrooms should be the best-lit places in your home. It is where you get ready for your day, and you don’t want any surprises once you walk out into daylight! You should have a fixture for general lighting centrally located (or if they are recessed lights, evenly spaced toward the center of the room), sconces on either side of your mirror around 60″- 66″ above the finished floor, and a light in your tub or shower enclosure for nighttime showers or shaving. Don’t forget that exhaust fan!
7. Toilet: Go for a toilet that has a MaP (that’s Maximum Performance tested) score of over 500. These toilets can use up to half of the 1.6 gallon per flush limit. Also, for a prettier (yes, toilets can be pretty)
look, consider selecting a one piece toilet.
8. Window Treatments: Window treatments are vital to any bathroom that has windows. They provide neccessary privacy and also give you another chance to infuse your personal style and flair into a space!
9. Accessories: The final touches will complete your bathroom nicely. Robe hooks should be installed where robes can easily be grabbed when getting out of the shower or bath. Robe hooks should be mounted between 66″ and 72″ above the floor. Opt for towel rods instead of towel hooks if you have the space, they will dry your towels much faster. They should be mounted at about 48″ above the floor. Toilet paper holders
should be installed at about 26″ off the finished floor and should be directly in front of or 6″ away from the toilet.
Olga Adler is an interior designer based in Delray Beach, Florida providing design and decorating services to some of the finest homes in Palm Beach County.
