How to Transform Your Bathroom
The bathroom is often one of the most overlooked rooms in the house when it comes to updating your interiors. However, it can make a substantial difference to your overall home and will generally increase the value of your property. An updated bathroom is also far more pleasant for you and your family.
So, regardless of whether you plan on selling your house or are refurbishing your home for your enjoyment, here are some things to consider.
1. Add a Second Bathroom or Ensuite
According to a survey, a third of the people asked would prefer to buy a house with additional bathrooms rather than more bedrooms. An ensuite bathroom could improve buyers’ offers by an average of £4,000.
It’s not always easy to squeeze a new bathroom in, but remember that you don’t have to add an enormous room. For example, if your property already has an upstairs bathroom with a shower, then the downstairs will only need a toilet and a sink. Older people and families will appreciate the easy access, and it’ll cut down on queues.
When considering an ensuite or an additional bathroom, plan it carefully and make sure that all of your measurements are precise. Otherwise, you could end up with an expensive problem with no easy fix.
If you don’t have much space to work with, you can still create a full bathroom by being smart with it. For example, create a shower room or wet room. Because you don’t need a separate bath or shower, you’re able to create a fully usable ensuite. Use shelves and wall cupboards for storage, and be bold with your decorations so that even your cramped bathroom is a joy to behold. Plenty of light and mirrors also help to make smaller spaces seem roomier.
On the other hand, if you’re already planning to add an extension to your home, consider adding a bathroom to your plans. You aren’t confined to existing rooms, which can allow you to have more freedom when planning your bathroom.
2. The Modern Makeover
Once your bathroom hits a certain age, it starts to detract from the value of your home and the likelihood that someone will be interested in it. The survey mentioned earlier suggested that 3 in 4 buyers would pay more for a property if the bathroom was modern or recently renovated.
However, modern doesn’t have to mean all white tiles and minimalist designs. It primarily means updating your fixtures, such as the toilet, sink, shower, and bath. Traditional styles are still popular, but they require quality fixtures and fittings.
Simply put, as long as your fittings aren’t suffering from wear and tear and they look nice, they should be alright. This means that you don’t need to rip everything out and start again to update your bathroom, which is brilliant if you want to give your bathroom a makeover without breaking the bank.
If you have tiles, decide whether or not you want to keep them. If you do keep them, clean the grouting and make sure that it’s perfect, as nothing ages a bathroom more than grotty or peeling grouting.
Repaint your other walls or consider using bold wallpaper to make your bathroom stand out. If you’re replacing your bathroom floor, then you can’t go wrong with tiles. However, you could use water-resistant vinyl if you want the look of wood flooring but without the costs and the risk of water damage.
Should you decide on a bold and beautiful look, make sure that your fixtures will go with your new plans. You could replace the taps and other fittings so that they have an updated and classy look.
Upgrade them to brass or go for a modern black look.
3. Furnishings and Decor
The bathroom makeover doesn’t end there, however. Any interior designer will tell you that furnishings can make a room look larger or smaller, brighter or darker, as well as reflect your style and personality. Even if you’re selling your home, it’s worth furnishing and decorating your bathroom to make it look its best. While the buyer knows that you’ll be taking it with you, they’ll still think more fondly of the bathroom if they’ve seen it all spruced up.
Let’s start with houseplants. One popular style lately is to go for the full-on jungle look. Large ferns are easy to look after and thrive in a humid environment, which makes them perfect for your bathroom. They also don’t drop leaves, so they’re easy to clean up after as well.
You should also use artwork in your bathroom as well as the rest of your home. A feature picture, or a whole wall decorated with a gallery, can give your bathroom an injection of style and intrigue. With the right artwork, your bathroom will no longer feel like an afterthought.
Of course, no bathroom will be complete without bathroom mats. It’s generally recommended to get two or three mats, so you can cycle them when they need washing. Bathroom mats aren’t just practical, drying your feet after a bath or shower and protecting your flooring, but they can also be stylish. Match them with handtowels to create a distinctive and stylish look.
4. Get Help For Larger Jobs
While you can update your bathroom with some smaller changes, sometimes there’s nothing else to be done but to do a complete refurbishment. This may involve ripping out your existing fixtures and replacing them.
This is the kind of job that’s best left to experienced professionals. When hiring a contractor, make sure that you can trust them and that they have good reviews. Usually, you can find reviews for them on the internet or by word of mouth.
If you’re getting your only bathroom refurbished, you will need to consider what to do when your family needs to use the bathroom. Often, the best solution is to have a friend nearby who’s willing to help you out, but some people decide to go away for a few days until it’s all done. Whatever you decide, make sure that you can be contacted easily in case something goes wrong.
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