How to Design Bath Renovation Projects
Remodeling or upgrading a bathroom can be a big job and should be undertaken with planning. Replacing a mirror or changing out an overhead light are quick and easy projects, but a major redesign requires careful consideration and budgeting. Learn how to design bath renovation projects by focusing on your goal and addressing budget concerns.
Establish Renovation Goals
Decide what you want to change and why. Are you renovating to add new features, change color schemes or make badly needed repairs? Renovating a bathroom can mean several different things to different people. For some it means tearing out the tile, replacing the vanity, changing a tub into a shower, adding shelving, updating the toilet or installing new plumbing.
Establish what your priorities are. Perhaps you only want to change out the vanity for a larger size and install fresh modern lighting. Once you know what to focus on your design plans will fall into place and you will know what to shop for or if you need to hire contractors.
Window Shopping
Visit home improvement centers and websites. Window shop for new bathroom elements such as toilets, tubs, showers, vanities, plumbing fixtures and paint. Study the latest designs and prices. Shopping will give you new ideas and what styles, colors and designs are currently for sale. Make notes about prices and comparison shop to save.
Home Project Software
Visualize what your new bathroom might look like and how all the changes can fit together using bathroom remodeling software.
Search online for 3D modeling software to create and design a new bathroom or renovate the old one. Consider these design software programs to learn about the looks and sizing of your proposed renovations.
Explore My Floorplanner, which is a free home project software that lets you design, draw, print, share and save 2D floor plans. Plan3D is another free software program where you may create a bathroom design and include cabinets, lighting and room elements in the new bathroom.
Contractor Work
Decide whether you need to hire out the work after exploring what changes you want to make. Consider doing part of the renovation yourself to save money if you feel qualified to do the work. Be realistic about your skills and plan to hire a contractor if you are not qualified for this type of work.
Budget
Plan your budget after seeing prices and determining if you can do-it-yourself or need a skilled contractor. Once you learn what the real costs of replacing a vanity or installing new tile are, you can determine what the renovation project may cost if you can do-it-yourself. Hiring a contractor for renovation work will add to the entire cost of the project and require additional funding.
Determine whether you can cover the expenses for bathroom design changes out-of-pocket or you need financing. Consider getting a line-of-credit at the bank for completing bathroom renovation projects if it works within your budget.