8 bathroom renovation mistakes to avoid

Renovating a bathroom can be expensive. Steer clear of these 8 mistakes for a worry-free bathroom reno that doesn’t break the bank.

Forgetting to budget

Since bathroom renos can quickly become quite pricey, check out our tips for renovating your bathroom on a budget. The cost of purchasing materials and hiring professionals is often inversely proportional to the size of the room! Unexpected issues may also come up during the renovation process that generate additional expenses. Plan for every possibility! 

Winging it

It’s important to carefully plan the changes and improvements you want to make. You may not be able to do everything you would like. Consider your budget and the size of your bathroom.

Think about the overall functionality of the room and decide what is most important. Check out bathroom renovation ideas for inspiration.

Not installing proper ventilation

Proper ventilation reduces humidity in the bathroom and prevents mould, which can have negative health effects. Mould can also damage metal appliances and paint.

Not optimizing storage space

Use every bit of storage space at your disposal. Since the bathroom is a multifunctional room used by both family members and guests, you’ll need cabinets, drawers, shelves, hooks and closets to store everything. If your bathroom is on the small side, optimize every nook and cranny.

Completely changing everything

Following current material, colour and decor trends can be costly. Who says you’ll still love it in a few years? Since a bathroom reno is a substantial investment, it’s a good idea to go with classic materials, simple decor and versatile colours. Then you can add bolder decorative accents.

Overlooking the lighting and electrical outlets

You’ll want proper lighting around the mirror, as this is where everyone does their make-up, shaves or styles their hair every day. Make sure the room is well lit and that you can dim the lights. Also, be sure to install electrical outlets in safe and practical locations.

Choosing unsuitable materials

When selecting tiles, flooring, furniture and finishings, keep in mind that the bathroom gets a lot of moisture. Select materials that are waterproof or designed specifically for bathrooms.

Trying to do it all yourself

Unless you are a multi-talented DIYer, you’ll need professional help to complete the work. Go with a contractor who specializes in bathroom renovations.

Even though the bathroom is probably the smallest room in your house, renovating it requires plumbing, electrical and tiling expertise, and faulty work or an incorrect installation could cause major problems for both the bathroom and the rest of your house, in the short and long term. 

---

Are you passionate about real estate? Subscribe to the Centris.ca newsletter now.

See also:

How to renovate your bathroom without changing the tiling

Bathroom decoration: Revamp ideas at low cost

7 decorative mirror ideas for each room of your home