Aside from the bedroom, the bathroom is one area where you could relax after a tiring day. To sustain this area’s good condition, you might want to consider renovating it. There are two ways you could remodel this part of the house – DIY improvements or elaborate detailing.

In either option, you have to prioritize financial planning. Your budgeting would be better if you decide on the renovation type – minimal or full remodeling. Having a rough draft of the bathroom’s final look would give you a greater overview of the expenses. If you are considering new electrical wiring and adding new fixtures and furniture, your layout should include these details. However if you are not well-versed in electrical or plumbing work, you have to hire professional services. Allocating budget for the service fees could actually save you from future expenses. Further expenses could possibly occur due to faulty connections. Note that the key in hiring outside services is to look for certified and trustworthy workers. You could get referrals from family and friends who previously had renovation for their own home or from home improvement shops. They usually have a list of electricians, contractors and workers.

DIY improvements

Renovations are typically equated with massive expenses. But with the help of online DIY home improvement sites, you could do just fine on your own. Careful selection of the materials should be your utmost priority. Once again the DIY sites could be of much help. These give out free advice where you could buy great materials with affordable prices. Some sites present listings of salvage yards, thrift stores and bargain shops. Each enlisted shop gives catalogs or inventories of available materials and corresponding prices. Scrap wood or metal, old furniture or fixtures could be found in these shops. Do not worry about the quality. These items are mostly in mint condition or are slightly used. Some furniture pieces even resemble very expensive antiques.

Another easy step in DIY remodeling is to enhance the contents of the bathroom with simple refurbishing or repainting. You could apply a new coat of paint to the doors and cabinets. You could add decorative detail to miscellaneous items. For example, your mirrors could look better via gluing some glass beads on the frame. One more innovative idea is to convert an old dresser table into a sink countertop. Drill a hole into the top of the dresser. Make sure that your existing sink fits into the hole. You must also ensure that the plumbing would still be in working order.

Another improvement is to re-do the tiling of the floors and walls. However, before you rip off the old tiles, you need to be careful not to damage any wiring or plumbing. Review the bathroom’s original plan so you could be aware which areas require you to be extremely careful. If you are not too sure what to do, do not take the risk yet as you may end up with more expenses. You could research step-by-step guides on how to do it properly. You could also hire a professional instead.

Full renovation

Be prepared for massive expenses with this option. One way you could easily get your budget ready is to use a bathroom construction/renovation calculator. This feature is accessible via home design directory sites. You could get a free quotation for the remodeling task you want to be done.

You could select the size of the bathroom – small, medium, large or custom. You could particularize which areas should be covered with tiles – floors and/or walls. You could also choose the type and quality of the tiles – premium, standard or basic. The contents refer to the fixtures – wall spout, bench top, basin, soap dish, shower enclosure, towel rails, hooks, exhaust fan, mirrors, and others. Choosing would be very easy for you as the online sites provide pictures and prices per item. Here is a sample calculation using approximate prices: small bathroom size – $7/sq.meter; custom tiled area inclusive of walls and floors – $15/sq.meter; standard tiles – $40/sq.meter; and standard contents – $80 to $2,000 a piece.

Another expense you need to look into is for the labor. If you decide to retain the original designations of the electrical wiring, plumbing, windows, doors and other fixtures, you could save a few bucks.

You could have a better renovation experience if you would stick to your budget. If you frequently change your mind about any remodeling detail, then you are doubling your expenses. You have to be really sure about your plans so the renovation could smoothly proceed.

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