When starting a remodeling project for any area of your home, you first need to consider your budget. If you only have a few hundred dollars to spend, you will be able to freshen up the look of your bathroom but not make any major changes. If on the other hand, you have a substantial budget available, much more drastic changes are possible.
Start about thinking why you wish to update your current bathroom and what you do not like about the existing setup.
If you are hoping to sell your home in the near future, making the bathroom more appealing to potential buyers can be a great selling point and can even increase the sale value of your home by several thousand dollars. Seventies style basins and bathtubs in colors like salmon pink and avocado green will really date your bathroom, whatever the surrounding decoration, and ideally should be replaced with a more neutral color like white or cream.
Alternatively, if you wish to remodel your bathroom based on your own preferences rather than what may be appealing to a potential buyer, there is a lot more to consider. Perhaps the layout of your current bathroom is not an efficient use of the available space or you are lacking in storage. Maybe you hate your current bathtub because it is too big and takes ages to fill. Or just as likely, there is nothing really wrong with your current bathroom but it does not match the bathroom of your dreams.
If your current bathtub, sink and toilet are in good condition, in white or another neutral color and are not awkwardly located, your bathroom remodeling will be focused around cosmetic changes.
Tiles contribute to the look and feel of a bathroom, particularly if they cover most of the wall area. Look at some interior decoration magazines and visit your local hardware so you have an idea of the available color and pattern styles and different effects you can achieve. White is always popular in bathrooms, but can be clinical. To add some interest, choose tiles with a subtle pattern or scatter in some other light colored tiles to break up the wall. For a designer look, go for bright colors and special effects like mirrored or mosaic tiles.
Do not overlook the flooring of your bathroom. Bathroom floors need to be practical as well as attractive and there is a range of options you may consider including tiles, vinyl, linoleum or well-sealed wooden boards, to name a few. The floor can form a focal point in a plain bathroom by using a bold design. You also may want to consider using decorative rugs and bath mats to make an impact in the room.
Update your existing storage space by replacing or painting cupboard doors and adding shelves on which to display decorative items like pretty bottles and glass jars filled with cotton balls and other useful items. If your bathroom products are not so attractive, buy some nice soap dispensers to fit by the sink and in the shower and fill them up with liquid soap, shower gel and shampoo.
Replacing your shower can give you a great deal more enjoyment from your bathroom. If your current shower has low pressure, or you cannot regulate the temperature properly, consider investing in a modern power shower with a large showerhead. If you are not on a tight budget, you could also consider fitting a luxury integrated shower that has heads at different heights and angles for the ultimate shower experience.
If your shower is in a separate cubicle, updating this is one of the easiest aspects of bathroom remodeling. You can buy readymade shower trays and units in DIY stores with glass doors that look impressive and are easy to fit. Or you may wish to build your own using glass bricks or another on-trend building material.
Do not overlook how lighting can affect the overall look and feel of your bathroom. Rarely is one central light the best lighting choice. Look for flexible lighting arrangements that can be controlled to achieve different effects. Mini spotlights work great in a shower cubicle and you could even consider putting a celebrity dressing room style mirror surrounded by lights above the washbasin.