When I think of “makeover,” I think of a middle-aged mom who goes down to the beauty salon for a new hairdo and a few lessons in the effective use of makeup. In just a couple of hours, she is transformed from the average plain Jane into a starlet. That’s all good. But maybe my example explains why we are using the same term with a bathroom remodel.

Updating and Upgrading

Perhaps the reason for using the makeover term comes from the fact that most bathroom remodels are merely cosmetic. In other words, of all the rooms in your house you could remodel the bathroom is probably the most restrictive in terms of what you can do with it. Its location generally prevents you from enlarging it while the nuisance of re-routing plumbing typically dictates you leave the layout generally the same.

With such restrictions, the only things left to do are upgrading bathtub and toilet, updating fixtures, and implementing new design elements. In essence, you are giving the bathroom a new hairdo and some new makeup. If you look at in this way, the bathroom makeover can even be fun!

Important Bathroom Makeover Tips

Language concerns aside, if you are going for the makeover concept rather than a total remodeling overhaul, there are some important things to consider. Here are some helpful tips:

• Remember the Environment – The bathroom represents one of the harshest environments in your home. It is a room where temperature and humidity are constantly changing, thereby putting stress on window and door-frames, paint, etc. This is one room where you need to make sure you use high-quality materials.
• Remember Continuity – Unless you plan to hold on to your current home well into the future, it’s a good idea to remember the continuity of the rest of the house in terms of style. Simply put, you do not want your bathroom to stand out as being extraordinarily different; otherwise, it could have an effect on a future sale.
• Remember Functionality – The makeover principle dictates the changes you are making to your bathroom are largely cosmetic. If you’re going to do anything that dramatically changes the functionality of the space, make your choices wisely. A loss in functionality could severely diminish any benefits derived from the cosmetic portion of the makeover.

Regardless of whether you use the term “remodel” or “makeover,” making a change to your bathroom is often a wise investment in your property. You can add value to your home while also giving yourself a space that looks and feels brand-new. And unlike the makeover at the beauty salon, it will not come out in the shower!

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If you have a large bathroom already, you might want to replace your bathtub with a large Jacuzzi tub. You might be able to leave everything else in the same place depending on the layout of the room. Of course, you will most likely lose your shower space if you do this, but if you have a second bathroom with a shower, that might not be an issue. You’ll also probably need to modify your plumbing to accommodate the larger tub. Another large renovation is adding a tub to a bathroom that doesn’t have one or removing the tub and making a large shower. This type of large renovation can be done in a weekend, but it still involves a lot of work. You may want to add doors for a shower, too. Anything that requires you to add or move existing pipes and plumbing is going to be pretty major. It usually involves taking out parts of the walls or the floor, and you’ll most likely need a licensed plumber to do most of the work. This type of renovation might include installing a shower in a bathroom that only has a tub or adding multiple showerheads to your shower. You might also want to move your sink or install a double sink. While this isn’t a really large renovation, it will take the better part of a day. Large renovations might be expensive and take time, but they are well worth it if you get the bathroom of your dreams in the end. While enlarging your bathroom might be out of the question, rearranging the layout can result i>n more space or a more comfortable bathroom. If you aren’t able to make the large renovations you want all at once, you might think about spacing them out over a year or so. Replace the tub one month; add a double sink a few months later. It spreads out the work and the cost, but it means your bathroom may always be in the middle of a large renovation.

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Where to Start

The first step in planning your makeover is to sit down and assess the current use of the bathroom. If it’s the only bath in the house then every family member undoubtedly uses it. It will be a high traffic area that needs to be both functional and flexible. On the other hand, if there are multiple bathrooms in the house the one you are remodeling probably gets significantly less use. If it’s the master bath, it’s just you and your spouse. If it is a guest bath, it may only be used occasionally. The point is to make sure your makeover plan takes into account how the space is primarily used. That use is unlikely to change, so you want your remodel to be appropriate.

Maximizing Efficiency

The next part of your plan is to think about how you can effectively use the space to maximize efficiency. That might mean replacing an old medicine cabinet with a full-wall rack that serves multiple purposes. It might involve replacing the tub with a shower stall in order to make room for a double sink. Because you are unlikely to make the bathroom any larger, it’s better to maximize the space already available. Simply making the space more efficient goes a long way in making it more usable as well.

Budgeting for Materials and Labor

The last, and most important, part of your plan is to determine how much money you can spend in total. Then break that amount down into separate categories of materials and labor. Regardless of what those numbers are make a commitment that you will not exceed your budget. When it’s time to start shopping for materials, price each component separately and keep a running total. Understand that if you spend more than you originally planned for cabinetry you will have to make up the difference somewhere else. With every new purchase, it’s necessary to do the math and make sure the numbers always balance. Planning is the key to any successful home improvement project, but nowhere is it more evident than the bathroom. Stick to your original plan and you’ll find it a lot easier to complete your makeover without exceeding your budget.

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Replace your pedestal sink with a vanity or vice versa. This doesn’t take that much work, but it can be a great change for your bathroom. If you are tired of not having any counter space, adding a vanity can be a great help. The storage in the vanity lets you hide items like extra toilet paper or cleaning supplies, and the counter space may make getting ready in the morning that much easier. Putting in a vanity or pedestal sink does not require any in-depth plumbing knowledge – most come with everything you need and clear instructions on how to install them. Another remodeling idea is to move the toilet or sink. This is a more involved renovation since it will require you to move around some of your pipes. If you can easily get underneath your house (through a basement or crawlspace, for example), it may not be that difficult. You will need to know how to shut off your water and how to install pipes. It may be best to hire a plumber if you are not certain how to do this. You will also need to be prepared to cut new holes in your floor and be prepared to cover the old holes. Changing the flooring in your bathroom can be a fairly easy task if you know what you’re doing. Remove the tile or linoleum, prepare the floor for the new flooring, and then install the new flooring. You can get all of the supplies needed from any home remodeling store, and since a bathroom is a fairly small space, it doesn’t take very long to put down the new floor. This is one way to change the dominant color of your bathroom – put in new flooring, paint the walls, and add a few other touches like matching towels or a shower curtain. You can also change out your bathtub or shower. This is a pretty large renovation since it involves remodeling the largest item in your bathroom. However, if you never use your bathtub, it might be a great idea to take it out and make a large shower. You may also need to do this type of renovation if you can no longer step up over the side of the bathtub due to health issues. It will almost certainly require a licensed plumber’s help, of course. Any of these bath and shower remodeling projects will take some time and money, but they can make your bathroom look incredible, especially if you undertake several of them at once.

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