The bathroom is one of the most important rooms in your home. It's where your family's day gets started and where it ends. Despite this, compared to other rooms like the kitchen, living room, and bedrooms, it can be left behind when thinking about future renovations.

Bathrooms can quickly show their age, though. Whether it's by using outdated fixtures, colors from trends long ago, or with a tub that has worn away in parts, the bathroom can become a tough sight. If yours is falling into disrepair, and you've been feeling slightly embarrassed by its state, you've possibly been considering undergoing a bathroom remodeling.

At KBR Builders Inc, we think that's a great idea. But you should never go into a big renovation job completely blind. Here are 6 things you should know before you get started on a bathroom project.

Let's go.

1. Budget

The first thing you'll want to have a good understanding of before looking into a bathroom remodeling is the budget you can work with. This is going to determine the trajectory of the rest of your remodeling.

Many bathroom renovations can be quite expensive. The average cost from start to finish usually ranges from $10,000 - $25,000, but this variance is quite large. Depending on the scale of the job you're going to undertake, the cost can fluctuate wildly. Large structural changes, such as wall removals, plumbing rearrangements, and layout changes can make the bill rise. If you're looking to keep things cheaper, keeping the job smaller and reusing the materials you already have might help you.

Either way, whether you are looking to make a large investment or not, the budget is the starting point. Once you decide on this, the rest of the plan can begin to take shape.

2. Time Frame

The next element you'll want to decide on is the length of time you can afford to have your bathroom being worked on. A bathroom remodeling can make aspects of the room unusable for a period of time, so you want to be sure you can accommodate this, and if you can't, keep the renovation as short as possible.

Most jobs, no matter the size, are going to take at least a month to complete. Even the small jobs where limited structural changes will occur can take a while. But how long you can afford your bathroom to be under construction will inform the type of remodeling you do.

3. Style

Once your budget and time frame are set in stone, we can start thinking about the changes we want to implement to the bathroom. This is the fun part. We get to start the project's planning phase, where all your dreams are narrowed down into one vision for the room.

You need to understand the style and aesthetics of the room you're going for. These will be influenced by your budget and the trends of the time, but it's also an opportunity for you to inject your own personality and taste into the room.

You should be thinking about the colors you want to use, the types of flooring, how you want your tub or shower to look, all these factors. It's about planning a look for the bathroom that will be seamless and modern, so it looks up-to-date when it's finished and can last for a long time. Inspiration for style is all over the place, so be sure to take note of it when something strikes you.

4. Function

Next, you'll want to understand the form and the function your room will take. Your style is all about determining how it looks and feels; your function is all about the way the bathroom will actually work together.

You may be limited in some of your possibilities here, because of certain aspects that are already in place. The plumbing system of your home is already in place and may end up limiting the choices you have. So you want to gather a good understanding of the layout of the room, the location of the pipes, and the way the elements of the space work together to make a seamless bathroom experience.

If you are unhappy with your existing layout and have the budget to do so, this is also the time to determine whether you will look to make significant structural changes to the bathroom. With the proper budget, the room can be modified to suit any needs, with plumbing moved, the space expanded for larger tubs, and multiple sink fixtures attached.

5. Fixtures

Now, depending on your budget, the way you approach getting fixtures for your room may vary. You already have fixtures, like tubs, showers, sinks, toilets, and more installed in your bathroom as it is. If you are working with a lower budget and the fixtures look and work nicely, you may decide to work with what you have.

If you are looking for a complete overhaul, and your fixtures are outdated, damaged, and worn, it might be time to update all of these and keep the bathroom recent. The choice of fixtures will impact the style, the function, the time frame, and the cost of your renovation, so think about how you want to approach them carefully.

6. DIY or Hire a Team

When thinking about a bathroom renovation, you also will wonder about whether the scale of the job is something you can do yourself or if it would be best to hire a professional remodeling company. Although certain parts, such as painting, can be done by most people, the truth is that the scale and different types of work that go into a bathroom renovation are usually more than one can do by themselves.

Working with a professional partner is usually recommended. They have the experience to guide your project, make recommendations, and deliver a high standard of work no matter the size of the job.

Conclusion

A bathroom renovation can seem like an overwhelming idea. It doesn't have to be. Once you have some general ideas for the bathroom you want and can afford, you can start putting the pieces together with a proper plan.

If you've decided you'd like to work with a professional, we at KBR Builders Inc. are a group of seasoned remodeling contractors, who can help you design, schedule, and execute a perfect bathroom remodeling.

If you've had success with bathroom remodeling, let us know in the comments! And if you're looking to take your bathroom to the next level, reach out to us, and we can make that happen today!