#1 Bathroom Renovation and Remodeling Guide

A good bathroom renovation means preparing your project well: where to put the sink? Should you choose a vanity unit? Bathtub or shower? Which layout for bathroom furniture?

To get a clearer picture, here are all our tips, plans and ideas for bathroom design.

Optimize the space of a small bathroom

Synonymous with well-being, even the smallest bathroom requires a good dose of comfort.

When every square centimetre is counted, optimizing space is an essential reflex to give the illusion of having a little more space.

With shallow furniture, a large mirror or a shower with sliding doors, the bet is a success!

On an area of a few square meters, the layout of a small bathroom requires some tips and a good organization to meet all needs.

In this passageway room where practicality is a must, storage space is numerous and versatile. They must be adapted to the bathroom configuration in order to optimize space as much as possible.

It is also possible to increase the feeling of space tenfold thanks to the clever layouts. With natural light, bright colours or large floor tiles, you save a little space!

Determine the organization of the small bathroom

Before embarking on the choice of the different elements, the general organization of the small bathroom must be defined according to the constraints of the place and the desires of each person.

"When you start the project for a small bathroom, the water supply is decisive," notes David Branch, bathroom product manager for MmDesign.

They define the location of furniture and sanitary facilities. Another important point is whether you want a shower or a bathtub. A choice that requires more or less space."

Keep in mind the minimum dimensions of comfort

In a small bathroom, space traffic imposes distances between each element.

"Once the drawer of the piece of furniture is open, there should still be 80 cm between the end of the drawer and the wall," says David. Similarly, the ideal shower passage is 80/90 cm.

These are notions of comfort to avoid feeling cramped on a daily basis."

Mistakes to avoid for a successful bathroom renovation

We hardly say that you are already thinking about covering, tiling, layout, sanitary installations... But before you get into DIY and install an unsuitable Italian shower, design a custom bathroom on paper.... Who will please you, perfectly meet your needs and simplify your daily life.

• Install an Italian shower without checking that it is possible
• Block access to piping for sanitary installations
• Wrong wall covering
• Do not anticipate movements in the layout
• Designing your bathroom without thinking about ventilation and lighting
• Forget about storage in a small bathroom
• Abuse white in a bathroom

Install an Italian shower without checking if it is feasible

Of course, the Italian shower is the must have for modern bathrooms! It's chic, it's airy....

But is it possible to integrate one in your home? Indeed, if the Italian shower is visually very simple, it hides some technical difficulties.

It will be necessary to check that it is possible to embed the entire system (receiver, evacuation, etc.) in your floor.

The real Italian shower is installed on the same level. It is not for nothing that it is the ideal solution for all people with reduced mobility.

Upstairs, your ability to dig will be reduced. However, if you really want to, you can always raise the floor of your bathroom (after a lot of work) or raise the shower on a step (goodbye level access).

Another alternative - simpler and less expensive - is to install an extra-flat shower tray. From an aesthetic point of view, you will almost have an Italian shower, but from a technical point of view, you will avoid laying the complex tiles.

The ultimate dream? Install an Italian shower in a master suite.... And why not, if you can?

Block access to piping for sanitary installations

When you renovate your bathroom, you choose a beautiful tile, a designer basin, maybe an Italian shower... But you never think of the worst: the possibility of a leak.

Everything to your DIY, optimistic, you have plugged everything up well, partitioned, definitively condemning the piping.

However, if this tile comes to you one day, you will be very happy to have taken advantage of your renovation work to install access doors to the fittings.

This way, you will not have to destroy your walls and floors in case of unexpected water damage. All you have to do is open the hatch to repair what needs to be repaired!

The water leak will not have the skin of your bathroom!

Wrong wall covering

Your choice of bathroom coverings cannot only be aesthetic... The bathroom is not a room like any other!

On the floor as well as on the walls, the covering you choose will have to withstand the hygrometry conditions of the premises.

Which one to choose? On the floor or on the wall, you can install tiles. Porcelain stoneware and natural stone are suitable for everything, while earthenware and glass paste are used for the walls.

In any case, take care to reinforce the waterproofing of the walls with waterproof plates under the tiles before laying, and waterproof joints and tiles after laying.

Paint suitable for wet rooms is also suitable. Wallpaper is less recommended, as water vapours can damage it quickly and cause it to peel off.

Do not anticipate movements in the layout

There's nothing worse than bumping into each other in the early morning when you're late for work. Even with a small room, don't forget that you will be moving there!

It is better to install a smaller shower tray, but keep the possibility of drying out of the cabin. Similarly, a bathtub may not be necessary if the square metres are counted....

Be aware that a minimum clearance of 70 centimetres should be reserved in front of a shower or basin unit, and one metre in front of a bathtub.

Also plan to be able to open your drawers and cupboards.... It's obvious, but we'd rather remind you of that. Space-saving tip: install a sliding door.

It would be a shame to have to close the door to access the sink, for example...

If you completely renovate the room, you have the possibility to create your own custom bathroom: enjoy it! Make a plan, project yourself into the room and imagine all your movements. All this will make the future use of your bathroom much more pleasant.

Designing your bathroom without thinking about ventilation and lighting

A humid room requires a lot of ventilation. Even if your bathroom has a window, the installation of controlled mechanical ventilation (CMV) is recommended.

For rooms without windows or with low ceilings, this is even essential. VMC keeps your paints, which could otherwise blister quickly with humidity.

A towel dryer is also very useful to prevent your bath towels from staying damp.

These actions extend the life of the various bathroom elements and help to fight against moulds that cause irritation, allergies...

Don't underestimate your lighting needs either! A bathroom needs much more light than a living room or kitchen.

Remember that in a bathroom, you do precision work: beard trimming, depilation, make-up...

A ceiling light will not be enough: it would accentuate the dark areas on your face, which is unflattering for the complexion.

You could then have a heavy hand on the foundation!

Thus, add a light source above the mirror and/or author of the vanity unit (wall lights, portholes, rulers, spotlights or lighting integrated into the mirror cabinet).

To bring warmth and increase the feeling of space, multiply the luminous points, which will not be too white or too yellow.

LEDs will be the most suitable bulbs for a bathroom because they are closer to daylight. For ambient lighting, 60-watt low-energy bulbs are sufficient.

Also worth thinking about: the location of electrical outlets! Do you use an electric razor, a hair removal device, a hair dryer? Think about uses.

And of course, comply with electrical standards! In the bathroom, electricity is a very sensitive subject, with the presence of water increasing the risks.

Thus, your installation must absolutely comply with the NF C 15-100 standard to ensure your safety. Always install your electrical appliances (including lighting) at least 60 cm from a water point to avoid unnecessary danger.

Forget about storage in a small bathroom

It's all very well in this DIY throw, but beyond the essential furniture and equipment, have you thought about storage?

Yes, minimalism is in vogue, but you still need to provide a space to store your hygiene and beauty products, your towels....

Furniture under basins, bathroom columns, hanging furniture like shelves: make the most of all the available space.

If you choose a bathroom that is too clean, small objects such as soaps and toothbrushes will end up lying on the edge of the sink, and the rest will pile up in the room's only storage unit!

Guaranteed disorderly effect, when you were looking for minimalism....

In addition, inside your drawers and shelves, remember to compartmentalize: a few plastic baskets or accessories will help you prevent the bazaar from settling in.

Abuse white in your bathroom

White is a neutral colour that enhances your decorative elements. On the other hand, a total white look would quickly give your room a hospital or hotel bathroom look!

In a bathroom, all colours are allowed: follow your wishes! If the room is small, prefer warm or pastel colours, which bring a touch of warmth and compensate for the lack of light.

Be careful not to colour your bathroom either, which would create an overload and a messy effect. You will have understood that, whatever your bias, the measure is your friend.

Space optimization: some tips

My bathroom is very small, I can no longer stand this constant mess. What can be done about it? Home staging in my bathroom is also cleaning by vacuum!

Sorting his toiletries, his products too bulky and his inappropriate furniture.... So many little tricks that allow you to find space quickly. We get rid of the superfluous and keep only the essential.

This is a good idea to ventilate the bathroom at a lower cost! Without falling into the aseptic world of architectural houses, everything is given a well-defined place.

If necessary, you can use pretty labels to stick in the cupboards. As we know, organization is the best way to keep a room tidy for a long time. With that, no more delays looking for his stuff everywhere early in the morning!

It's hard to push the walls.... On the other hand, thanks to a little home staging in the bathroom, it is possible to enlarge the space visually.

For more volume, you can exchange your dirty shower curtain for a transparent shower screen. Indeed, there are nowadays safety glass panels that are very easy to install.

An efficient and inexpensive way to visualize the entire bathroom volume, without the breakage that a shower curtain generates.

To maximize space, mirrors are hung on the walls.

Through their play of reflections, they have the merit of making the room brighter and extending the perspectives.

Practical and clever, we do not hesitate to arrange them at an angle so that they can answer each other. If the mirror above the sink is essential, it may also be wise to add one behind the door.

Finally, another detail not to be neglected: lighting.

On the ceiling, a new ceiling light is installed to remove any unsightly shadows. With this, the room will already look more spacious. We also adopt targeted lighting at face height. At the color level, we choose a white light, for a guaranteed healthy glow effect.

Renovating the bathroom floor at a lower cost

For the bathroom renovation, far be it from me to break everything. I only dream of one thing: to get rid of this dull and old-fashioned soil that has been depressing me for years!

But how can we change the situation without doing any major work? How can I make my bathroom floor modern, at a lower cost?

Luckily, there are ways to redesign your interior at low prices without necessarily repainting your floor tiles. For example, it is very easy to choose a special PVC floor for bathrooms.

Visually, the effect is generally quite successful. For a small budget, there are a multitude of them, in different colours and patterns.

Mineral concrete, wooden floors or coloured geometric patterns, there is no shortage of inspiration.

Special mention for the cement tile version, THE decoration trend of the moment. For a cheap renovation, long live home staging in the bathroom!

What's the price of a professional Bathroom Renovation and Remodeling

The bathroom is generally the smallest room in the home, yet this living space is very useful for its occupants who spend a lot of time there.

And it is because of this repeated use that the bathroom is often subject to renovations.

Here is an idea on the prices for such a project, as well as some tips to avoid a cold shower at the end of the work.

As a general rule, the price of a complete renovation of a bathroom varies between $10.000 and $20.000 for a room rarely exceeding 5 m².

When this site requires more than this upper limit, it is considered as belonging to the high standard.

The elements that contribute significantly to the increase in the bill are essentially tiling, plumbing, electricity and changing the bathtub, replacing a shower with a bathtub or the price of installing a window.

It is therefore imperative to think carefully before making the choice between a complete renovation or the repair or replacement of only a few items.

And if you have a small budget, start by replacing or repairing the most worn out systems.

Finally, and we can never repeat it enough, ask several quotes from several service providers before starting the work.

What are the 4 tips for a successful renovation of the water room?

For more comfort and less containment, avoid small shower trays, baths, sinks and toilets.

For example, prefer 90×90 cm shower trays instead of 70×70 cm, or a 130 cm long and 80 cm wide toilet space.
For more comfort when travelling, allow sufficient distances between the different elements of your bathroom.

Thus, leave an empty space of at least 55 cm in front of your bathtub, or 60 cm in front of your WC.

For optimal brightness, plan three sources of light: a light source in front of the mirror that is not aggressive to the face, mood lighting such as coloured neon lights with false ceilings or LEDs of different colours, and global lighting such as a ceiling light, but if you have a false ceiling, prefer spots.

Comply with the safety rules to the letter, because water and electricity do not mix well. To do this, take a look at the NF C 105-100 standard.

Shower or bathtub?

Shower or bathtub? The "dilemma" is often on the minds of landlords (or tenants), especially when redesigning their bathrooms.

In reality, this choice does not depend on their willingness or even on their bank account, but on the size of their bathroom.

Indeed, if the latter is small, a shower is more appropriate.

On the other hand, if you like to take your time and relax while you wash, choose a bathtub as long as you have enough space.

However, keep in mind that a bathtub uses 3 times more water than a shower.

Finally, to eliminate this "dilemma" at the source, you can choose a model that combines a shower and a bathtub.

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