9 Things to Avoid When Remodeling Your Bathroom

1. Ignoring Ventilation

Every time you take a shower or bath, the bathroom fills with steam. Without proper ventilation, that steam can create a mold or mildew problem. When you renovate your bathroom, place adequate ventilation in it, most commonly used is a bath ventilation fan. Consider linking the ventilation fan to your lighting so you can control it all from the light switch.

2. Estimating the Lighting Incorrectly

Lighting is a vital part of our bathroom. It helps you see well to get ready in the morning, ensuring every strand of hair or speck of makeup is in its proper place. However, this is actually tricky to get right. Too much lighting can make you look pale and washed out when you look in the mirror, but too little lighting will make it hard to see what you are doing. Because the bathroom tends to be a small space, fitting the lighting in can be tricky, but there are great design options that can help.

Above is an example of a bathroom with great lighting that is spaced out properly.

3. Ignoring Drainage

Like ventilation, drainage is also an important part of the bathroom. The beautiful custom tile shower you add is only as good as it is functional, and that requires proper drainage. Work with your design team to ensure everything can drain properly when your finished design is in place.

4. Adding Too Much Stuff

There is quite a bit you can add to a bathroom. You need the necessities, a sink, tub, and toilet, but you can also add decorative elements, lighting, and cabinetry. However, be cautious. Make sure you consider how much space you really have and how much room you want to have to maneuver in that space. It’s very tempting to add feature after feature, and that can eat up your space and make the room feel small and crowded. Working with a design team for your bathroom refresh will help you avoid this common mistake.

5. Using the Wrong Materials

Bathrooms are wet, humid spaces. Some building materials aren’t well-suited for this. Lots of wood, for example, especially in the flooring, is not ideal. Similarly, some materials require quite a bit of upkeep. Marble, for instance, will stain if you don’t take care of it properly, so it may not be the best choice for a family hall bathroom where kids are in charge of the maintenance. Instead, opt for porcelain and ceramic tile (check out our in-depth analysis) and surfaces for a beautiful look that is also watertight.

6. Saving Money on the Wrong Things

DIY bathroom refreshes can be a good way to save money but use caution. Just because you can watch a YouTube video about how to do a particular task does not mean you are ready to tackle it on your own. If you want to handle some of the work as a DIY project, choose something simple, and leave the rest to the experts.

7. Ditching the Bathtub

If you are remodeling your main bathroom that has a bathtub, one of the biggest bathroom remodeling mistakes as far as resale value goes is eliminating that tub. While you may peer to shower, and most adults do, families with children prefer to have at least one bathtub in the home. This works better for washing small children at the end of the day, so don’t swap the tub for a shower if it’s your only tub in the home.

8. Adding Too Little Storage

While you need to avoid the temptation to stuff the bathroom too full, you do need to make plans for storage. You do need a place to stash your toothbrush, toothpaste, linens, and cosmetic supplies. This is where working with a design team is so helpful. You can add sufficient storage without making the space feel too crowded with a carefully thought-out design.

Having multiple drawers in your bathroom keeps storage organized and easily accessible to everyone.

9. Ignoring Accessibility

If you are considering aging in place in your Florida home, or if you live in an area that appeals to older homebuyers, consider accessibility for aging in place in your bathroom refresh. You may not need it now, but you may benefit from these features down the road, and they can increase the value of your Florida home.

Avoid Common Bathroom Remodeling Mistakes with the Right Professional Help

Far too many homeowners make bathroom remodeling mistakes when they plan a bathroom remodel. This often happens because they don’t work with a designer. If you’re planning to remodel the bathroom in your Florida Gulf Coast home, work with the pros at Gilbert Design-Build. Our six-step remodeling process for bathrooms includes design services, giving you a beautiful, updated bathroom in a reasonable time frame. Schedule a consultation today to see how easy the process can be. Also, check out these modern bathroom design ideas to get inspiration for your space.