For most homeowners, a fully-functional bathroom is an area in their residential properties where they can prepare for the day and relax after a stressful time at work. This area is where they can be alone, take a calming shower, relax in the tub, and completely unwind, allowing them to soothe their nerves and anxieties. In addition to these perks, it’s also one of the crucial aspects that determine a home's overall value, as highly functional bathrooms are preferred and desired by a lot of potential buyers.
At some point, your bathroom may need some serious renovation, due to outdated brass faucet or a stained shower head, among many other issues. Through this process, you can correct valuable features, allowing you to get rid of any form of danger-causing element, keeping your family members and visitors safe. Additionally, transforming this area can make it more spacious.
If you’re a DIY warrior and want to do some bathroom renovation by yourself, here are some helpful tips to ensure the project’s success:
1. Eliminate Bathroom Fixtures
A strip out is an essential step that you must follow before starting on your DIY bathroom transformation project. This process typically includes the removal of all the internal fixtures of this area so you can completely get rid of non-essential items. After successfully going through this process, you'll be able to proceed with the renovation and the installation of new systems and fixtures instead of just simply covering the old ones.
Before eliminating bathroom fixtures, however, you should gather all the necessary equipment to protect yourself, such as protective glasses, earmuffs, gloves, breathing masks, and protective clothing. You must also get plastic or copper caps to close off all the water pipes so you can properly disconnect all plumbing fixtures, including tapware, toilet, and vanity. For electrical disconnection, you should consider seeking assistance from a professional electrician to prevent endangering yourself and the entire house.
After that, you have to seek assistance from your family members or friends so they can help you in carefully removing and lifting the wall tiles to avoid causing flooding due to poor jackhammering. In addition, you need to provide your team with proper breathing masks and command them to wear them at all times to prevent them from inhaling dangerous dust particles.
After eliminating all bathroom fixtures, you need to sweep and vacuum every area to ensure no old materials are left behind. Rent a dumpster so you can properly dispose of demolition debris.
2. Transform The Walls
The bathroom walls set this space's style, tone, vibe, and ambiance. If this place has crusty wallpaper and tinted paint, you must include the wall transformation process in your DIY renovation project. After transforming the walls, these elements will look fresh and clean, which can boost your home’s value and visitors' experience.
You might also want to consider investing in patterned wallpaper or tiles so you can give your bathroom a high-end look. Alternatively, you may go for texture rather than pattern by installing vinyl paneling to some designated spots using a miter saw to cut the trim boards so you won’t end up with sloping panels.
However, if you’re planning to sell your home in the near future, going the DIY route might not be the best thing to do. Since good showrooms require full displays, don’t hesitate to contact professionals and have them renovate your bathroom to perfection.
3. Install New Fixtures
You must also check for signs of rotten wood materials and immediately replace them to avoid further damage to the subfloor. Then, you have to pick a basin or pan that perfectly matches your new décor and the space where your existing tub sits before you can start installing your new tub. When selecting a base shape for the basin, you must consider the bathroom's other aesthetic features, including the door's location.
To start installing a do-it-yourself (DIY) shower, you must use a walk-in shower installation kit that’ll provide you with all the necessary materials and tools to build it. Then, you'll need to have a shower arm, a showerhead, faucets, a hand-held shower, screws, a tray, waterproofing materials, and a shower drain. Once you do so, you must cut your drain hole, ensuring the board lies flat before screwing plywood on top so it can form a base, and add sealant to the drain to finish the process.
4. Accent The Mirrors And Vanity
A bathroom mirror is essential for homeowners because it allows them to check their appearance, apply makeup, or shave. In addition to these valuable functionalities, it can also add more drama, as well as illumination to hidden storage areas. Regardless of the bathroom size and type, mirrors can brighten and enhance the area aesthetics-wise when used wisely.
To maximize the beauty and functionality of your bathroom mirrors during renovation, you must consider picking bigger models that can stretch from the floor to the ceiling instead of settling with smaller ones. If a side of this space has a window, you can hang a mirror across that area, so this element can bounce organic light into the room, reflecting outdoor views. You may also turn an open wall into a mirror so it can brighten and expand the room's general look, making the space look taller by extending the full height of the room.
You also have to customize your vanity so you can show off your style. You might have to do some re-facing on your drawers and cabinets using a thin panel attachment. Additionally, you should create a chic shelving unit to cover unsightly bathroom necessities and products by mounting them to the side of this element.
Key Takeaway
As a homeowner, you need to improve your residential property's comfort level and aesthetic features to make it look appealing and boost its market value. You should consider following these four strategies to ensure a successful DIY bathroom renovation. Once you do so, you'll be able to create a fully-functional bathroom that’ll allow you to relax after an overwhelming day at work and improve your family's lifestyle.