There are countless small bathroom remodel ideas to choose from. A successful remodel will give you a comfortable bathroom, while increasing the home’s resale value. Only a few decisions are necessary for a bathroom remodel of your dreams. This article will guide you through the steps for the best small bathroom remodel, with the least amount of stress.
How do I decide on small bathroom remodel ideas I can use? Consider these first: Plan before beginning; Pick the best color palette; Source the materials at a good price; and Know when to rely on the pros. This article walks you through these steps, helping you achieve the bathroom remodel of your dreams.
We must first define some terms. The words “renovate” and “remodel” are often used interchangeably, but they mean different things. The word “remodel” is when you will be removing old items from the room, and replacing them with brand new ones. This method of updating the space can be more expensive, but can also be a greater transformation.
Renovating a bathroom is when you update the existing pieces in the bathroom. This would include things like “refacing” the vanity. Putting a fresh coat of paint on some areas can give a brand new feel to the bathroom. You’re not purchasing new items, but rather updating existing ones. This can be cheaper than remodeling the room, but may take more time and often is considered more of a DIY approach.
Remodeling a bathroom is when you will be removing items and replacing them with new materials. This can include gutting and rearranging the layout of the bathroom. This is not an easy task, and should be done by professionals. There is plumbing, electrical, and walls that require extensive planning. For the scope of this article I will not be talking about gutting and rearranging the bathroom.
Plan your Bathroom Remodel
In order to have the bathroom of your dreams, you must first know what that means to you. This is possibly the most important stage because it dictates what the new bathroom will look like in the end. If you have a well established plan before you begin the work, you will know what direction to take the project in, making the process easier overall.
With a small bathroom it may be better to consider having a shower rather than a bathtub. This will make the space feel bigger, and is easier to install if there is no existing tub. But a bathtub may be the right choice for your home, especially if you have younger children.
Determine Your Bathroom Budget
There are a few factors to consider for a budget. The first is how much you will be spending on labor. A good estimate is between 20-60% of your overall budget will go towards hiring professionals. There are ways to reduce this total. You can cut this expense if you are willing to get your hands dirty. When doing some or all the work yourself you should realize this can eat into your timeline instead.
The second thing to consider for your budget is choosing the building materials to use. This category can range anywhere from 30-70% of your overall budget. If you have more money budgeted you are less limited to what your choices are. But being frugal these days doesn’t mean you need to skimp on quality either. There are a lot of affordable options for bathroom materials that are still decent quality.
And finally you want to have some padding for any hidden issues you are going to run into. You should set aside about 10% of your budget for these hidden expenses. Although this is more likely going to be needed in homes that are generally 50 years or older, it can be required for a home of any age. Hopefully you don’t need to dip into this fund, but if you do it’s good to have.
What is the Most Expensive part of a Bathroom Remodel?
The most expensive part of a bathroom remodel is the labor. If you are paying an expert to help you with this project, this is where the majority of the money will go.
The most expensive materials that go into a bathroom remodel is the bathtub or shower. If money is an issue there are some great options that are affordable. Some of the shower kits can be a DIY option if you feel up to it.
How to Design a Small Bathroom on a Budget
There are many amazing small bathrooms that have been remodeled on a budget. The keyword to keep in mind is “creativity”. You may need to think outside the box for where you source your materials, or even do some of the work yourself.
Try finding repurposed materials, or go for more of a renovated approach in the room. If you have a vanity that is in good condition, adding a fresh coat of paint may make it look like new again. Adding a fresh coat of paint to the walls can lighten up the room, making it feel brand new.
Take a look at some of the more affordable brands for faucets and light fixtures. Changing out the fixtures is a good way to add to the feel of the bathroom while not spending too much money. You want the items to be affordable, but not cheap.
Consider your skills, and think about what you can and cannot do in this remodel. It’s okay to go a couple of steps beyond your skill level. But if you need work done on either plumbing or electrical, and you don’t know much about it, contact a professional.
A Little Color Goes A Long Way
If you are looking for a quick and (relatively) easy option to spruce up your bathroom, consider putting on a fresh coat of paint. This doesn’t always mean just painting the walls. Also consider other parts of the room like the vanity, baseboards/trim, and even the inside of the door. If done right, you can give a brand new feel to an otherwise boring room with some fresh paint.
Picking the perfect colors for your bathroom shouldn’t be difficult. Let’s take a look at what goes into picking the right colors for your bathroom.
If your bathroom has a shower or bathtub that gets used often you will want to go with a semi-gloss paint. This will repel the water better. If your bathroom doesn’t get a lot of humidity you can get away with an eggshell or satin sheen.
How to Pick a Good Color Scheme
Consider picking either two or three main colors to use in your bathroom. If you go with two, you will want to use a neutral color on the walls as well. This will make a nice “canvas” for you to showcase the main colors you use. If you go with three color options, consider using a tint of one of the colors you chose on the wall.
A tint is when you take a color and add white to it, making it lighter. An example of this would be starting with blue and adding white, giving you baby blue. On the other hand a shade of a color is when you add black to it. Adding black to blue can result in getting a darker shade like navy blue.
Do you remember the color wheel you used as a kid? It’s going to come in handy right about now. There are a total of 12 colors on the wheel. The three primary colors are red, yellow, and blue. Three secondary colors are orange, green, and violet. And there are six tertiary colors that are a cross between the secondary colors and primary colors they are between.
There are several approaches you can take to picking the right colors for a bathroom. If you go with an analogous color scheme you will be picking colors that are adjacent one another on the color wheel. An example of this would be choosing blue, blue-green, and green.
A complementary color scheme is when choosing two colors that are opposite one another on the color wheel. An example of this is to use both blue and orange in the bathroom. This works because the two colors balance themselves out visually, making them a nice compliment to one another.
A monochromatic color scheme is more difficult to pull off, but can be a stunning choice when done right. This is picking one color and using different tints and shades of it in the space. It’s easy to make the space feel overwhelming and uninviting, but it can be very enjoyable if you have the right balance.
Once you pick the colors option you want to use, you can play around with different tints and shades of them. A great way to do this is by picking up paint swatches from a paint or hardware store. Grab several tints and shades of the colors you are interested in. Tape them to the walls in the bathroom so you can get a feel for them in that room.
You will want to take a look at them several times throughout the day. This will let you see what they look like with different light levels on them. I recommend keeping these swatches up for several days to fully experience how you feel with them over time.
If you are planning on selling your home you want to go with color options that a majority of people will appreciate. Go for soft whites, beige, or even light blue-grays.
But if you are going to stay in the home you are free to be a bit more creative. Think about what options you like the most. This is the room you are going to spend a lot of time in. Pick colors that make you and your family happy.
What Colors Make a Small Bathroom Look Bigger?
Small bathrooms can easily take on a claustrophobic feel. This is especially true if the walls are dark and dated. When picking a wall color that makes a small bathroom look bigger, consider lighter colors like white, beige, or creme.
A light beige color wall is a nice option for any room in the house. This is a neutral color that makes a good backdrop to any decorations you use in the room. It isn’t as bright as white walls, making it more comfortable to look at for longer periods of time.
Painting the ceiling white will be another way to help make this space seem larger than it is. This will lighten up the space, making it more enjoyable to spend time there. You may also want to consider light color floors if you will be updating them as well.
Building Materials for Small Bathroom Remodel
It’s time to purchase the materials you will be using for your small bathroom. But where should you begin?
It’s good to get the materials in the order you will be installing them. This is so they are not sitting around for too long, potentially getting damaged or in the way.
What Order To Source and Install The Materials
Below is the order you want to source your materials. This is also the order you want to install them in. You will do this after all demolition has been completed.
The list you go by will depend on the scope of work for your bathroom. You can skip over any of the steps that are unnecessary for your remodel.
1) | Paint |
2) | Bathtub/Shower |
3) | Vanity |
4) | Flooring |
5) | Toilet |
6) | Sink |
7) | Faucet |
8) | Lighting |
9) | Accessories |
Small Bathroom Remodel Ideas
The good news and bad news is there are a lot of brands for you to choose from in your bathroom remodel. This can easily lead to paralysis by analysis. I will save you some of the trouble and narrow down to a handful of brands to consider for some of the options. This is meant to get you started with looking. If you don’t like any of these options then be creative with your search.
Shower Head
The shower head is an Item you don’t want to overlook. This can easily make or break one of the most important areas in the bathroom. You want to get a showerhead that you enjoy because having an awesome shower experience is ideal. Below are a few top picks in the shower head category for you to choose from.
Delta Faucet ProClean
Great for cleaning the the shower
6 spray options
Wide spray coverage
Limited lifetime warranty
Best Rain Shower Head
High pressure rain feeling
90 Easy to clean nozzels
No-tool installationWater saver
Best With Filter
Replaceable filter removes heavy metals
5 spray settings
No-tool installation
Purifies water
AquaDance 7" Premium
6 shower settings
No-tool installation
Premium Quality Tested
Each head is angle adjustable
Bathroom Faucet
The sink and faucet are probably the most used areas in the bathroom. The faucet is a major focal point in this room. For that reason you will want to make sure the faucet you chose goes well with the sink and countertop.
If you are going with a new countertop it’s good to chose a faucet first. This will allow you to get the right number of holes drilled in the countertop. The choices are either one or three holes. Below are a few small bathroom remodel ideas for faucets that you can consider. I am including options for every hole type.
Delta Bradmoor
Pull out hose for easy sink cleaning
Three hole layout
Easy installation
Limited warranty
Delta Arvo Widespread
Sleek design
Three hole layout
Four color options
Easy installation
Limited warranty
Pfister Jaida
Waterfall faucet
Single hole layout
Limited warranty
Moen Brecklyn
Classic design
Spot resistant
Limited warranty
These choices are some of the top design options available. They are only to get you started on your quest to find the best small bathroom design ideas.
Remember that you are going for the design style that suits you. It’s best to look at different ideas from different places before making a final pruchase decision.
How You Make a Small Bathroom Luxurious
If your goal is to make the small bathroom feel luxurious, your aim should be to give it a spa feel. This can come from the paint scheme, choices of building materials, and the experience you get from your shower.
The color scheme should have a calming effect. This can come from light blues, greens, or beiges. Consider accenting the bathroom with live plants to add to the spa-like experience. These plants will need adequate natural light to survive, but if that isn’t available there are lightbulbs that will grow plants as well.
DIY or Find a Professional?
There is a give and take that comes with this question. The benefit to taking more of the DIY route is you will save money by adding sweat equity in your home. But the payment will come with your time. You may not be able to dedicate as many hours in a day as a professional, and need to fit in the work when you can.
The typical bathroom remodel will usually include both options. There are areas that you are capable of doing, and want to make your mark in the project. But for some reason you may not be able to do some of the work yourself. You may not be experienced enough to work on plumbing or electrical. You may not like the idea of getting dirty with demolition. Or you might not have the time in this season of your life. All of this is okay.
First take a look at the amount of work that’s going to be done in the bathroom. Are there areas you know you would enjoy doing? Or do you not have any time or interest in the labor part of this project? Maybe you want to source and purchase the materials so you know you are getting all the materials and fixtures that you love.
What tools do you have? Do you know anyone who has tools you can use? There are tool rentals that can be a big help during this time as well. You are going to need access to a variety of tools for this job.
Talk to several contractors before deciding on one. It’s good to ask for some references, and ask for pictures of some of their work. You want to find out if they have done this type of job in the past, and how many times.
When you pick the one you like, make sure you listen to their advice when you are describing what you want. It’s okay for them to have opinions on the project. It’s not okay for them to tell you they don’t want to include your ideas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I renovate my bathroom for under $5000?
A bathroom renovation for under $5000 is quite possible. You may be limited to the amount of work you can do, as well as your choices in building materials. Consider ways to save money by both refacing existing items like the vanity, and taking a more DIY approach to the project. You want to be creative with the work you do by getting ideas from different sources before you start the work. Then try to make your version of what you like in your small bathroom.
How long should it take to remodel a small bathroom?
The answer to this question will vary depending on the project. A lot of it depends on the scope of the work being done in the bathroom. For a quick refreshing of the paint that can take less than a week. But if you are doing a full remodel of a small bathroom, this can take close to three months.
Is a tub or walk-in shower better for resale?
Upgrading to a walk-in shower can be better for resale. This may depend on who is purchasing the house. If it’s a young family they are going to see a bathtub as more valuable. If your home has one tub, it’s okay to convert the second tub into a walk-in shower.
What color bathroom for resale?
The best color option for resale is a lighter color that doesn’t stand out too much. Many people enjoy a light blue in their bathrooms, but a beige is also a good option.
What adds the most value to a bathroom?
The part of a bathroom that adds the most value is the shower. Having a tile shower will add the most value to the room. The second most important part is the sink/vanity area.
Conclusion
This article was designed to help you make decisions for your bathroom remodel. It is a starting point, leading you to a completed small bathroom remodel. My hope is that when you begin your journey in remodeling you will be able to get to your final result much easier.
Happy Remodeling,
Kevin