When it comes to your bathroom, functionality should be the main concern of your remodel. Regardless if you are renovating the only bathroom in the house or just your master en suit, aesthetics must take a back seat to functionality. Below, you will find some tips and tricks to help give your bathroom functionality and still leave room to fit your style.
While you are tearing everything apart, look to see if you can upgrade your shower plumbing from the standard residential 1.5in. pipes to 2in. pipes. This jump in size may seem negligible, but the larger pipes will allow for less clogging and build-up. If your walls have clearance for 2in. pipes, you would be doing yourself a disservice by not making the upgrade.
Rather than hanging light fixtures, consider installing recessed lighting. It is much more stylish and looks perfectly normal to have more than one light. It also allows you to install a light above your shower giving you more lighting inside. With the new lighting, installing a dimmer switch allows you to set the mood you want for your bathroom. If you’re in there getting ready for work, turn the lights up. If you want to relax and soak in the tub, a lower setting will give you that spa-like atmosphere you may be looking for.
No one likes a cluttered vanity. To give you some room, consider small shelves around the vanity or a recessed medicine cabinet. Depending on your style and if there is a linen closet in the room, a medicine cabinet may not fit in your room; however, if you don’t have access to a linen closet inside the bathroom, you should consider adding a medicine cabinet or making sure your vanity has plenty of storage.
When it comes to your shower, you want to make sure that it is made from a solid non-porous material. All ledges inside the shower should slope inwards so that water can easily find its way off the ledge and into the drain. If you have the room, also consider adding a bench or sitting area. Sometimes it just feels nice to soak in a shower.
Your shower floor is going to be a big part of your shower, and you should consider functionality here. You want your shower floor to slope towards the drain, and larger tiles are much more difficult to slope properly. Additionally, larger tiles can be much more slippery as grout lines are spaced so much farther apart. Small tile designs are best for shower floors, but ultimately, the design is up to you.
On the subject of showers, take a minute and consider the value of a tub. If you have the option of one or the other, take a minute and think about how many baths you take every year. For most people, it would often range between 0 and 1. Most people’s lives don’t afford them the time. If you are making the decision, take some time to think about it. Don’t worry about how it will reflect on the resale value of your home because you should be renovating for yourself, not a future unknown buyer.