Bathroom Renovations – the difference is in the detail

When contemplating your bathroom renovations project, you have probably thought extensively about the placement of your bath, and your shower… probably your toilet… and, also your vanity.

But have you thought beyond that?

There are numerous details to consider when approaching any bathroom renovations.  Some of them are obvious, however most are not.  Naturally, the less obvious elements are often overlooked, and it is these seemingly small details that can create the biggest problems if they are not considered well in advance.

For example, where will you use your hairdryer or GHDs if there is no power point close to the vanity? How will you reach your towel when you hop out of the shower if it is all the way across the other side of the room?

This is why the small details make all the difference.

Here are some points you need to consider when revamping your bathroom:

Why the difference is in the detail when it comes to bathroom makeover

Power point location

As we have mentioned above, you want your power points to be accessible and useful. Unless your electrician has a plan noting specific placement instructions, they may fit power outlets in a position that is convenient for installation, or where they consider to be most appropriate.  Your power points may end up in an unexpected location.  However, if you use a professional bathroom renovator (like the team here at The Bathroom Factory), their project manager will ensure it is placed in a truly convenient spot.  Our team can even integrate power points inside your cabinetry so that you can charge toothbrushes out of sight.

Lighting

Given the bathroom’s prominence as a grooming and preparation area, lighting is perhaps the most important aspect of any bathroom upgrade.  Let’s face it, you want to know if you look good (or not), so you want to make sure you get the lighting correct. Ensure that you choose a lighting option that is appropriate for a bathroom (probably not a chandelier!) and that it is well situated.

Much of your precision work will be done near the bathroom vanity, so that area will need to be well illuminated.  Consider a mirror demister as that is something that will be difficult to add in later!  You also might want to consider heating and suitable lighting for the rest of the room.

Don’t forget to consider your light switch placement too! You don’t have to have your light switch behind the door, or in the middle of the wall just outside of arms reach. With a bit of planning you can ensure it is installed in a perfect location.

Bathroom comfort

Given the vanity is “preparation central” in many bathrooms, there is nothing more annoying than having your vanity at the wrong height. Too low and you will have to bend down every time you want to wash your hands or access the drawers. Too high and you won’t be able to use it comfortably.  The same applies to your bathroom mirror – it should be set at the ‘right’ height.  While these details sound niggly, they will make all the difference in your finished renovation project.

These niggly details are what a professional bathroom renovator will consider prior to upgrading your bathroom.  They can take the specific needs of your family into account, for example, accommodating a step for younger family members, or adjusting the height of your cabinetry if wheelchair access is required.

Consider the placement of the shower mixer so you can turn it on without getting wet.  The position of your shower glass is also vital, you do not want the door to open onto the toilet or vanity.  Regarding the toilet, make sure there is plenty of space around it so you can sit and maneuver comfortably.

Don’t forget about your heated towel rail!  Make sure it is close to the bath and/or shower – not across the other side of the room.  Ideally you want it in arms reach as you exit the shower.

The aesthetics

Given you are making a significant investment in your home with a potential bathroom renovation, you want to make sure that it looks good and works well.  Using a designer and project manager from The Bathroom Factory team will ensure the end-product looks amazing, and more importantly nothing will be out of place!

Here are some of the aesthetic elements to consider…

Paint: It is not just the right colour that you need to pick, you also need to ensure it is suitable for the bathroom.

Tile layout: There is nothing worse than choosing a beautiful tile and seeing them cut in odd shapes to fit into the space left at the end of a wall.

Tile Accessories: Did you know that you can get a wide range of different coloured grouts and tile trims to complement the colour of your tiles? You don’t need to stick to grey grout and chrome trim.

Shower Storage: Shampoo bottles look pretty messy littered across your shower floor. Why not have a great storage solution like a recessed shelf built into your shower?

Fixings: You need to ensure appropriate fixing is installed behind the wall linings for all of your wall mounted bathroom items, particularly the vanity.  This will ensure your new bathroom fixtures remain securely attached to the wall.

Wall Hung Vanities: Placement of plumbing services is crucial.  Misplaced or improper placement of hot / cold outlets and waste pipes could result in the vanity not being able to be installed.

Toilet Cistern Taps: Every toilet needs to have a tap, but it doesn’t need to be on display halfway up the wall!  With clever design it can be hidden down low beside the pan, or behind the cistern if you have concealed entry toilet suite.

The final word

As you can see, there are a lot of small details to consider in any bathroom renovation. To make sure you get it right you should seriously consider working with a team of professionals.  The Bathroom Factory are experts in creating beautiful and modern bathroom renovations to suit any budget.

You could spend $20k on a DIY renovation, or you could spend the same money to utilise our expertise.  Not only that, The Bathroom Factory project manage all of our bathroom renovations, ensuring all of the small details are carefully considered and implemented from the outset.

Check out our range of bathroom renovation packages: