Why Embark on a Bathroom Renovation?
Pondering your motivations for a bathroom renovation will significantly shape the design of your revitalised space. Begin by reflecting on what you appreciate about your current bathroom and identify the elements you wish to transform, then build your plan from there.
Understanding the Bathroom Renovation Timeline
The construction phase of bathroom renovations typically spans between 3 and 8 weeks. It’s also quite common for homeowners to dedicate a month or two to gathering ideas, finalising a design, and selecting materials and fixtures. Your Refresh Renovations® Specialist is adept at working within a timeline and budget tailored to each individual homeowner’s needs.
For a detailed breakdown of the project by stage, refer to the Refresh Renovations® Process.
Smart Strategies for Saving Money
If cost is a primary concern for your bathroom renovation, follow these steps to achieve significant savings:
- Layout Loyalty Saves Pounds: Altering your bathroom’s layout generally incurs the most substantial costs due to the complex plumbing work involved. If you can retain your existing layout, you’ll realise considerable savings.
- Strategic Splurges on Fittings: Luxury fittings can quickly consume a large portion of your budget. To economise, opt for items from the standard range, then choose just one expensive “statement” fitting to infuse an air of sophistication.
- Harness Technology for Efficiency: Install timers on underfloor heating and towel rails to effectively reduce your electricity bills.
- Prioritise Proven Professionalism: It’s a common occurrence for builders to submit unusually low quotes to outmanoeuvre competitors and secure a contract. This often leads to such builders cutting corners to maintain profitability, ultimately resulting in a sub-par renovation for the homeowner. Choosing a transparent company like Refresh Renovations®, which provides a clear plan and a customised budget breakdown upfront, offers the peace of mind of knowing precisely what you’re paying for and what to expect. Refresh also excels in professional project management, ensuring wasted time is minimised, which translates into further savings for you.
Understanding Bathroom Renovation Costs (Estimates)
- Basic Bathroom Renovation: £8,000 – £12,000*
In most cases, this budget level will not permit repositioning fixtures such as the toilet, vanity unit, shower, or bath. However, you will be able to replace existing fixtures with new ones and still achieve a dramatic transformation through careful selection of accessories, paint, and tiling.
- Mid-Range Bathroom Renovation: £16,000 – £24,000*
Nine times out of ten, you’ll want to reposition fixtures in your bathroom to create a space that truly flows and functions effectively for you. This will necessitate more complex plumbing and electrical work but is well worth the additional investment. To provide a general idea, for a bathroom renovation at this level that includes a mid-range new bath, shower, vanity unit, and toilet, along with lights, an extractor fan, heated towel rail, underfloor heating, paint, and tiled flooring plus wall tiles extending approximately 1.2 metres (3.9 feet) high on all walls – you should anticipate spending between £21,000 and £23,000**. A full bathroom makeover, with tiling to the ceiling, a complete fit-out, and a tiled shower, would likely start from £28,000*.
- High-End Bathroom Renovation: £24,000+*
If you possess a substantial budget, consider creating a luxurious, spa-like ambiance with a selection of high-end fittings of your choice. A freestanding clawfoot bath can truly become a statement piece and the focal point of the space. Embrace a futuristic feel with smart-home technology, allowing you to control various aspects of your bathroom experience, such as temperature, lighting settings, and entertainment systems, and even create bespoke user profiles. Underfloor heating and natural stone tiles are also highly popular additions for high-end bathroom renovations.
*Prices indicated in this article are only an estimate and are subject to change based on specific project details and material costs in the UK.
What’s Your Budget?
How much financial provision have you made for your bathroom renovation? Your budget will profoundly influence the scope of work and the expected outcome. While the dream may be enticing and the final result tempting, numerous pitfalls can swiftly turn the project into a nightmare when it comes to financial management. We offer our top tips for ensuring your renovation stays within your allocated budget; discover them here.
Local Authority Approval
Depending on the location and scope of your renovation project, you may require a local council or city permit. It is critical to plan ahead and ensure that all correct approvals are in place so that the work can be properly inspected and comply with building regulations.
Professional Hire or DIY Renovation?
Do you possess the necessary knowledge and experience to undertake the work yourself? DIY renovations often seem appealing due to potential cost savings, but in reality, there’s no guarantee of achieving your desired result. Furthermore, we frequently observe projects that end up costing significantly more than they should have when homeowners are forced to call in professionals to rectify a botched DIY job.
Therefore, we cannot recommend this option unless you are a highly confident plumber, tiler, and interior designer.
Engaging the Right Professionals
If you seek peace of mind, it is always advisable to hire a professional renovation specialist company that can comprehensively manage the entire project. This approach will save you both time and money, as you won’t be burdened with project management, and you’re likely to procure appliances and fittings at prices below typical retail rates. Your sole responsibility will be to communicate your desired bathroom aesthetic to the project manager and select the fixtures, tiles, paint, and appliances that they recommend.
Bathroom Renovation Styles
The options for styling your bathroom are boundless. We firmly believe that excellent design begins with proper function, so always consider the practical implications first before making any aesthetic bathroom design decisions. If you’re seeking design inspiration, you can explore the following resources:
- Renovate Handbook: Get your free copy here
- Our Bathroom Projects: Refresh Bathroom Projects
- Pinterest: Refresh Renovations® Pinterest
- Our other articles: Top 5 Bathroom Styles
Bathroom Inspiration
Are you searching for ideas to incorporate into your dream ensuite design? Take a look at the projects below for inspiration:
- Coastal Blue Luxurious Master Bathroom
- Bright and Beautiful Master Bathroom & Kitchen
- A Bathroom, Kitchen & Living Room Transformation in Pensacola
- A Retro Bathroom Renovation in Florida
Key Considerations When Planning Your Bathroom
Space Utilisation
Avoid the mistake of simply cramming every fitting imaginable into your floor plan just because it physically fits. Create distinct dry and wet zones, for instance, in front of the shower and beside the bath. Nobody enjoys brushing their teeth with wet feet. Remember that during a renovation, you’ll likely face some restrictions on the positioning of your fittings due to your existing plumbing setup. Every home is unique, so consult with a professional if you’re uncertain.
Layout Planning
To avoid a poorly designed bathroom, you need to identify your absolute must-haves. Most bathrooms require a toilet, a vanity unit with a basin, and a shower. From there, you can analyse the available space and incorporate other desired elements, such as a freestanding bath, additional storage, and heated towel rails.
Fixtures and Fittings
If you’ve chosen to work with a specialist renovation company like Refresh Renovations®, your Renovation Consultant will expertly guide you through selecting the appropriate fittings (aligned with your style and budget) from our extensive network of premium suppliers at reduced rates. Naturally, you retain the option to choose your own preferred suppliers if you wish.
- Toilet: Do you prefer a wall-mounted or floor-mounted toilet? Do you want the cistern to be concealed within the wall or externally mounted? These choices will affect both the space the toilet area occupies and the overall cost of your renovation.
- Shower and Bath: You have several options here. If space permits only one, choose a shower or opt for a shower-bath combination. If you have ample room, consider adding a luxurious touch with a double shower or a freestanding or spa bath.
- Tiles: Tiles come in a vast array of shapes, sizes, and textures, largely dependent on personal preference. Here are a few tips for selecting the right types:
- Avoid combining too many colours or styles within a single bathroom.
- Steer clear of floor tiles that become excessively slippery when wet.
- Choose a consistent colour theme and strive to maintain it throughout your home.
- If you desire more than plain bathroom tiles, select a standout tile and use it to accent specific features of your bathroom.
- Generally, large tiles look better in larger bathrooms, and smaller tiles suit smaller spaces.
- Beyond aesthetics, choose tiles that are pleasing to the touch and comfortable under bare feet.
- Lighting: Before experimenting with artistic lighting sources, ensure the basics are covered. The basin and vanity area must be exceptionally well-lit. An LED strip or light bar positioned directly above the mirror is an excellent choice. For more traditional options, consider a wall sconce or a pair of small pendant lights. If your goal is relaxation, dimmable spotlights can help establish a calming ambiance.
- Storage: Even with a chic and minimalist design, there must be a nod to practicality, especially concerning storage. Nothing compromises the effect more than a visible collection of makeup, toiletries, and other bathroom essentials. Therefore, we highly recommend carefully considering the size and placement of cupboards and drawers. When creating an indulgent bathroom, the less clutter, the better, so don’t overlook the option of wall-mounting cabinets and cleverly utilising room corners for a basin and vanity unit.
- Bathroom Technology: Consider incorporating voice-controlled lighting, a shower head with a built-in Bluetooth speaker, or a digital shower with an LED temperature gauge. Mirror cabinets can also go high-tech with touchless control panels for operating LED lighting, dimming functions, and mirror heating.
Common Bathroom Renovation Mistakes
Below is a list of frequent blunders in bathroom renovations. Remember that if you choose to work with a Renovation Specialist from Refresh Renovations®, you won’t need to worry about making these errors.
- Not leaving sufficient room to move past when the door is open or someone is standing at the basin.
- Bath is excessively large for the space, leaving inadequate floor space to step out comfortably.
- Storage cabinets positioned too low or too high – always measure precisely before deciding on a height.
- Insufficient space between fixtures; you need room to move around, undress, and dry yourself.
- Poorly positioned wet areas, resulting in a constantly wet floor.
- A small bathroom lined with disproportionately large tiles.