A sound bathroom remodel can be a daunting task, but if you have visions of gleaming white fixtures and color-coordinated things are intertwined with half-painted walls and a toilet sitting in the hall, you can put your mind at ease. Remodeling a bathroom does not have to be as scary as the stories you may have heard. O.K., sometimes they are that scary, but if you keep things simple it can be a creative and invigorating experience that you think back fondly on. In fact, it will be a creative experience that you can be proud of.
First of all, start out small. No one says you have to rip out the appliances, peel off the wall-paper and sledgehammer the tile in a single weekend. Make a plan. Decide how much you can spend, what you will spend it on and the things in your bathroom you most want to change.
Painting is the easiest way to change the look of a bathroom. At around $35 per gallon of paint it is also one of the cheapest ways. Painting can give your bathroom remodel a completely different look. If your current bathroom is white you might consider a bolder look, say terra cotta. If, on the other hand, your current bathroom is fire engine red then something like white might be the change you need. Can you picture the look? What a difference.
The next step might be changing up the bathroom decor by getting new towels and things to match your new color. Be creative here. Terra cotta walls do not have to mean terra cotta towels, soap holder, toothbrush cup, etc. Mix your colors for a pleasing look. You might, for instance, try sage green to go with your terra cotta, or how about faded turquoise? And if you have chosen a lighter color like white for your new walls, how about mixing that with sunshine yellow and cerulean blue? The choices are endless so choose with abandon.
You can either stop right here, after all your bathroom already looks so much better, or continue on.
If you choose to continue on than the next step might be a smaller appliance like the toilet or a sink. Floors can be covered with throw rugs, but a grimy sink or toilet cannot be hidden no matter how clever you are. Let’s go with sinks for the present since you can close the lid on your toilet for a while longer. There are so many sinks to choose from you will get delirious just wandering the sink aisles (yes aisles with an s) at your local home improvement store. Wander among porcelain sinks, pedestal sinks, stainless steel sinks, sinks that look like a bowl and tiled sinks. So many choices. Go with what makes you happy and revel in your new bathroom remodel.
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New bathroom vanity cabinets can be very expensive and because of this budget bathrooms are quickly becoming more and more popular, particularly modifications or updates from an existing cabinet instead of buying new cabinets. The hard economical times are hitting everyone from the rich to the slightly less well off. So more people are turning to budgeting when it comes to remodeling a bathroom, and making the most of what they have.
The saying goes that buying something new goes a long way to making a person feel better. So what if making something look new can help a person to feel much better?
As well as the obvious physical and psychological benefits of do-it-yourself, the payback to ones pocket through budgeting a new addition to your property is also very welcome.
With budgeting in mind, turning to how-to-improve the look of an old and beaten up bathroom vanity cabinets at low cost is something to consider.
Easy low cost improvements
Firstly to ensure that this do-it-yourself improvement you will need to make sure that your vanity unit’s frame is in good order, so have a good check inside and out for any water damage, rot or mildew.
1. If you do not have any damage then you can proceed to the next stage(2), however if you have rot then you will need to consider replacing the parts of the frame that are no longer good, or treat areas with mildew with a general household mildew remover and then prime the wood with wood primer paint.
2. Remove and measure your cabinet doors/drawer fronts and check the hinges and handles, if they are good then you should keep them. These can cost a lot of money to replace as new so can save you quite few dollars.
3. Is the counter top in good shape? If it is then consider keeping it (If no go to 3) and just giving it a good clean along with removing the old sealant/caulk with a utility knife. Then reseal using a good waterproof bathroom sealant. You will be amazed how new your countertop will actually look and will have saved you a small fortune.
4. Whether you counter top is in good or bad condition, the surface is usually where a lot of things can be done to improve the look and condition. You can add a sunken sink effect by sanding down the countertop surface adding some 2-3mm deep grooves/channels 1 inch apart. Then adding a mosaic of tiles to the countertop. The grooves are so that the tile grout has something to adhere to. You can be as creative as you want with your mosaic design, cheap end of line tiles can be found at a hardware store, or very cheaply on craigslist as unwanted items. You may even have some lay around yourself. You can get instructions on how to set/install tiles to a countertop with an online search.
5. There are two things you can do with your cabinet doors and drawer fronts. You can measure and replace them for new ones or some that are in good condition second hand. Ensuring you find the correct sizes and matching hinge placements. This is still much cheaper than replacing the full unit. Or you can sand, prime and paint the doors (making sure you have removed any handles and hinges first). You can be creative and choose any color of bathroom paint you want, you could have a contrasting frame color and doors, mix and match – you decide. Allow for paint to dry.
6. Remember to sand, prime and paint your frame first. Allowing for drying times then replace your doors and drawers.
Of course this is just a starting tutorial and you can be as creative as you want, but hopefully you will have ended up with a new looking set of bathroom vanity cabinets and saved yourself a good couple of hundred dollars in the process.
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Bathroom designs ideas ideas are usually flowing from a homeowner like water from a faucet, and for those that do not have many or want more they can easily be found with a quick search on the Internet or at your local home center. If you are going to do the work on your bathroom remodeling project yourself, be warned that it can be a nightmare if the right precautions aren’t taken.
Your bathroom designs ideas need to become reality. Why? Because they are YOUR ideas.
Bathroom remodeling can be an experience that you may never forget but the end result is always worth the wait. It doesn’t matter if you are replacing a bathroom vanity, installing a new faucets or installing a new toilet, having the right tools for the job makes your bathroom remodeling go a lot smoother. There is nothing worse than being in the middle of a remodeling project and discovering that you are short a tool needed to do the install of hardware, wiring or plumbing work.
As you begin work on implementing your bathroom designs ideas, you’ll find that a tool belt pouch is fine, but if you don’t like the bulk and extra weight around your waist then buying a good quality tool box is essential. Stocking your toolbox with the basics first is a step in the right direction. A straight and Phillip’s screwdriver, a pry bar, a level, plumbing tape, electrical tape, hammer, pipe wrench, vise grips and clamps are perfect starter tools. When considering screwdrivers, a magnetic screwdriver set can save you time from chasing after run away screws. Are you now seeing how important the right tools can be to making your bathroom designs ideas a reality?
Installing a toilet is a simple part of many bathroom designs ideas and may sound like a simple enough job but it can turn into a nightmare if you are not prepared for the installation. For example, if you plan to replace an old toilet with a newer or different model, be sure to take the proper measurements to be certain the new one you get will actually work in your bathroom. For example, measure the distance from the tank to the wall on the old toilet, then do the same on the new one. Also, you need to know where your water lines come in. If you try to force square peg into a round hole, or in this case a new toilet where it just won’t fit, then you’re setting yourself for leaks and constant problems.
The one tool that is essential is a small hack saw because if you ever run into a rusty bolt that just wont come off you can at least cut it off. If you are comfortable with air tools they can save you time when finishing up projects like laying down a new sub floor in your bathroom design project. Why torture your knees if a finishing brad nailer can help you lay that new bathroom floor instead of using a manual hammer? In bathroom remodeling projects we all have our favorite tools and it is up to you if they are hand tools, air tools or a combination of the two.
Do your research, study as many different websites, books, and home centers that you can in order to find the right bathroom designs ideas that match what you are envisioning, then make certain you have all the right tools to do the job efficiently and well or it could turn into a real nightmare.
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Bathroom renovations can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life or it could be one of the worst. One of our readers recently submitted this nightmare story that I thought may help you out:
“Bathroom renovations can be a nightmare if you go into the project unprepared for what you may run into. One project in particular ran over us so fast that we just stood there a moment in shock and thought, ‘Okay, now what?’ We had taken on a project for an elderly woman who wanted her small bathroom renovated. It looked like a simple job of just updating her floor, vanity and tub surround. We were wrong!
The ceiling was a suspended tiled mess and the tiles showed water damage. The elderly woman assured us that the leaky roof had been fixed and the tiles were just stained from the earlier damage. She had extra tiles and just wanted the stained tiles replaced instead of a new ceiling. We started on tearing up the old vinyl flooring only to discover that the floor underneath was rotted through in places and so a new sub-floor had to be installed. That weekend it rained and we got a call that the bathroom was flooded.
Well, it was flooded all right but not from a busted pipe but a poorly patched roofing job that another contractor had done leaving the valley of the roof pouring a stream of rain water right into the ladies bathroom like a storm drain. So our simple bathroom renovations turned into a roofing job. We ended up repairing the roof, replacing the suspended ceiling and installing a new sub-floor before we could even get into the original project of replacing the vinyl floor, installing a new vanity and replacing the tub and shower surround.
Crawling around on the floor and removing that old flooring was not pleasant. After cracking my knuckles more than once I finally wised up and got a pry bar out to help and the project went much faster and I got to keep the skin on my knuckles that I had left. Now here I was again crawling around on the floor and beating in nails and wood screws with a hammer when it dawned on me, Why wasn’t I using my air finishing nailer for some of this work? ‘Huh, I could have had a V8!’, it was one of those moments. Bathroom renovations are NOT supposed to be this challenging!
When my wife was in college one of her professors used to say, ‘Work smarter, not harder.’ That statement has always stuck with me and while I was climbing around on the floor it pole axed me unexpectedly. Being prepared for anything when going into a small bathroom renovation is having the right tools, the right attitude and always looking out for the unexpected in life to jump out and bite you when you least expect it.”
Take this story as a lesson learned. When you’re working on bathroom renovations be sure you go into the project fully prepared. Do your due diligence to make sure you’ve got the right supplies and tools if you’re going to do the project yourself.
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Remodel your bathroom? Absolutely. Every year, thousands upon thousands of homeowners are making plans to remodel the bathrooms in their homes. If you are reading this article than you are probably fit into this category. Having plans is one thing but actually taking action is another. Many homeowners have plans to remodel our bathrooms but the truth is that few actually do. They wonder if there are really benefits to remodeling their bathrooms. This article will discuss a few of the benefits to remodeling your bathroom and help answer the question of why should you decide to remodel your bathroom.
Increasing Your Homes Value
One of the immediate benefits you will gain when remodeling your bathroom is the increase in your homes value. In some parts of the country, it’s been said that converting a half bath to a full bath can increase your houses value by almost ten percent. The overall increase in your homes value will of course depend upon the project that you are planning. Changing a half bath to a full bath will of course increase the value of your home more than simply installing a small vanity. For more information on how much the value of your home will increase relative to the remodeling project that you have in mind, please consult a local real estate agent. They would have a better idea on the local market and how to better increase the value of your home.
Sense of Pride
We all know that the bathroom is one of the most used rooms in the house. Knowing this, when you are in the bathroom you don’t want to feel unhappy with the way your bathroom looks. Since you are going to have to use this room each and every day, when you enter your bathroom you want to be happy and full of pride. If you are unsatisfied with you current bathroom decor, it’s probably time that you made a change. Make plans to change that bathroom sooner rather than later.
Beautifying Your Home
Of course, the main reason that homeowners enjoy remodeling their bathrooms is to beautify their homes. As stated before, you are going to use your bathroom everyday and you don’t want to be unsatisfied with it’s layout. This holds true for the master bathroom as well as for bathrooms that guests are going to be using as well. Have you ever been to someone’s house and the house is beautiful but their bathroom looks like something out of an old 70’s movie? That can be very embarrassing. Completing a bathroom renovation can beautify as well as modernize your home.
There are a number of different reasons why thousands of homeowners are planning to remodel their bathrooms this year. Some do it for financial gain and are looking to increase the value in their homes. Some remodel to have a sense of pride in their bathrooms and others are simply attempting to beautify their homes. Whatever the reason is, the main thing is to do it. Don’t be like the many homeowners who have been thinking about remodeling for years now and still have not remodeled their bathrooms. Sit down and construct a clear cut plan on how you will be able to remodel your bathrooms in your home. If it make financial sense and you can afford to pay to remodel your bathrooms be assured that you probably will not regret the decision.
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Bathroom remodeling ideas can make you feel happy and excited, or tense and nervous. Which category do you fall into? Here are some valuable tips and advice to make it a simple, painless, and enjoyable experience.
The first thing you need to know when planning out your project is to consider the differences between spare and master bathrooms. Traditionally, people will go about remodeling these two types very differently. The spare bathroom is usually the one that is very clean and has a minimal amount of “stuff” in it. It is not over decorated and usually does not have the home owners personalized touch. This is also the one that guests usually use when they stop by. The master bathroom is usually just the opposite of the spare.
You can usually find that most master bathrooms have many decorations in them, but generally not too over done. You can also find the home owners’ personalized touch here because it’s usually never used or even seen by visiting guests and is designed specifically for comfort and relaxation.
Things to consider when remodeling your master bathroom
The first thing you want to consider when doing master bathroom remodeling is comfort. You have to think of it as a place of relaxation and not just another room in the house. For years the bathroom was thought of as just that. But through out the years, home owners have shifted their way of thinking.
When you think of comfort, one of the many bathroom ideas that may come to mind is a jacuzzi tub. If you have enough space and a big enough budget, definitely consider this as an addition to your master bath. If there is no space for a jacuzzi tub but there is space for a shower, consider making over your boring a dull shower and getting a shower that has massaging sprayers installed in it. This can really make the difference when trying to relax.
Things to consider when remodeling your spare bathroom
If you are interested in spare bathroom remodeling, you should be thinking clean, clean clean. You always want your spare bathroom to be less decorated and more clean cut. That doesn’t mean that you don’t have to decorate at all though. Spare bathrooms normally contain seasonal decorations such as seasonal potpourri and hand towels that match the season. In addition to that, they will contain small sinks, toilets and mirrors with lighting. There are many other things that you can do with it, but usually these are the bare minimum. After you install the bare minimum it is up to you how much or how little you want to decorate.
Bathroom painting & lighting tips
You want to make the bathroom look as if it is an extension of the room they are connected to. You can make it look as if you are stepping into another house completely by changing the design and style, but usually the style and feel just continues from the connecting room.
Paint is almost always a part of bathroom remodeling, so remember to compliment your choice of color with the lighting you have in the room. Darker colors usually work better with brighter lights, and lighter colors usually work better with dimmer lights.
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Think about a few of these bathroom remodeling ideas in order to transform your bathroom.
Some people say that their bathrooms are too old looking to remodel. This is just not the case. Regardless of the age of your bathroom, there are plenty of bathroom remodeling ideas out there to suit your particular style. If you choose not to remodel your bathroom then you are just missing out. The bathroom is one of the best and smartest rooms in the house to remodel. The old real estate saying goes that bathrooms and kitchens sell homes.
Today, many people have one goal in mind when they are remodeling their bathrooms and that is to make their bathrooms feel like a spa. In order to do this you don’t want to make your bathroom look like a totally different room in your house. It is a good idea to keep the bathroom a similar tone and feel as the rest of your house. That being said, you don’t want to overload the optical senses with too much “junk”. Less is probably more when it comes to decorating the bathroom and trying to get that spa feel to it. You want to have an overall feel of tranquility and relaxation.
Also, when you are trying to remodel your bathroom and get that spa feel, you want to make sure that the bathroom is still functional for everyone that is going to use it. Females should probably not make the bathroom too “girly” so that men don’t want to use it and the same goes for the males as well. Don’t make your bathroom too “manly” so that no one wants to use it but you.
A Few Bathroom Remodeling Ideas
A great way to get that spa feel is to install heated tiles for the bathroom floor. This is just the ultimate in comfort if you live in an area that is extremely cold. Have you ever stepped out of a hot shower onto and ice cold floor. That is just the worst. Well, with heated bathroom floor tiles, you will never have to do that again.
Adding furniture to your bathroom is becoming more and more popular. This also gives the feeling that you are at the spa as well, waiting on a massage. One of many great bathroom remodeling ideas would be to install his and hers lounge chairs in the bathroom. This idea will only work if there is ample space in the bathroom to support two chairs being in the room. If the bathroom is too small or even border line too small, the lounge chairs will make the space looked cramped. Also, make sure that the chairs are made of a material that can be supported in a damp environment. Not saying that the chairs will actually get wet but some materials will go bad even being in an area that has steam in it.
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The right bathroom remodeling supplies are needed in order to complete a bathroom remodeling project, and it far easier to complete when you are working with the quality materials and supplies. It seems as though you can’t even flip through the channels without seeing some sort of home improvement show or some type of remodeling show dedicated to a specific area of the home. Today, the Internet also aids the homeowner with a great deal of information on how to improve the look and feel of your home. But is it safe for buying your remodeling supplies?
There are some advantages and disadvantages with buying the supplies you need for bathroom makeovers online. Buying your supplies online is really up to the preference of the homeowner. Some homeowners have no problem getting the supplies they need online and don’t see any other way to get them. While others are still skeptical and choose not to. Here are a few of the advantages and disadvantages of shopping online for your bathroom remodeling supplies.
Price
One of the biggest advantages of buying bathroom remodeling supplies online is the price. Many times you will find that the price that you get online is going to be better than the price that are going to find at your local hardware store. For the small items such as tape you may not see a significant price difference but for larger items such as cabinets you may see a more significant difference.
Conveinence
Many homeowners enjoy shopping in the comfort of their own homes because it is much more convenient than shopping with the masses. This especially holds true around the holidays.
Seeing the Items in Person
One of the disadvantages of buying your bathroom remodeling supplies online is that you don’t get a chance to view the item in person and touch and feel the item. Many homeowners will never give up the feeling of actually seeing the item that they want in front of them and being able to hold it in their hands.
Returns
Another disadvantage of shopping online is that some online retailers have strict return policies. This can be a disaster for some high end items that you might need for your bathroom remodeling project. No one likes to be hassled when trying to return a high end item because it didn’t quite fit or it wasn’t the exact style that you thought it was.
Are you planning on buying your bathroom remodeling supplies online? Well, just know that there are some advantages as well as disadvantages when purchasing online. One of the major advantages is the price. Many times items that you find online can be less than in your local hardware store. However, some homeowners will never give up the feeling of actually seeing the item that they want in person. Before you make a decision, sit down and list out the postives and the negatives. This should help you make a decision on whether or not buying bathroom remodeling supplies online is right for you.
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A bath remodeling project has been at the forefront of your mind for a long time, and now you have finally made the decision to remodel your bathroom. Congratulations, many homeowners don’t even get past the planning phase before the project is forgotten. So know that you have gotten by the biggest hurdle, how in the world are you going to pay for it?
Many homeowners every year will not take on projects such as remodeling their bathrooms because they fear the cost of the project. They may look at home improvement shows or hear that a friends project cost him/her X amount of dollars and they give up. Well, everyone’s bathroom renovation job is not going to cost the same amount. So your first step should be to sit down and figure out a ball park figure of how much your bathroom renovation is going to cost.
Planning
You want to make a list of all the cost that you are going to incur while the bathroom is being remodeled. If you are planning on doing the work yourself than you want to write down the price of possible parts that you will need in order to complete the project. If you are going to hire a professional to complete the job than you want to get estimates from several companies that you may want to contract out to do the work. It also doesn’t hurt to to keep a list of part prices with you even if you are contracting out the project. You want to do this to ensure that your are not being over charged for parts. Lastly, you want to jot down how much time it will take to finish the project whether you are going to DIY the project or whether you are going to contract the work out. Many people fail to write this down as a cost but this should be done. The cost is your time which is just as valuable as your money.
Credit Card
One method of paying for a bathroom makeover is charging it to your credit card. This works best if you have a pretty good interest rate. This works especially well if you are able to put the work on a card with a zero percent interest rate. You can sort of think of the bathroom remodeling project as an investment in your home which can be looked at as one of your biggest assets. Many times a homeowner will reap the benefits of this investment once their homes are sold and the house sells for more because the bathrooms have been renovated and modernized.
Home Equity Loan
A great way to pay for home renovations such as bathroom remodeling projects is to take out a home equity loan in order to pay for the job. Home equity loans are fantastic because the interest paid on the loan can be tax deductible. Therefore, you benefit by taking out the loan in order to pay for the project and you also benefit on tax day by getting a bit of a break on your takes. This is truly a win-win situation.
Cash
Some people are fortunate enough to have some cash saved up for a rainy day and use this money for their bathroom renovation projects. If you are one of these people, by all means you should use your cash reserves in order to fund the project. As stated before, your home could be looked at as one of your biggest assets so using your cash to renovate your bathroom can be looked at as putting cash into an asset. Many times the money put into a home is returned many times over once the home is sold.
So how do you plan on paying for your bathroom remodeling project? Well, first of all you need to plan out what sort of parts you are going to need if you are a DIY’er or plan how much it is going to cost if you are going to contract the work out. After this, some of your options can be paying via credit card, home equity loan or paying in cash. The choice is up to you but whatever that choice is, make sure that you plan properly so that you wont have to spend more money than is needed.
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A bathroom remodel may be just what you need. When is the last time that you took a close look at the bathrooms in your home? Has it been a year? Maybe five years? The truth is that many homeowners don’t really look at the appearance of their bathrooms until it is time for some upgrading. So what signs should you look for that will let you know when it might be time for a bathroom remodel or an upgrade to your bathroom design?
Are You Happy Or Unhappy
Many times as homeowners, we finally realize it is time to upgrade our rooms when we experience feelings of unhappiness with the layout or appearance of a room. This may not be something that can be calculated though. It is just something that you feel. The bathroom is one of the most used rooms in the house. This is the place where some of us like to unwind after a hard days work with a nice bubble bath. If you are feeling that your bathroom design is inadequate it may be time for some change.
Upgrades In Other Rooms
Whether a small bathroom remodel or an overhaul with a complete bathroom remodel design, many homeowners will know that it is time to upgrade their bathrooms when other rooms in the house have been made over and the bathrooms have not been. For instance, if you are upgrading or remodeling your bedroom you would not want your master bathroom to be inferior in appearance to your bedroom. You would want the bathroom to be just as modern as your newly designs bedroom. This also will hold true if you are renovating your kitchen or family room as well. Any bathrooms in that general area will need to be modernized to keep up with the newly renovated room.
Viewing Other’s Bathrooms
We sometimes don’t like to admit it but when we see other’s modernized rooms we all either say or think the same thing, “Wouldn’t that look nice in my house.” Don’t be ashamed, it is natural to think that. This especially holds true with the advent of the DIY home improvement shows that are on networks such as HDTV and other networks. It is totally fine to try to pick up pointers from television or maybe even if you see something at a neighbors house that you may want to try in your home. But remember if you are picking up design concepts from a neighbor, make sure you only incorporate a few concepts into your bathroom and not the entire bathroom design. It’s just neighborly etiquette.
So are you noticing any signs that you may need small bathroom makeovers? Signs that you need a bathroom remodel really vary from person to person. Some of us feel a sense of unhappiness when we are in the bathroom and feel the need for some sort of change. Some of us have upgraded other rooms in the house and need to upgrade the bathrooms to keep the home entirely modernized. Many people may find a design concept that they would like to attempt in their homes after seeing a television show or visiting a friends house. Whatever your reason is, make sure that you plan accordingly so that your bathroom remodeling project will go as smoothly as possible and that the finish product will be something that you are proud of.
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