With so many things to consider, where should you begin when remodelling your bathroom? Let us guide you in the right direction…
Remodelling a bathroom can seem like an impossibly extensive task, and if this is a brand-new project for you, you may have very little guidance or knowledge on where to begin. If you’re looking for straightforward advice on how to remodel your bathroom, from the earliest planning stages to the “final touches” stage, we’ve put together this handy step-by-step guide that will make the task at hand seem a little less daunting!
Set your budget
One of the first questions you might be asking yourself is "How do I choose a bathroom?". With infinite options and combinations, it may be worth considering your budget first.
According to our own bathroom installation cost estimates (which we monitor and update regularly), the average bathroom remodel in 2022 can cost around £8,000. Of course, doing the work yourself (such as laying the new floor, tiling and painting), rather than hiring tradespeople, will bring the cost down. It’s important that the very first thing you do, before looking at any sort of bathroom inspiration or products that you’re interested in, is to set a realistic budget.
Research and inspiration
Now for the fun part…begin searching for the kind of look you want in your brand-new bathroom. To do this, I recommend looking on Instagram at home renovation accounts, as well as the Victoria Plum Instagram account, where we post regular bathroom inspiration. You can also find plenty of stylish bathroom ideas on our website.
Choose your perfect style by browsing inspirational bathrooms online
Things to consider when conducting your inspiration research are:
- Style: contemporary or traditional?
- Colour palette
- Materials, finishes and textures
- Sanitaryware (that’s your toilet and basin), products and furniture
- Flooring/tiling
- Wall decorating
- Accessories (mirror, towels, bathmat, window coverings, etc.)
- Lighting
Plan your layout
Designing and creating a plan of both your old and new bathrooms is important in order to decipher what changes need to be made to the plumbing and electrical wiring. Make note of any hot and cold water supply points and drainpipes, as well as your new electrical system (eg. sockets, lights and electric radiators). These elements will greatly impact the layout of your space.
Other questions to ask yourself at this stage are “how much storage do I need?” and “how many people (and who) will be using the space?”
Read our comprehensive guide, to find out more about how you can successfully plan your bathroom layout.
Make sure you create an accurate bathroom layout when planning
Why not try our 3D bathroom planner? It's quick and easy to use, allowing you to create accurate 2D and 3D layouts in just minutes.
Remove the old bathroom fixtures and fittings
The next step is for any fixtures (bathtub, toilet, basin, taps etc.) and fittings (furniture, accessories, wall cabinets, toilet seat, etc.) to be removed.
For safety purposes, dismantling your old bathroom should be done in a specific order, which means first removing any electrical appliances, then any fittings and furniture, and finally, anything that’s connected to the plumbing.
Adapt the plumbing and electrical systems
Unless you are swapping like for like, you may need to make some changes to both your plumbing and electrical systems. If you're looking to transform the layout of your bathroom, with a shower or bath in a completely different position, this will add to the overall budget and the length of the project. Likewise, if you're thinking of adding a different type of lighting or perhaps even an illuminated mirror, you will need to factor this in with your electrician. On the upside, wholesale changes to your plumbing and electrics will finally allow you to own that beautiful bathroom you've always dreamed of.
Renovate/Paint your walls
We suggest decorating the walls prior to laying a new floor, so as not to damage it. Consider how you want to cover your bathroom walls and ensure you use bathroom-appropriate materials when it comes to paint and wallpaper.
For visual interest and to bring in a pop of rich colour, opt for subway metro tiles lining the lower part of the wall. Alternatively, another idea is to create your own DIY wall panelling and paint it in a classic neutral tone for a warm and cosy interior space.
Mix things up with metro tiles on the lower half and paint on the upper half of your walls
Lay new flooring
If it needs it, it’s important to screed the floor by applying a levelling compound before laying the new floor. Your new flooring may consist of ceramic tiles, wood or laminate, depending on your design scheme. Some of our favourite current on-trend bathroom floors are stone-effect tiles such as marble or onyx, slate-effect tiles and herringbone wood.
Whatever type of floor you choose, we recommend considering anti-slip tiles for safety purposes, especially in a household that contains children or in bathroom adapted for assisted living. You can read more about choosing anti-slip tiles in our article.
Install your sanitaryware and furniture
Now it’s time to set up your chosen sanitaryware and furniture. Starting with the sanitaryware (usually your ceramic products), you’ll need to install everything from the toilet, shower kit, vanity unit and bathtub. Any wall hung and floorstanding furniture can also be added to the room at this stage, along with heated towel rails or radiators.
Update your lighting
As mentioned previously, you will need to consider whether you wish to make wholesale changes to your lighting system. A like for like swap is the simplest option, but may not meet your exact needs. These days, spotlights are very popular, as they offer minimalist styling. However, you may want to supplement your main lighting with wall lights (pictured) or even an illuminated mirror. For traditional bathrooms, why not consider a chandelier? At victoria Plum, we stock specialist chandeliers, designed specifically for use in bathrooms.
Check out our bathroom lighting guide for further advice.
Wall lights help bring a whole new dimension to your bathroom
Add your finishing touches
Fill your new, beautiful bathroom with carefully chosen accessories and objects, styled to suit the design theme of your space—be it maximalist or minimalist. We suggest accessories in a brassy gold or matt black finish for an ultimate contemporary, on-trend style.
Why not find out more about our newest bathroom accessory ranges?
With the 1805 antique gold accessory range, traditional styling meets on-trend finish
Enjoy!
All that’s left for you to do now is step back, admire your handiwork and enjoy your gorgeous new bathroom.
Hopefully, this quick-read, step-by-step guide has laid the foundation for your bathroom remodelling plans and has outlined exactly where to begin and where to steer the project from those early planning stages. For yet more inspiration, why not check out some of our favourite customer bathroom transformations below.
Like what you’ve seen? Take a look at some of our most recent, favourite, hand-picked customer bathrooms.
