5 Mistakes to Avoid When Renovating Your Bathroom

Renovations can be bittersweet. After all, there’s definitely excitement that you’re finally updating your space, but also trepidation because renos often don’t go as planned — you go over budget or encounter an unforeseen problem. So if you’re ready to tackle renovating your bathroom after years of putting it offl, let’s make sure you avoid some common pitfalls. 

General Tips When Planning Your Bathroom Reno

As experienced tile and flooring contractors around the Greater Toronto Area, we recommend forming a solid plan before you begin remodelling your bathroom. Here are a few things to think about before you break ground on your bathroom overhaul:

• Scope: Are you gutting and rebuilding your bathroom, or are you opting for minor upgrades like new fixtures? Will it maintain the existing layout or is plumbing being moved?
• Budget: No matter the scope of your renovation, set a realistic budget with a “just-in-case” surplus if you go over. If you’re unsure how much a bathroom renovation costs, give The Brothers Flooring a call for a risk-free consultation so we can help advise you on a realistic renovation scope.
• Labour: Another consideration is whether you’re doing the work yourself or if you’re hiring a contractor.

Putting together this plan before you start your reno will help you ensure the smoothest experience. After all, no one likes a project that drags on and on!

The 5 Bathroom Mistakes to Avoid While Renovating

Here are some common mistakes to avoid if you want a seamless, no-stress bathroom renovation.

Lack of Storage

The bathroom is one area in your home where you don’t want to see clutter, so you want to make sure you have enough storage (drawers, cupboards, and shower storage) to house all your toiletries and towels. 

Pro tip: If you’re planning to take your bathroom back to the studs and you’re hiring a flooring contractor for tile work, then it may be wise to consider installing a shower niche. Niches are recessed spaces in your shower wall that allows you to home all your shower toiletries. Learn more about them here. 

Poor Lighting

Think back to the most relaxing bathrooms you’ve seen; they’re always well lit—natural and artificial light—as it creates a tranquil, inviting ambiance that everyone appreciates. 

Conversely, dark or dull bathrooms are dreary while overlit spaces are the opposite of calming. So when you’re planning the lighting of your bathroom, you want to think about layering different kinds of lighting, such as:

• Ambient (normal fixtures) to properly light the entire space
• Task lighting (over the mirror or wall sconces) to illuminate areas that require extra light
• Accent lighting to showcase feature walls installed by flooring contractors or other visual interests

Pro tip: Installing mirrors will help reflect the light in your bathroom, so it feels more spacious and welcoming. 

Attempting DIY

Unless you’re skilled in trades or only doing cosmetic changes to your bathroom, you should consider calling experienced contractors and installers for a quote. For instance, laying tiles is painstaking work and requires a lot of finesse, so you wouldn’t want to lay expensive tiles incorrectly as it can impact their durability and longevity.

On the other hand, experienced flooring contractors can make quick work of installing tiles, while also laying intricate tile patterns to add interest to your space. 

Pro tip: Reputable companies often offer free, no-risk consultations, like the Brothers Flooring, so don’t hesitate to call and ask for a quote!

Choosing the Wrong Flooring

One of the biggest mistakes we see is homeowners choosing the wrong materials for the job. A bathroom needs to be both stylish and sanitary. So, don’t pick tiles based on their looks alone; instead, select an anti-slip bathroom tile or a porcelain/ceramic tile as they’re durable, long-lasting, waterproof, and can handle temperature variations. 

Another popular material is using natural stone for your bathroom backsplash or flooring.

Pro tip: Don’t forget to protect your tiles from mould, stains, or discoloration using a grout and tile sealant.

Poor Planning

Above all else, don’t forget to properly plan out your bathroom renovation. This can mean preparing a detailed budget, sourcing professional flooring contractors to get the job done, selecting the right materials, and creating a cohesive theme for the space. 

For example, if you go shopping before deciding how you want your room to look, then you’ll end up with a mismatched space that won’t bring you joy. So instead, nail down how you want your bathroom to look and then plan as much as you can ahead of time to save yourself future headaches!

Pro tip: Take your time planning; rushing into a renovation leads to mistakes!

How to Avoid Common Bathroom Reno Pitfalls

There comes a day in most homeowners’ lives when they decide to renovate their bathroom, and if you can avoid making these common mistakes, your project will be much smoother.

If you’re unsure how to plan your reno or have questions regarding flooring or bathroom renovations, contact The Brothers Flooring for a risk-free consultation. We are more than happy to help answer any renovation questions that you may have, so give us a call today!