Remodeling a Small Bathroom

Managing a small bathroom remodeling project

Remodeling your small bathroom, or any sized bathroom for that matter, can be a very rewarding and satisfying project. It can also be the source of much stress and many sleepless nights when things go wrong and believe me they can go wrong. Managing home improvement projects isn’t as easy as it might seem and a bathroom remodel can be one of the most difficult tasks you can undertake in your home.

How to minimise the stress of your small bathroom renovation project

The most important thing to do before starting your bathroom makeover project is planning. You must decide not only what you are going to do in your small bathroom but you must also decide how you are going to do it. So what are your options?

Do it all yourself
Do part of it yourself and hire a project manager to hire a contract team.
Hire a project manager to control the whole bathroom remodel
Project manage your small bathroom makeover and hire a team of contractors yourself.
Find a multi skilled contractor to complete your whole bathroom-remodeling project.
I knew that I didn’t have the time to manage a team of bathroom contractors and I would hold them up if tried to do any of the work myself. I only had the one bathroom so I couldn’t afford to have the job take any longer than necessary. So that left me with the options of hiring a team of bathroom contractors and a project manager or finding someone that would do the whole job by themselves.

Preparing your bathroom remodeling plan of action

Before I took the plunge and remodeled my own little bathroom I took the time to talk to people who had some personal remodeling experience of their own. I talked to friends and their friends and I talked to the staff in bathroom showrooms. This is the best way to help you decide how you are going to get your bathroom makeover done. It’s also a very good way of finding contacts for suitable contractors.

While I was doing all this talking, that went on for several months, it became clear to me that the people who had the least amount of problems and stress with their small bathroom remodels where the people who had involved the least number of contractors to do the work. They also seemed to get their remodeling project completed much faster.

Hiring a multi skilled contractor to remodel your small bathroom

I decided then that I would look for a bathroom-remodeling contractor who would be capable and prepared to take on my small bathroom renovation from start to finish. I was convinced by what I had found that they do exist but I knew that they would be in high demand. In the end I was very pleased with the result and encourage you to consider this route to your dream bathroom.

I was right about the rarity of the one-stop bathroom-remodeling contractor. Lets face it, there are a lot of skills required and it’s hard to see how one person can be a master of them all. On the other hand none of it is rocket science and anyone determined enough to put their mind to it can do a very reasonable job of it all.

After a lot of searching for names and referrals I chose 3 possible contractors and asked them to quote. I found the pin boards in many bathroom showrooms to be a valuable resource in finding contractors, as many of them will leave a card there for you to pick up.

I asked them all for references so that I could go and see some of their work and talk to their clients. This is an important and very reassuring step that can help to ensure that you don’t end up with a rogue who runs off with your money.

Be prepared to wait for your small bathroom remodel

The guy that I chose to remodel my small bathroom was booked up for 6 months in advance but I felt that the wait would be well worth it. So we set a time and went with it. I was not disappointed with the result.

Small Bathroom Remodeling Ideas

Do you have a small bathroom to remodel?

Would you like to have a gleaming new bathroom but you’re afraid that your tiny toilet just isn’t big enough to turn into the ceramic heaven that you want?

Get to know your bathroom and spend time designing your new one

Before you write off the idea completely why not sit down with a few sheets of square graph paper and try out a few different ideas. Measure your bathroom accurately then draw it to scale on square paper so that you can see exactly where everything is.

When you’ve got an accurate drawing of your bathroom as it is now it’s time to start dreaming about the bathroom that you would like to have. Put your current bathroom drawing aside and get a blank piece of graph paper. Draw the outline of your bathroom on this sheet of graph paper. Now take another piece of paper and draw accurate scale drawings of the things that you want to get into your new bathroom.

Cut out the shapes that you’ve drawn and try to arrange them on the outline of your bathroom. Because you only have a small bathroom you might need to be creative, especially if you want to get more into your new bathroom than you had in your old one.

An example of a small bathroom remodeling project

I recently remodeled my own small bathroom to make it more inviting and to add a shower cubicle to the room so that we didn’t have to shower in the bath. The remodeling ideas all started when I dropped something into the bath tub and cracked it. I wasn’t popular for doing that and I wasn’t looking forward to the project but I love it to bits now it’s done. You can read all about how I did it in the article Idea for Remodeling a Small Bathroom.

Ideas to help solve the small bathroom problem

Put a radiator high on the wall

If you have a radiator taking up wall space consider putting it higher up. This could free up space for a sink or toilet.

Place the bathtub in the middle of the room

If you are limited in where you can put the bathtub by pipework and uneven walls then think about putting it in the middle of the room away from all the walls. This doesn’t work all the time but it might be an option for you.

Redesign the layout of the bathroom

Use your squared paper and cut-outs to test different layouts. It’s amazing how many ideas it can give you.

Use a shaped shower cubicle

You can save space by using a shower cubicle with curved sides in place of a square one. It will probably cost a little more but if space is a premium then it could be worth it.

Install a sliding door

A door that doesn’t need space in the room to open can give you more options.

Use wall mirrors

Mirrors can only give the impression of space but they are very effective at doing just that.

Install storage cupboards

Providing plenty of storage space up high means that the floor won’t get cluttered with cosmetics, towels and cleaning materials.

I hope that you can see that even a small bathroom can be transformed into a dream if it’s designed and planned well. Remember to take a look at how I remodeled my tiny little bathroom and added a shower cubicle while I was at it.

How To Remodel A Small Bathroom

Not all bathrooms can be lavish spaces with whirlpool tubs and two separate vanities. For some bathrooms, space is at a premium and knocking out walls is not an option, but remodeling must be done. Small bathroom remodeling presents its own complications, but with the right information, a small bathroom-remodeling project can shine.

Before beginning your small bathroom remodeling, design a floor plan that maximizes the room’s useable space. Don’t be afraid to design up by incorporating free-floating cabinets. Use mirrors to stretch a small bathroom’s space, and keep the color scheme simple. Keep a small bathroom bright, fresh, and inviting with coordinated colors and accessories.

Pare down the scale in your bathroom. Big items take up more space in the bathroom and look bulky. Corner sinks are simple and small. These sinks free up visual space below, but don’t provide the counter space and cabinet space that a traditional sink provides. Another option is a pedestal sink. These sinks have a more classic design and are free standing. Wall-mounted sinks save space but do not have counter space. Both types of sinks do not provide storage space underneath. Most home-improvement stores stock smaller sinks, or you can custom order one from a cabinet shop for a price.

A simple way to conserve space is to do away with a tub and just use a shower. Smaller tubs, however, are available, although most cannot handle whirlpool faucets. Any tub less than five feet long will probably spill the water sprayed by the whirlpool faucets.

Pick a toilet that can sit close to the wall to conserve space, and the size of the seat and tank design determine just how much space the toilet will use. Also pay attention to the size of the home’s original toilet. Older homes have toilets with 10 to 14 inches between the wall and the toilet drain, but newer homes typically have 12 inches. The wrong toilet won’t fit. Buying a toilet with a low tank takes up less visual space and compact toilets leave more room, but as with any small bathroom remodeling project, use these suggestions to find a toilet that is both stylish and fits in the room.

Finally, limit what you bring into the bathroom. To save space in a cramped bathroom, for example, it may be best to have a dressing area in a bedroom. Limit the number of accessories — clutter can easily make a small bathroom look smaller.

Planning a small remodeling may take extra planning, but the resulting clean, beautiful, an uncluttered bathroom will be an inviting space.