How to Remodel a Bathroom

Don't let a cramped bathroom detour you from buying the home of your dreams! A simple remodel project can add space to your bathroom giving it just the face lift needed to call your comfortable new place home. In this article you will discover ways to increase the size and usability of any bathroom space.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Graph paper
• Engineers or architects ruler
• Pencils
• Camera
• Imagination

How to Remodel a Bathroom

1. 
   Before Remodel

   Thoroughly examine your bathroom space and the rooms next to the bathroom. Take accurate measurements of the bathroom and adjoining rooms. Transpose those measurements to scale on the graph paper. Check for any closets sharing a common wall with your bathroom. Be sure to include the measurements of those closets. Check your drawing to determine if you can remove a closet and add that space to your bathroom. Will it square-off your bathroom? Will you miss the closet space? In the pre-remodel photo here, the wallpapered wall on the right side of the door was a closet to an adjoining bedroom.

2. 
   Before Remodel: Toilet, Vanity and Edge of Bathtub.

   After you've measured your bathroom and transposed the measurements to your graph paper, you can decide where to put the fixtures, such as toilet, sink, and shower. Many options exist for sinks and showers, such as tile, inserts, vanities, pedestal sinks and more. Evaluate whether you need counter space for such things like toothbrushes and hair accessories. Determine if there are other ways, such as shelving, to accomplish this or if you will need a vanity. If there is a hall closet where bathroom items can be easily stored and accessed than maybe you don't need a vanity. As for showers, tubs and inserts required pre-determined sizing, whereas tile allows flexibility is size and location.

3. 
   After Remodel

   This bathroom measured just over 5 feet wide by about 7 feet long. To add space, a closet was removed from one of the bedrooms, which turned that bedroom into an office, but added a 2 x 3 foot square to the bathroom, which was just enough space for the toilet. The window was replaced with a new vinyl window, made especially for bathrooms, and the shower was moved to this new location. The new window has "rain" glass, which provides privacy without a blind so that plenty of light comes through that window. Tile nicely accommodated the irregular size of this bathroom.

4. Additional space savers include box-style shelves on the wall, corner shelves or an over-the-toilet shelving unit. Include cabinet doors to hide things like toilet paper and other personal items. Medicine cabinets are another way to store bathroom accessories without cutting into the overall space of the bathroom. Anyone can plan a bathroom remodel. It's a great way to create the look you want and personalize your home.