Bathroom Remodeling Plans Checklist

When remodeling your bathroom, start with a checklist. Here’s how to plan your bathroom remodeling project.

A Checklist for Bathroom Remodeling Plans

Careful planning is the key to a successful bathroom-remodeling project. Before you begin any work in the bathroom, create a budget, a floor plan, a list of supplies, a timetable, and important legal considerations. Let’s break it down by subject.

First, create a budget. Determine how much money you can comfortably spend, and save about 20 percent for emergencies. Get estimates for the work that needs professionals, and always include electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling, and drywall installation costs in your budget.

Second, design a floor plan. Ask yourself, will you be working with the existing space or will you be adding on or knocking down walls? Check to make sure you will not disturb the electrical wiring, plumbing, or zoning regulations. Next, measure the amount of space you have and draw a floor plan. In drawing the plan, first put in all the items that are fixed. For example, if the toilet must be in one place because of plumbing, it is a fixed item. Experiment with how you like your floor plan, using different arrangements, with different types of cabinetry, shelves, or even walls. You might try pocket doors to save space, and corner sinks, floating sinks, or pedestal sinks to save even more space. L-shaped vanities and alcoves also save space. In addition, corner showers conserve space, and clear glass in showers creates the illusion of even more space. You may want to add windows or mirrors to let in light.

Third, make a list of the supplies you’ll need and make sure they are available when you need them. Some typical supplies include sinks, flooring, wall tile, countertops, lighting, medicine cabinets, showers, bath tubs, cabinets and cabinet handles, toilets, extra storage, faucets, toilet paper holders, paint or wallpaper, chairs, accessories (like storage containers and/or artwork), as well as tools you have or can buy.

Fourth, create a timetable. Talk to experts or people at home improvement stores to plan how much time you’ll need. If you’re hiring contractors, work with them to design a timetable you all can follow.

Plan projects according to the time you have available. Put in a new toilet and sink one weekend, for example, and paint another. You don’t have to do it all at once, so plan sensibly. Don’t paint the walls or install woodwork until the hardware is taken care of — you don’t want to damage work you’ve already done. Above all, be flexible and allow time for the unexpected or even emergencies to happen.

Fifth, keep in mind legal considerations. Get and post a building permit, pay any necessary fees, make sure you, your contractor, and any workers have insurance coverage, and keep children and animals away from the construction area.

By following these checklists, your bathroom remodeling plans will be a snap.

Bathroom Remodeling Info provides detailed information on bathroom remodeling ideas, costs, plans, and checklists. Bathroom Remodeling Info is the sister site of Kitchen Remodeling Web.

Bathroom Makeover: Bathroom Mirrors

The bathroom mirror is another detail in your bathroom that can make a large difference in your decor. If yours looks like standard ‘el cheapo’ issue, then find a mirror that you really love and replace it today.

Bathroom Mirrors; The Perfect Ensemble

White, bright and fabulous bathrooms are all the buzz in the latest bathroom design craze. Bathrooms splashed with boldly colored painted walls and patterned ceramic floor tiles adorned with pristine white pottery bathroom suites create the perfect drama. To finalize the look as the French would say “la piece de resistance”, the bathroom mirror. Bathrooms mirrors are one of the primary elements of any bathroom design ensemble simply because they can completely change the look of the bathroom in the sense of how both natural and artificial light are reflected.

Exploring the endless options available in bathroom mirrors, establishing the look one is striving to achieve whether traditional or contemporary, bathroom mirrors have transitioned through the modern ages. Victorian style bathrooms were often built with heavy layers of dark wood types from boxed in baths, wood framed mirror to wainscoting. Today’s traditional styles of bathroom furnishings are sporting similar design concepts, but with a much softer look. Bathroom mirrors are lightly capped with various wood textures and tones and wood bath panels are added to step up the design elements as an extension of tradition. Arched mirrors alone or with the addition of wall sconces for extra lighting can also create a Victorian feel to your bathroom setting.

Selecting the right bathroom mirror

Selecting the appropriate wall mirror is also determined not only by the size of your bathroom, but also on the size of the bathroom vanity, bathroom mirrors should never extend beyond the vanity as it will create an unbalanced look. The ideal wall mirror for bathrooms with double basins, are rectangular wall-to-wall mirrors to disseminate adequate lighting exposing bathroom accessories as well as the other bathroom furniture, increasing the presence of the bathroom.

Solid white bathroom suites are a way of adequately diffusing light for an airy feeling, when the light is reflected off of white bathroom furnishing the illusion of space is instantly created. All white pottery bathroom suites give your bathroom a cohesive look, but more importantly set the stage for the induction of color, warm hues of reds, blues or greens are now showing up in the latest bathroom designs, accented with gallantly solid colored ceramic tiles or tiles with a motif inlay to tie the look of the bathroom together for an inviting sanctuary.

Contemporary bathroom mirrors

Wanting to give your bathroom a contemporary personality, frameless bathroom mirrors with inset lighting deliver all the potential for an ultra modern ambiance. Achieving a modern look with circular or square mirrors is the perfect solution for intricate modern designs. Hanging his/ her matching wall mirrors with an overhanging light feature increases the amount of light in the bathroom again not to exceed the length of either the floor mounted or wall mounted basin furniture, helps to create a sophisticated modern expression especially for more complex bathroom remodeling projects.

For even more dramatic results, discovering different uses for wall mirrors can present a unique look, mirrors with built in lighting are also being installed inside shower enclosures and in and around the bathing area creating a shaving area for the males in your home while furthering the functionality of bathroom mirror in supporting additional lighting needs. With today’s bathroom suppliers carry a number of bathroom mirror designs, styles and sizes, scheduling a theme around mirrors and lighting are easily worked in with other bathroom design components.

Written by Shelley Murphy on behalf of www.victoriaplumb.com an online retailer of bathroom furniture, steam showers, shower enclosures, whirlpool spa baths and bath related products serving the United Kingdom.

Go to =>http://www.victoriaplumb.com for all your bathroom decorating needs!

Shelley Murphy brings with her over 10 years of Search Engine Optimization and e-marketing strategies to web based businesses. Holding two BA’s in English and Journalism Communications her writing skills have been a great asset for both onsite writing and monthly newsletters publications.

Bathroom Makeover: Light Fixtures Decor

Bathroom light fixtures seem like a side note. However, we changed ours out not too long ago and the transformation was quite noticable — and it didn’t cost a fortune to do it.

How To Choose Great Bathroom Light Fixtures

Everyone has different tastes; that’s why there are so many different types of bathroom décor. But one thing is constant despite your décor: the need for clear, sharp light. For bathroom lighting, fixtures can make all the difference in the world.

When choosing your bathroom light fixtures styles, keep in mind that your real goal is to make yourself look great, not to make your bathroom look great. You have a practical job to do – grooming and looking your best – and this is what your bathroom light fixtures are to help accomplish.

1) Realize That Vanity Counts

Vanity lighting or mirror lighting in the bathroom is crucial; everyone’s walked into the bathroom where the lighting makes anyone look greenish or pale.

Without good un-shadowed light in a bathroom, it’s impossible to look your best outside the bathroom also, because you can’t see yourself properly when you’re putting on make up. This need for clear, un-shadowed lighting is what makes bathroom light fixtures so important. When choosing fixtures, bear in mind that the clearer your lens or shade is, the more light it will release into the bathroom.

2) Place Fixtures To “Support” Your Face

Placement is a second, important consideration for your bathroom light fixtures. Ideally, you should surround your face with the best light possible, minimizing shadows under the chin and eyes, and illuminating your cheeks and forehead properly.

You don’t have to use Hollywood strips with a half-dozen lights down each side of your mirror, but you should definitely use more than one bathroom light fixture. Ideally, you should have at least one on either side of the mirror.

Don’t place them above your head; instead, take into consideration the relative heights of your family, and try to place your bathroom light fixtures at about average forehead height. This will minimize shadows on all sides of the face.

Keep bathroom light fixtures at least two and a half feet apart; this shouldn’t be a problem, since the average bathroom mirror is at least this width.

If you want to mount your bathroom light fixtures directly on your mirror, that’s fine too; but look at them against a mirror before choosing to do this, as some fixtures just don’t look good in this setting. You may want an additional bathroom light fixture on the ceiling if you have a large or a dark bathroom.

3) Choose Good Lighting – Match Your Fixtures To The Lighting

When choosing your bathroom light fixtures, you should always consider what kind of lights you plan to use. In general, fluorescent is not a great choice; it tends to make people greenish or washed out. Instead, go for incandescent bulbs, or bulbs that advertise their similarity to daylight. Remember that the wrong bulb can make anyone look terrible. If you know of a place with bathroom lights that make you look terrific, see if you can find out what kind of lights they use, and go for these.

Bathroom light fixtures should not change the color of the light inside them; instead, they should release the light clearly and brightly.

Fixtures should be easy enough to maintain and should be guaranteed. Before installing them permanently, hold them up to daylight and be certain you like what you see.

The fixture tips here are provided by http://www.lightfixturesco.com a site designed to save you time and money when you shop for light fixtures on the web. Visit now to find the latest, great deals on fixtures from all over the web.

Bathroom Makeover: Rug Decor

In the past bathroom rugs have been kind of … well, nasty. They were fluffy and shaggy and grabbed ahold of bathroom germs like scotch tape on steroids. However, there are models now that are a little more friendly. Here’s some information on how to give your bathroom a makeover with a rug.
Bathroom Rugs Bring Out the Beauty

With so many different types of bathroom rugs to choose from, you can alter the look of your bathroom with a simple purchase. Before making your purchase, first you must decide what size of rug you would like, what color you would like, and what textures you would like. You can choose a small rug to place in front of the toilet or tub/shower, or one to cover the entire floor area.

Once you have established the size of your rug, you can start to think about what color to purchase. You can choose colors that will match with your paint scheme, colors that are light or bright to make the room look bigger, or just simply a color that you like. Be aware that darker colors, although they don’t show as much dirt or wear, may make the room appear smaller than it actually is.

So after you’ve established size and color, you can choose from many different materials and types of rugs. Anything from short shag to braided materials will be available to you. Most rugs designed to go in the bathroom are lined on the bottom with a rubber like material. This keeps the rug from slipping out of place, an important safety feature.

A bathroom rug is not only decorative, but functional when stepping out of the shower or tub. Stepping out of a shower or tub with wet feet is not only dangerous and exposes you to the chances of slipping or falling, but eventually the water can damage the flooring in the bathroom. Please keep in mind when choosing a rug that you may be stepping on it with wet feet and it may receive substantial amounts of water depending on where the rug is placed.

If you are looking for an inexpensive way to redecorate your bathroom, changing the rug is a great move. And if you tire easily of the looks of your bathroom, changing a bathroom rug occasionally is an inexpensive way to keep the room looking sharp and fresh.

For example, if you wish, you could change the color of the rug with the change of seasons—lighter colors during the spring and summer months and warmer, dark colors during fall and winter, or you can place a decorative rug in the bathroom to celebrate the holidays. Whatever your choice, the simple change of a bathroom rug can put a new look into your bathroom.

Mike Long is the author of SeagrassRugs.net
Inside, you will find informative, up-to-date articles on topics such as zebra rugs, rug runners, and seagrass rugs.

Bathroom Makeover: Shower Curtain

If your bathroom needs a makeover and you are on a frugal budget, don’t fret. You can easily start with a new shower curtain and give your bathroom a makeover for only a few dollars. Here’s more information…
Shower Curtains: The Perfect Facelift for Your Bathroom

Looking for a quick makeover for your home? Start with your bathroom! Installing a new shower curtain can be the coolest way to cheer up your bathroom without investing a lot of money in the process. There are many styles of shower curtains to choose from, and you may be surprised at how dramatically a simple shower curtain can change the dynamics of a room. You can choose shower curtains that will stand out from the rest of your bathroom’s colors, or you can choose one that provides a subtler match. It’s all up to you: the possibilities are virtually endless!

If you are tired of cleaning up your shower enclosure — and anyone that has been forced to combat soap scum before is likely darn tired of it — will find shower curtains to be an effective solution to this issue. Shower enclosures, as well as shower curtains, accumulate humidity and, after a while, they become ugly. The difference is that changing shower curtains costs almost nothing compared to changing a glass or acrylic shower enclosure.

Sometimes people dismiss shower curtains as being cheap and generic, but when you consider the wide variety of styles and price tiers you’ll find that curtains are hardly limited to cheap white vinyl curtains. If you have children, you can choose a nice shower curtain with dolphins, little fish or funny ducks printed on it, or you can go with more “formal” designs, like geometric patterns or lines. You can even choose a loud color to make your bathroom festive!

Bathroom shower curtains are made of different types of washable fabrics, including polyester, plastic and even cotton. Most of them have a weight attached at its bottom to avoid the “shower curtain effect” (which is the effect of the curtain unpleasantly wrinkling and/or sticking to your leg when you take a shower). Most shower curtains are also waterproofed, and it is also possible to attach an impermeable liner to your shower curtain if you’re using a fabric curtain.

Another advantage of the use of shower curtains in your bathroom is that they don’t need you to drill any holes on your walls: just get a spring loaded rod, adjust its size to fit between two walls and suspend your curtain from it by using hooks or rings. This ease of installation also saves you money by allowing you to do it by yourself rather than paying someone to install it.

Dots, stripes, waves, animals and many other designs are available, ensuring you will find shower curtains that fit virtually every need, even if your design preferences can be considered unique or offbeat. Nautical themed curtains as well as the old standby known as the rubber ducky are very popular, but nowadays you can find every design you like; I have even seen shower curtains featuring Mexican hats! And, if you are really specific, you could look into having a curtain custom designed specifically for you. Wait no more, and provide an exciting new look to your bathroom with new shower curtains!

Copyright © Jared Winston, 2006. All Rights Reserved.

Visit Shower Curtains Showcase to receive a variety of free bathroom design ideas as well as view a wide assortment of the shower curtain possibilities ranging from kids shower curtains to designer shower curtains.

Bathroom Makeover Ideas

Room by Room Makeovers: Beautiful Bathroom Solutions

Often, the room we spend a great deal of time in, but seems to get short shift when it comes to updating and aesthetics. There are a host of quick and cost effective solutions that you can employ to refresh and renew your baths. Many won’t take more than an hour or so and yet the impact is timeless. So take stock of what you have, and look for areas to improve!

Update your hardware. This isn’t limited to just the cabinets and drawers but also the faucets at the sink and tub and the shower controls. All should be in a coordinated finish whether your preference runs to brushed nickel, bright chrome, rubbed bronze, or even old time white porcelain. Have fun with this, it can really make a wonderful personality statement.

Change your mirror from wall mount edgeless to framed. Now there are two ways to do this. The most effective is to literally remove your mirror and replace it with a fully framed mirror. If you use almost the same size it will conceal any challenges with sheetrock and such from removal. If not, you may find you have some patching and touching up to do. The alternative is to frame the edgeless one you have with beveled glass stripping, mitered at the corners and applied on all four sides. This is available with self adhesive backing strips in 2″, 3″, and 4″ widths (I recommend going as wide as you can), and can be custom cut to lengths required at most home improvement sources. This is a way to truly update your own reflection.

Add a robe or towel hook if you find it handy. Remember it has to work for you not anyone else.

Replace your countertops with granite. Often this can be achieved at a reduced cost using so called “scrap” pieces. If you have a small bathroom, this can be done for under $1k, and really make an elegant difference. Some home improvement resources supply ready-made granite tops with undermount sinks for a nominal cost to fit ready-made bath cabinets.

Get some favorite bath accents and accessories. This is a way to literally decorate your bath with functional pieces. It also cleans up the countertop giving you a place to stash your toothbrush and toothpaste, a holder for soap, a jar for q-tips or cotton balls, and a cover for the facial tissue.

Plants live or silk are wonderful additions around the tub. Live are usually easy since there is moisture in the air and they will thrive with a garden window.

Design an artglass window for over the tub. Yes it is a bit of an investment, but with professional installation it can be removed when you move and framed into another window, or consider it a selling feature. This eliminates the need for a window treatment and something that may get splashed or fade with time.

Save the retiling and new cabinets for a full remodel. You can always paint what you have for a quick fix.

Make that bathroom, no longer a place you dread, but instead a restful inviting haven from the daily grind, and a place where you look forward to starting your day!

© 2005 Melissa Galt

Melissa Galt, Lifestyle Designer, Speaker, & Author, is the owner of Melissa Galt, Inc., a full service interior design firm based in Atlanta. She has been decorating clients’ homes all over the Southeast for more than a decade, making their interior visions come true. She speaks to audiences nationally , on how to use design as the catalyst for “creating the life you’ve always dreamed of”. Melissa is the creator of Design Destinations, a free monthly guide to designing your signature life. To sign up for her FREE monthly newsletter, visit http://www.melissagalt.com/