The Bathroom Renovation of Your Dreams

In the past, the bathroom has by no means been a major decor feature of a home. More recently, however, a bathroom renovation is high on the list of desirable home improvement projects. The expense of hiring a contractor to overhaul and transform your bathroom can be quite prohibitive, but if you have the enthusiasm, time and energy – not to mention some willing helpers - you can do it yourself for a lot less money.

Regrettably, many homeowners who undertake the job themselves wind up spending much more than they budgeted for their bathroom renovation. The main oversight is frequently the lack of a well thought out plan for such a major undertaking. A carefully considered approach is the best way to ensure that your dream bathroom comes in under budget.

Carefully assess your financial situation before you begin your bathroom renovation so you'll know how much money to budget. Be generous with your estimates and allow as much as you can reasonably afford without breaking the bank. You're better off setting a high budget and finishing with cash left over than allocating a budget that's too low and ending up spending more you’re your funds allow.

Take careful measurements in your bathroom so you can accurately assess which of your dream fixtures will fit. Then you can confidently purchase your bathtub or shower unit, sink, toilet and cabinets, knowing they will fit perfectly. Digital measuring tools are your best bet for a truly accurate measurement.

Next you need to make a list or a rough sketch of your bathroom renovation plans. Are you thinking of a new style of tub, shower, or sink? Are you planning on relocating the new fixtures from where your current ones sit?

Make a decision about your preference for wallpaper, paint, or tile. Get a general idea of how you want the bathroom to look. Draft up a quick sketch either on a pad of paper or your computer, and assess the practicality of your plan. It's also useful to have an alternate plan for your bathroom renovation just in case your original ideas don't pan out.

Now head off to the home improvement stores with your plans. Find the items on your list and compare prices at more than one store. Make detailed notes so you can evaluate which store has what you want at the best price.

Keep an open mind while you're checking out products and prices. You might just spot something that you like better than your original idea – perhaps a pedestal sink that's less expensive than the style you initially targeted. Record the prices of the fixtures you want, but hold on to your credit card - don't make any purchases just yet!

Collect some paint or wallpaper color samples to take home. Test them out to see how they will look in your bathroom. Colors in the store often look quite different at home because of dissimilar lighting conditions.

Now it's time to go over your price list and see how it fits into your budget. Do the numbers go over the allotment or do they fit within your limits? Remember to leave some flex room in your budget to allow for unanticipated expenses, and don't forget to allow for sales taxes.

At this point, you can decide if your bathroom renovation ideas are practical and affordable. If they are, go ahead and purchase your selected items. It's best to buy everything that you'll need before you start work, that way you won't have to constantly run out to the store to buy miscellaneous items.

With careful planning and budgeting before you start your renovation, you can take great pleasure in your new bathroom while patting yourself on the back for realizing your dream within your budget.