For one of the smallest rooms in the house, the bathroom can be one of the most challenging to remodel, where each decision can lead to a long list of considerations.
You may start out thinking about a beautiful walk-in shower, new tile, or a double vanity. But before long, you’re also considering plumbing locations, ventilation, waterproofing, lighting, storage, electrical outlets, flooring, and whether to change the entire layout.
This is why a successful bathroom remodel begins long before demolition. Whether you’re updating an older Pittsburgh bathroom or transforming your primary bathroom into a more luxurious, spa-like retreat, taking time to think through how the space needs to look, function, and feel can help you get much more from your renovation.
Here are some of the most important considerations to discuss with your remodeler before your project begins.
Think About How You Actually Use Your Bathroom
Before choosing tile or scrolling through photos of luxury bathrooms, think about what isn’t working in your current space.
Do you need more countertop space? More storage? Would a double vanity make busy mornings easier? Are you tired of stepping over a high bathtub wall to take a shower? Need better lighting? Does the room feel cramped even though it has enough square footage?
An experienced, custom remodeler, like Ricciuti Enterprise, can help you answer these questions to determine what types of aesthetic and structural updates are involved, or whether it’s an opportunity to rethink the entire room.
In this blog, we’ll also share insights from industry professionals like the National Remodeling Authority, the National Kitchen and Bath Association, Realtor.com, and other industry experts for addressing remodeling considerations such as fixture placement, storage, materials, ventilation, and other renovation details that contribute to a safe and functional bath design.
When planning your remodel, think about both your wish list and your everyday routines. A bathroom that photographs beautifully but doesn’t provide enough storage, lighting, or room to move around probably won’t feel luxurious for very long.
Should You Keep the Existing Bathroom Footprint?
One of the first questions you should ask your remodeler is whether it makes sense to keep the existing bathroom layout. Keeping the toilet, shower, tub, and sinks in roughly the same locations can simplify a remodel because it may not require major plumbing changes.
However, this doesn’t mean you should automatically keep a layout that doesn’t work for you. In some Pittsburgh homes, especially older properties, moving a wall, repositioning fixtures, borrowing space from an adjacent closet, or reconfiguring the shower can dramatically improve how the bathroom functions.
You may want to consider changing your bathroom’s footprint if you want to:
- Create a larger walk-in shower and/or add a freestanding tub.
- Add a double vanity.
- Create more storage and countertop space.
- Separate the toilet from the rest of the bathroom.
- Make the space more accessible for future needs, such as for aging in place.
This is where working with an experienced remodeler becomes particularly valuable. Instead of assuming that the room’s current layout is your only option, you can explore what is structurally and practically possible before making major design decisions.
Don’t Overlook Bathroom Ventilation
Overlooking ventilation is one of the most common mistakes in a bathroom remodel, according to Realtor.com. And let’s face it: ventilation isn’t nearly as exciting as selecting countertops or tile. But it’s one of the most important parts of a well-designed bathroom.
Showers and baths generate moisture, and proper ventilation helps remove humid air before it contributes to problems such as peeling finishes, mildew, warped materials, or other types of moisture damage.
Your remodeler can help you decide the size, placement, ducting, controls, and sound level of your exhaust fan. Today’s options include quieter fans, humidity-sensing controls, timers, integrated lighting, and other features that make ventilation easier to use every day.
Waterproofing Matters Behind the Beautiful Finishes
You may spend weeks deciding between porcelain tile, natural stone, or an intricate shower pattern, but some of the most important work in your new bathroom will never be visible once the project is finished.
This is because showers and other wet areas require properly designed water-management systems behind the finished surfaces. This may include waterproof membranes, shower pans, drains, wall preparation, and careful installation around corners, niches, benches, fixtures, and other penetrations.
Talk with your remodeler about the waterproofing system they’ll use, who will install it, and how they’ll build the shower or wet area before the tile goes on. Then you can focus on the fun part: selecting tile, patterns, grout, fixtures, and finishes that create the look you want.
Plan Bathroom Storage Before You Need It
A spa-like bathroom feels calm and uncluttered, which is why storage is one of the most important considerations in a bathroom remodel. Think beyond the standard vanity cabinet and consider what items you don’t want cluttering your bathroom.
Towels, toiletries, hair dryers, grooming products, medicines, cleaning supplies, toilet paper, and everyday personal items all take up space. Depending on the bathroom, storage options might include tall linen cabinets, built-in shelving and vanity drawers, shower niches, and/or hidden electrical outlets inside cabinets or drawers.
Think about storage early in the bathroom remodeling process, because cabinetry dimensions, electrical locations, plumbing, mirrors, and lighting may all depend on the final design.
Use Layers of Lighting
One overhead fixture is rarely enough for a bathroom that needs to handle everything from getting ready for work in the morning to relaxing in the tub at night.
Consider a thoughtful, layered lighting approach for the way you use your bathroom on a daily basis, such as:
- Task lighting around the vanity, for better visibility for shaving, applying makeup, and getting ready.
- Ambient lighting for comfortable overall illumination throughout the room.
- Accent lighting to highlight architectural details, cabinetry, tile, niches, or other design features.
Electrical planning should happen early in the remodeling process, too. Consider where you’ll want outlets for hair tools, electric toothbrushes, shavers, charging devices, and other everyday items so they don’t become an afterthought. You might also consider dimmers, illuminated mirrors, under-cabinet lighting, or lighting inside a shower or tub area where appropriate.
Choose Materials for Real Life, Not Just the Showroom
A luxurious bathroom should be beautiful, but it also needs to stand up to water, humidity, cleaning, and daily use. As you compare flooring, countertops, tile, cabinetry, shower glass, faucets, and fixtures, your remodeler can help you answer questions such as:
- How much maintenance does the material require?
- Is the tile comfortable and practical underfoot?
- How easy will the shower glass be to clean?
- Will the vanity finish hold up well in a humid room?
- Are the fixtures easy to operate?
There’s nothing wrong with making a statement. Just make sure you’re choosing bathroom materials that support both the design and the way your household actually lives.
Ready to Transform Your Pittsburgh Bathroom?
A great bathroom remodel is about much more than replacing a sink and old finishes. It’s an opportunity to rethink one of the most-used spaces in your home and create a bathroom that works better every day.
This is why Ricciuti Enterprise provides remodeling services for Pittsburgh-area homeowners, including luxury bathroom renovations designed around each homeowner’s needs, style, and vision. Browse the Ricciuti Gallery for bathroom and remodeling inspiration.
When you’re ready to talk about your ideas, contact Ricciuti Enterprise to start planning a bathroom that feels less like an outdated necessity and more like your own private retreat.
