Planning is Key

Before I embark on any bathroom remodeling project, I make sure to do a whole lot of planning behind the scenes. It usually starts with a Pinterest board of my dreams and ends with a very detailed spreadsheet! Today, I’ve put together a comprehensive bathroom remodel checklist to help you plan your ultimate bathroom renovation [1].

You see, my husband and I have been building and renovating homes our whole lives, and he’s a general contractor, so we have a good idea of what’s required. But even with all that experience, I never just throw together a ballpark list. I firmly believe that the planning phase of any remodeling project is the most important part.

This is going to be the third (and final) bathroom we’re renovating in our house, and because it’s the largest, it’s also going to be the most luxe and involved. The first bathroom we did was the kids’ bathroom, and the second one was the guest bathroom. Now, we’re finally tackling our en-suite, and let me tell you, the planning has been intense!

Evaluating the Existing Layout

The first thing you should consider when planning a bathroom remodel is the existing layout. Is the room large enough? What are the pain points in the room? Do you wish you had a walk-in shower instead of a tub? Does the door swing into the back of the toilet? Is there enough storage space?

At this stage, I think it’s great to just make a list of things you would like to have in the renovated space (in a perfect world). Once you have that list, look at your existing bathroom and try to see what might be done to make improvements to meet your wish list.

For example, if a large shower is important to you but you don’t have much space, would you be willing to sacrifice a bathtub in order to have a luxurious shower? If you would like a double vanity, do you have enough room to fit that into the size of the space as it is? Is there a closet or any wasted space in an adjacent room that you can carve out to add to your bathroom?

In our bathroom, the room is quite large, but it has some significant obstacles that we had to work around. We have a large skylight in the ceiling and a large window on one wall, which made the placement of any new walls or the location of the vanity or shower more difficult. We ultimately figured out how to squeeze in the things we wanted without making too many drastic changes to the plumbing. You can see in the before and after floor plan what we’re planning [1].

Lighting and Design Inspiration

Don’t forget to consider the natural light in your bathroom. If your bathroom doesn’t have a lot of it, would it be worth the additional cost to add a window or a skylight? Can you add enough artificial light to make the space functional enough? Good lighting is so important to any bathroom design. In my guest bathroom, I installed two fairly low-light sconces, and it ended up being too dim, so it’s not something I want to repeat.

Once you have determined the layout, it’s time for the fun part – the dreaming! I generally keep Pinterest boards and saved Instagram images in folders separated by room types, so all I have to do to see what kind of room I love is open up my “Bathrooms” Pinterest board. I think it’s a great idea when you’re gearing up for a renovation to really try to nail down what you like. You may not be able to incorporate everything from your dream bathroom, but you’ll be able to bring in small design touches here and there to make even a small bathroom feel like the bathroom of your dreams.

I also find it helpful to make a mood board of your finishes to make sure you’re happy with how it all works together. At this point, I think it’s useful to make a list of must-have items, like “marble tile,” “nickel sconces,” or “statement mirror.” You don’t have to splurge on each of those items, but it might help you decide what to prioritize and what to save on if budget cuts need to happen.

Gathering Quotes and Finalizing the Plan

Now that you have a layout and an idea of the design, it’s time to put together a list of everything you need to complete your renovation. I’ve included a printable list at the end of this post so that you can print it off and fill it out as you go [1].

This is also a good time to either speak with a general contractor (if you’re using one) or an electrician and a plumber and obtain some quotes. When talking with an electrician, think about not only where you might want lighting fixtures, but also plug-ins and switches. Let your electrician know all of the changes you’ll need, like adding a plug-in inside your vanity for hair tools, a plug near the toilet for a fancy toilet seat, or overhead for wall lighting changes.

When speaking with the plumber, it’s helpful if you have all of your fixtures picked out and can communicate any layout changes, as well as changes in things like valves behind the wall that might be more intrusive to replace.

What I like to do when I’m sticking to a budget (because who doesn’t have a budget!) is start out this list with some generic ballpark allowances for each item. If I don’t know off the top of my head what something might cost, I do a little Google research to get a rough cost and try to include a little cushion. Then, as I make final choices and the quotes start rolling in, I refine the numbers.

If the total cost is not within your budget, go back a few steps and look at where you can save. Less expensive finishes, maybe reworking your existing vanity instead of buying a new one, or reworking some of the layout changes.

Ordering and Scheduling

Once you’re happy with the budget and the layout, it’s time to start ordering! Some items can have long lead times, and it’s best to get everything on-site before you even lift a sledgehammer. Some special-order items might take 6 – 8 weeks after you order before they arrive, or even longer.

There are some things you can ultimately do a bit later, but if you’re hiring someone, you’ll want to make sure they have everything they need to get things done without a delay. A reputable contractor will likely insist on this because coming back over and over to do little bits of the project as pieces come in is not very efficient. Once contractors move on to another project, it can be very hard for them to try to come back!

Here are a few things to consider when ordering items for a bathroom renovation that can easily be overlooked:

• Bathroom Fixture Rough-ins: Ordering bathroom fixtures is actually quite complicated, and if you’re not confident, have your plumber look over your selections to make sure you have all the bits and pieces you need. For example, for whatever shower control you choose, you’ll need the corresponding valve that goes behind the wall. Each plumbing brand has its own valves, so this is really important that you get the one that corresponds to your fixtures. Also, when you order a lot of faucets and shower controls, they are often sold without the handles, as there are sometimes different handle options for the same fixtures.

• Waterproofing: Figuring out your tile is one thing, but the most important part of any tile system is the waterproofing. You want to make sure that your shower, at a minimum, is properly waterproofed. There are several different systems for waterproofing, so it’s a good idea to look into that and determine how you’re going to do it. You may also want to consider waterproofing the floor, which might add a bit of thickness to your floor system.

• Vanities and Custom Stone Counters: Custom vanities will require more lead time, so get an estimate for delivery from your supplier. Also, if you’re going the custom vanity route, you’ll likely be working with a separate company to install the countertop. If it’s stone, they’ll need to template it after the vanity goes in and then fabricate it, so be aware of that lead time when planning your schedule. In my area, it’s 3 – 4 weeks between countertop templating and countertop installation, so it’s super important to try to get the vanity in as soon as possible!

Once everything has been ordered, you can make yourself a project timeline based on when supplies will arrive. To be safe, you can wait until you have everything on-site, or at the very least a solid delivery date for key items. Here’s a general order of things I use when planning my schedule [1]:

1. Demolition
2. Framing and Electrical
3. Plumbing
4. Drywall
5. Tile
6. Vanity Installation
7. Countertops
8. Fixtures and Trim
9. Cleanup and Final Touches

Bathrooms are one of the smallest rooms in the house, but they can cost so much money! It’s very important to know what you’re getting into with your bath remodel. There are a lot of moving parts to a big project like this, but if you’re organized, you can avoid unexpected costs (to some degree) and your bathroom renovation has a much better chance of running smoothly.

I’ve been behind the scenes working on the planning of my bathroom for quite a long time, and I’m so excited that demo day is almost here! Follow along with me on Instagram or here on the blog as we tackle this huge project, DIY style!

References:
[1] Erin Zubot Design. “Bathroom Remodel Checklist and Guide.” Erin Zubot Design, https://erinzubotdesign.com/bathroom-remodel-checklist-and-guide/.
[2] This Old House. “11 Things to Consider Before You Remodel Your Bathroom.” This Old House, https://www.thisoldhouse.com/bathrooms/21019042/11-things-to-consider-before-you-remodel-your-bathroom.
[3] Remodelista. “What to Know: Bathroom Remodel Tips & Cost.” Remodelista, https://www.remodelista.com/posts/what-to-know-bathroom-remodel-tips-cost/.
[4] House & Garden. “Bathroom Renovation Advice: How to Plan a Stress-Free Bathroom Remodel.” House & Garden, https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/article/bathroom-renovation-advice.
[5] Build.com. “10 Remodeling Tips for Small Bathrooms.” Build.com, https://www.build.com/10-remodeling-tips-for-small-bathrooms/a121.
[6] Reddit. “I’m about to start an entire bathroom remodel. Any tips or advice?” Reddit, https://www.reddit.com/r/HomeImprovement/comments/s40sqm/im_about_to_start_an_entire_bathroom_remodel_any/.
[7] Designthusiasm. “Small Bathroom Remodel Ideas on a Budget.” Designthusiasm, https://designthusiasm.com/small-bathroom-remodel-ideas-on-a-budget/.
[8] The Spruce. “How to Remodel Small Bathrooms Efficiently.” The Spruce, https://www.thespruce.com/remodel-small-bathrooms-efficiently-1821379.