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The Bathroom Renovation Cheat Sheet [Infographic]

Whether it’s a new desire to be trendy, keep up with the latest style, or because you’ve had a sudden realisation that your bathroom is a portal into past design, we all eventually experience a strong desire to renovate and upgrade our bathrooms. Whether you want to add extra storage, extend the bath, refresh your wall’s décor or completely knock it down and start from scratch, this bathroom renovation cheat sheet will help you achieve the new look your bathroom deserves.

Beginning with a guide to an essential tool kit, to tips on what to keep in mind regarding ventilation and plumbing, to a helpful diagram on the optimum distance between all the furniture in your bathroom to create a space for all your needs. There’s even a guide on how to tile, a guide on colour schemes and the finishing touches such as foliage and mirrors to really make the most of this essential room.

 

And here is a text-friendly version of the infographic.

The Bathroom Renovation Cheat Sheet

From removal to decoration, if you’re renovating your bathroom, we’ve covered everything you’ll need to know.

STEP 1 – OUT WITH THE OLD

DIY

Removing your previous bathroom suite yourself is a gruelling job. If you’ve already got the skill set and determination, here are the tools to gather:

Essential tools

  • Screwdriver - helps unscrew toilets or basin
  • Tap spanner – helps remove taps or bathtub
  • Hammer – helps remove tiles
  • Chisel – helps remove tiles
  • Scraper – removes grout or plaster from wall
  • Sledgehammer - useful for large scale demolition
  • Pry bars – useful for removing a bathtub.

Keep the plumbing and ventilation

It’s easier to base remodelling works around the existing plumbing, to save money and time. Make sure you don’t block the main ventilation, i.e. a window or a vent fan, which will prevent mould.

STEP 2 - PLANNING

Plan your new suite by how it will be used.

For a kid’s bathroom, a double sink or non-slippery tiles might allow a quicker morning routine with less bathroom hazards.

For a guest bathroom, extra shelving is a good idea as it gives them further storage space.

For a his and hers bathroom, two basins with two bathroom mirrors can speed up bedtime routines.

Evaluate your budget

The average bathroom renovation costs approximately £4000. If you fancy saving some cash, tips include:

  • Attempting to sell your old bathroom suite on Preloved, Gumtree, or Ebay
  • Limiting the number of tiles used
  • Attempting some DIY, it’s estimated that fitting your bathroom yourself can save you up to 70% of the overall cost.
  • Or simply redecorating instead of remodelling to give your bathroom a refreshed feel.

STEP 3 - IN WITH THE NEW

Measurements

If everything’s in the right place, your bathroom will feel good. The recommended bathroom dimensions based on the nation building and design industry guidelines are as follows. For maximum comfort and convenience, keep these numbers in mind:

  • 1524mm height of hook from floor
  • 432-483mm height of toilet seat
  • 1219mm height of average towel bar
  • 813-914mm height of sink
  • 195-206mm height of showerhead
  • 660mm height of toilet paper holder, 203-305mm distance from toilet
  • 914 x 914mm ideal size of shower stall, door requires at 914mm of space to open
  • 762mm space around bath, sink or toilet
  • 406-457cm distance between centre of toilet to wall or obstacle

Full tiled – tiling floor to ceiling Half tiled – only tiling necessary splash zones

Pros

  • No painting or skirting boards required, so saves time
  • Don’t have to be cautious with water
  • Can look more modern and up to date
  • Less tiles needed so it will be less expensive
  • Allows more creativity, you can experiment with paints, metal or timber finishes and wall papers

Cons

  • More tiles are needed, so it will be more expensive
  • You will have to pay more for skirting boards or paint
  • Your splash zones are limited

Pattern

Choosing the pattern of your tiling, for floors or walls, is pretty difficult, considering there are so many options of tile patterns available. Here are the most popular for modern or traditional styles:

  • Diamond
  • Linear
  • Brick Bond
  • Herringbone
  • ¾ Brick Bond
  • Modular Flooring Pattern
  • Hexagon
  • Mixed Linear
  • Arabesque

How to install your tiles

  • Measure the length of the area you're intending to tile, then divide it by the length of a tile you're going to use. Do the same with width
  • Round up the number of tiles for length and width, then multiply the two results to find out the number of tiles you'll need. Add 15% to allow for cuts and wastage
  • Draw markings on the wall, including equal gaps for grout
  • Use an electric tile cutter to cut down tiles if need be, make sure you’re wearing gloves and goggles for this
  • Make sure surfaces are clean and dry prior to tiling
  • Choose an adhesive that’s waterproof if it’s in a splash zone and spread generously on area about to be tiled using a tiling trowel, always use a spirit level before fixing tiles and check they’re equally arranged using tile spacers
  • Allow at least 24 hours for the adhesive to dry
  • Fill in spaces between your tiles using a grout with a rubber edged squeegee held at a 45-degree angle. After every one or two square meters of grouting stop and clean the tiles with a clean damp sponge
  • When finished, ensure tiles are fully clean

STEP 4 – GET CREATIVE

Colour schemes

Choosing a calming and neutral colour for your bathroom aids relaxation and makes your bathroom timeless.

Add a bright, bold colour with the neutral tone for a burst of energy. It works to combine complementary colours to give your bathroom some coordination.

Apply the 60/30/10 rule

60% of the bathroom, including the walls or large surfaces, should be dominated by a primary neutral colour, such as a soft taupe or clean white.

30% should be dedicated to a secondary colour that supports the dominant colour, like a richer hue or a seascape colour.

The final 10% should be a bold colour to add a burst of life to the bathroom. It’s good if this colour is a complementary colour to the 30% colours.

Accessories

Get creative with your accessories, such as towels, bath mats and toothbrush holders. These are a good way of bringing in the 10% colour and personalising your bathroom.

STEP 5 - FINISHING TOUCHES

Once everything is put into place, polish your new bathroom off with some finishing touches to suit your suite.

Bathroom Mirrors

Whether framed, square or circular, a mirror acts as a good centrepiece for your bathroom and can complete a modern or traditional look. It will also make the room look and feel bigger.

If going above the sink, measure the size of the sink, the height of those using the bathroom and the wall space above. The top of the mirror should be a few inches above the eye level of the tallest person.

Plants

Foliage is the perfect way to breathe life into your bathroom. The best plants are ones that thrive in low light and high humidity, such as:

  • Boston fern
  • Philodendron
  • Cast iron plant

We hope this helps you achieve your beautiful bathroom renovation, whether it is adding a splash of colour, rearranging your tile pattern, or adding to your bathroom foliage!