Have a bathroom remodel in mind? Most bathrooms have three main components: a shower and/or bath, a toilet and a sink. Thus, when planning a bathroom, it will be helpful to think of how those three elements and areas work with each other.
For many homeowners, that means considering how the surfaces will connect and coordinate. Often, the countertop, backsplash, floor and tub/shower surround use the same or similar tile and fixtures.
Keeping that in mind, let’s dive into the individual items to think about as you’re selecting items for your new bathroom.
Fixture finishes:
Common choices include polished chrome, black, brushed nickel, stainless steel, oil-rubbed bronze, gold and brass. Whatever you select, you may want to use the same finish throughout your bathroom, including on your faucet, showerhead, toilet handle and even towel hooks. The oil-rubbed bronze finishes in this bathroom coordinate perfectly.
Sink area/vanity:
Do you want a traditional freestanding vanity or more of a built-in, wall-to-wall look? If you choose a pedestal sink instead, remember to consider storage — is there space elsewhere in the bathroom for items typically held in the vanity drawers and doors?
If you choose a pre-built vanity, you’ll need to consider the countertop it comes with and how that will coordinate with the rest of your bathroom. If you’re going for more of a built-in look, you have more options for the type of countertop and backsplash.
Countertops and surfaces:
For counters, common options are quartz, granite, marble, butcher block, soapstone, porcelain, solid surface (Corian), laminate and concrete.
If you choose tile, you’ll also need to consider your grout options and how that will coordinate with the tub/shower area. For example: Do you want color-matched grout that helps tiles blend together, or would you rather the grout be a contrasting design element? The use of tile also typically necessitates decisions regarding tile edging, such as decorative metal edging, pencil liner, bullnose tiles or polished edges.
If you opt for tiling in the shower, think about whether you’d like recessed shelving, as that will need to be decided early on. Check out all of the fun tile choices this homeowner made.
Instead of tiling the walls, you might consider drywall or wainscoting (perhaps with a funky wallpaper, like in this Ferndale bathroom).
Flooring:
Common options include hardwood (new or refinish existing), engineered hardwood, luxury vinyl plank and tile. Within those types of flooring are many specific choices, such as large vs. small, matte vs. gloss, smooth vs. hand scraped and dark vs. light.
Additional questions:
- What sort of shower surround do you want? Options include curtain, sliding doors, swinging doors and pony walls with glass partitions. This homeowner chose a tub/shower combo with sliding curtain.
- Would you like radiant under-floor heating or a built-in towel warmer?
- Do you prefer overhead lighting, wall sconces, vanity lights, pendants or a combination? Should the exhaust fan have a light built in?
These are just a few of the many decisions you’ll need to make when planning a bathroom remodel. During the bathroom design and remodeling process, Hudson Remodeling’s team will be available to help you walk through these choices, but the more you think about what you’d like, the more we can plan ahead for important design decisions.