Your spouse (or partner) has been nagging you for YEARS for the ‘love of God’ to do SOMETHING about your bathroom. But you’ve dragged your feet because you weren’t sure the time was right. After all it’s not a small (or inexpensive) project.
And if you’re debating if it’s the best time to remodel your bathroom, and how to do it without buyer’s remorse, you’ve come to the right article.
First – I’ll give you 7 ‘functional’ reasons to get started sooner than later.
Then we’ll look at 2 ‘fashionable’ reasons which can motivate you to start now.
And finally, we’ll wrap up with 3 ‘financial’ reasons to not put this job off any longer.
At the end of the article, I’d love your comments and questions about why you should (or shouldn’t) start your bathroom remodel right now, and how to do it, and design it, right the first time.
7 functional reasons to remodel your bathroom RIGHT NOW!
If bathrooms are all about the ‘utility’ of how the space works for you and your family then you’ll want to first focus on the functional reasons to invest money on a bathroom remodel. And the reality is – if you ignore these 7 functional reasons you may become the ‘victim’ of the following problems:
You may cause other rooms in your home to be damaged by water leaks.
You may make health problems worse
A family member may fall and ‘earn’ an extended (and expensive) stay at a hospital
You may get sucked into a lot of time cleaning what you have
You may be frustrated with how the bathroom ‘lives.’
Functional reason #1 to remodel your bathroom now– Leaks
Ignoring a leaking shower, can have disastrous consequences not only in the bathroom – but also to the room below.
And that doesn’t even include the health problems of mold behind a wall.
Tips to eliminate leaks in your bathroom
If you’re dealing with leaks today, the key to eliminating this worry is to get rid of places where leaking occurs (duh, you’re likely saying right now!). The biggest culprits of bathroom leaks are grouted (or cheap) shower pans and tile wall surrounds.
Functional reason #2 to remodel your bathroom now – Stepping over the tub, or tall shower pan, is an accident waiting to happen
Now here’s a depressing statistic for you. One in four people 65 and older fall each year. And if you’re 65 (and yes, I just turned 65, although I swear I don’t look a day over 64!) that’s a statistic which is a bummer.
And the number #1 place for falls is the bathroom. And even more alarming is the fact that more people die from falls than from cancer. Wow – I’m a real Danny Downer, aren’t I? But here’s ideas to lessen the chance of falling.
Tips to reduce the chance of falls in a tub or shower
If you have a tub – or combined tub/shower combo today replace it with a low profile shower pan to cut down the risk of falls.
Also – add a grab bar installed vertically as you enter (and make it tall enough –36” is a good size so even if you do fall, you can grab it to get up). And add a horizontal grab bar inside the shower. Make sure you – or your installer has the grab bar secured to studs or wood blocking behind the wall.
Image Credits: JTEK Solutions
Install a shower seat and hand held shower so you can shower in a seated position if mobility is a challenge.
Functional reason #3 to remodel your bathroom now– The lack of storage is driving you NUTS!
Does attempting to find something (or anything) in your vanity cabinet make you want to scream?
Or are you using a tacky dollar-store plastic shower caddy hung over your shower head to keep shampoo and conditioner bottles off the shower floor?
Or are you ‘sick and tired’ (as mom used to say) of dirty towels draped over the glass shower door. What a hillbilly look!
If you hate these problems you need improved storage.
Tips to gain storage in your bathroom WITHOUT making your master bedroom or closet smaller to do it
Even if you have a small bathroom – there are ways to ‘grow’ storage in the same size ‘footprint.’ Here’s the most popular ideas
Idea #1 – Install shelves or recessed niches in the shower – It’s nice to use little used corners – or the insides of a wall cavity to add more storage.
Idea #2 –Add pull out drawers in your vanity – The reason vanities are such a PIA (and can accurately be described as a ‘mosh pit’) is you can’t see what’s in the back. Solve this problem with pull out drawers.
Idea #3 –Get your medicines off the counter – If you have no place to put medicines other than cluttering your counter, you’re not alone. A smart way to gain storage is with a medicine cabinet. For ‘extra credit’ add LED lighting to the medicine cabinet.
Idea #4 – Add a decorative towel storage ladder.
Functional reason #4 to remodel your bathroom now – You HATE, HATE, HATE cleaning
Cleaning a tub, shower, vanity, glass shower door, or tile floor IS NOT anyone’s idea of a good time.
It’s not only time-consuming– but let’s face it – next to your garage or basement – it’s ranks at the top of the list of most disgusting spaces in and around your house to clean. So, what can you do about it?
Tips to get rid of the maintenance hassle of your bathroom
With the innovations in bathroom products over the last 10 years it’s far simpler –more cost-effective, and stylish (believe it or not) to lessen (or eliminate) bathroom maintenance. But in case you don’t know these ‘tricks,’ here’s a list to get you on the right path:
Tip 4) Don’t use a framed bypass shower. Use a frameless bypass door WITHOUT evil U-tracks at the bottom.
Tip 5) Don’t use a tile bathroom floor. Use a click-together luxury vinyl plank floor instead.
Functional reason #5 to remodel your bathroom now – Your product placement and bathroom design is putrid!
Are you ‘trying’ to balance shampoo bottles on a shallow ledge on your ‘builders-grade’ (…and I say that in the most sarcastic way) fiberglass tub/shower unit? Are your bottles hanging on by a thread?
Are do you have a massive bench seat in the back of your tile shower (and far away from the shower head) serving no real purpose.
Or do you have a preformed bench seat in your fiberglass base which is sucking up all the room in your shower?
For most people, their existing tubs, showers, and bathrooms were NOT designed around their needs. They were built by a ‘production builder’ so they could ‘slap-up’ the bathroom cheaply, and quickly for the ‘masses.’ So, what can you do to solve this product placement and bad design problems?
Tips to get rid of poor product placement
The first tip to get product placement right is to NOT make it an afterthought. Be strategic and intentional in your choices.
For example, if you want effective storage make sure it’s deep enough – and large enough to accommodate all your showering products. Because as my wife likes to say, “The time from wake up to pretty, keeps getting longer!” And this is the reason her beauty products keep getting larger. However, I’m lucky since I don’t need these beauty products because I look ‘naturally’ beautiful. ‘Err NOT, I’m just too lazy to use them!
And given this need for more storage larger niches and corner shelves at the height/depth you want are a smart to accomplish this goal.
Or if you would like a seat to shave your legs – or to shower while seated –make sure there’s a water source close to the seat and that it’s at the right height for you. If you’re vertically challenged you’ll want your seat lower, for example.
Functional reason #6 to remodel your bathroom now– Your lighting is ridiculous – and your eyesight IS NOT getting better!
If you’ve ever seen your kids or grandkids read in what – to you – looks like a dark room, it’s obvious your eyesight isn’t like fine wine, getting better with age, or on par with those younger than you.
And the consequences of a dark bathroom is it can cause falls and injuries. So, how can you improve lighting and make a more stylish and safer bathroom?
Tips for better bathroom lighting
The best type of lighting is natural lighting – if you can get it. Some ways to cure your dark bathroom today is to add a window (if you have an exterior wall to work with) or install a ‘solar light tube’ (if there’s a roof above). And if you’ve shied away from a window due to privacy (and putting on a ‘show’ for the neighbors), consider a glass block shower window.
Other ways to beef up lighting and/or to improve safety are to install task lighting by the vanity or in-the shower, and to use lighter (or contrasting) colors. Or consider an LED medicine cabinet.
Functional reason #7 to remodel your bathroom now– Your mix of space is all mixed-up!
Do you have a massive soaking or Jacuzzi tub NO ONE uses? And as a fun aside – I had one client that used their old soaking tub in the master bathroom to store suitcases. Now that was a first!
Or do you have teeny-tiny shower which is as big as a phone booth back in the days when The Fonz and Richie Cunningham were hot (and yes, I’m showing my age here – but I’ve included a clip below from Happy Days if you wanted a little blast from the past and have a few gray hairs like I do).
Or do you have a vanity top which is so small you’re always picking up medicine bottles off the floor.
Tips for better bathroom space planning
When you’re doing a bathroom remodel you want/need to begin with the end in mind.
Think first – should I increase the size of the bathroom or re-allocate the space I have? Where do I want/need more space? Where do I need less space?
And before completing your design ask your bathroom remodeling contractor if there’s ways to use ‘standard sized’ products to keep costs down.
See if you can use products like ‘one level wet rooms’ so your bathroom becomes one continuous space.
To be more strategic and space-efficient hire an architect or design/build general contractor whose been down the road and can guide you to how to not only improve your space planning – but how to minimize moving plumbing (which adds A LOT to costs).
Now let’s look at fashionable reasons to remodel now.
2 fashionable reasons to remodel your bathroom RIGHT NOW!
Let’s face facts – unless you’re a 10 year old boy who won’t bathe and shower regularly unless mom forces him to, you, on the other hand, start and end your day in your bathroom. And while this is (largely) a private space (unless you’ve recently remodeled, and in those instances you’re showing EVERYONE your private bathroom – ha! ha!), it’s a place you spend a lot of time in.
So, why not have it compliment your style? Why shouldn’t you enjoy and be proud of your bathroom? Given this thought process, here’s 2 fashionable reasons the time could be RIGHT NOW to remodel your bathroom.
Fashionable reason #1 to remodel your bathroom now – You got a bad case of ‘bathroom envy’ from your last hotel stay, or while visiting a friend or relative’s home
While few of us like to admit it, we can all fall ‘victim’ to wanting to ‘keep up with the Jones.’ We’d love to have a bathroom which looks as stylish as a luxury hotel room (or your neighbor’s or a family member who has the best of everything).
A visit – or hotel stay – could have you saying you’ve FINALLY had it with the carpet on your bathroom floor, or your stained and yellowed one piece fiberglass surround, or your rickety glass shower doors (with the spots you can’t get out).
However, your challenge may also be how can you ‘cure’ this case of ‘bathroom envy’ if you don’t have as many bucks as the hotel or a rich relative? Here’s some ideas:
Tips to ‘cure’ bathroom envy…on a budget.
Bathrooms are not only expensive because of material costs – but they’ve become even more expensive because of skyrocketing labor costs. So, what can you do to get a champagne look on your beer budget? Here’s 3 ideas:
Idea #1 – Use (realistic looking) grout free shower surrounds vs. tile – The problem with most grout free products is they look cheap and plasticky (and maybe that’s because they ARE cheap and plasticky). Get over this problem with thicker, decorative wall panels which look like tile and stone because they have color, texture, and are not made (literally) in a mold. One option are laminate wall panels.
Image Credits: Anew Bath
Idea #2 – Buy ‘shower systems,’ vs. individual components – When you buy a complete shower replacement kit you’ll get the shower base, shower surround panels, and glass doors as a package. This will save you worrying the components will work together AND saves on shipping costs.
Idea #3 – Where possible design around ‘standard parts’ vs. ‘custom parts.’ – Perhaps you’re looking to replace a dirty and moldy old tile shower which is anything but standard size. The question to ask your contractor is what size could they make this shower to use standard size components. Let’s face facts – custom bases, custom shower doors, and custom tile showers are expensive. See if standard is an option.
Fashionable reason #2 to remodel your bathroom now – Your bathroom is ‘butt-ugly’ and out of style
Are you looking at pitted brass fixtures, dated wallpaper, a 4” x 4” tile shower, or an unused soaking tub which was ‘THE THING’ 30 years ago, or a ‘tiny toilet’ which was designed for someone 4’ tall? If so, your bathroom may be a little (or a lot) long in the tooth! So, how can you fix these problems and bring things up to date? Here’s how:
Tips for a more contemporary – on trend – bathroom.
One of the big ‘fashion statements’ – and usually the only piece of ‘furniture’ in your bathroom is your vanity. It’s a key element you see when you walk in. To ramp up your look use either a vanity with a ‘Transitionalist-style’ Shaker door front or a flat, contemporary Euro-inspired vanity.
When it comes to your shower –go with large format tiles (which help a small bathroom look larger) or with contemporary wall surrounds like you’ll see in this Scandinavian look light wood wall panels.
For fixtures steer clear of polished brass and oil rubbed bronze (they’re SOOOO out!) – and choose simpler to maintain brushed nickel or matte black finishes. Or if you want to get adventuresome – brushed brass and champagne bronze are very much in style now (although matching these finishes is a P.I.A.).
And now let’s turn our attention to 3 financial reasons to remodel your bathroom now.
3 financial reasons to remodel your bathroom RIGHT NOW!
OK – so I saved the ‘best for last.’ Or maybe I ‘saved the worst for last’ by talking about money which may cause you to break out in a cold sweat!
However, unless you’ve got a rich Uncle whose paying for your remodel, or you learned you’re Elon Musk’s 15th child who locked in his inheritance before his DOGE work messed up Tesla’s ‘market cap’– money WILL matter when you think about the timing of a bathroom remodel. So, why would (or should) now be the time to remodel your bathroom? Here’s 3 reasons:
Financial reason #1 to remodel your bathroom now– Nothing, and I mean nothing, is getting cheaper
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but as a construction entrepreneur who not only imports unique bathroom products from Europe – but employs people who do professional installations – I don’t see materials OR labor getting cheaper any time soon (or ever).
And as a matter of fact, with current tariffs from Europe at 10% – and Chinese tariffs through the roof (as I write this article they’re north of 100%!), that’s A LOT of inflation coming your way.
And on the labor front, finding people to do construction work HAS NOT improved. Younger kids aren’t dying to get into the trades.
Financial reason #2 to remodel your bathroom now– If you’re looking to sell, bathrooms matter to buyers
An ugly, outdated bathroom (or kitchen) are two big soar-thumbs which hurt realtors ability to sell your home for top-dollar.
These ARE important – and frequently used – areas of a home. If your bathroom is outdated, hard to use, and disgusting because of embedded dirt and mold, don’t expect prospects to be out-bidding each other to get their ‘paws’ on your home.
Financial reason #3 to remodel your bathroom now– Why not spend down your kid’s inheritance while you have the chance?
If you’re a Baby-Boomer who has busted your hump working for years – and are watching your grown ‘work-life-balance kids’ complaining about having to go into the office or work a 45 hour week, it may be time to realize you don’t owe them a massive inheritance.
Your life is worth enjoying. You’ve worked hard for it. There’s such a thing as ‘proper selfishness’ (a term I learned reading leadership books by Charles Handy).
So, why continue to delay your own enjoyment? Why not spend down your kid’s inheritance RIGHT NOW with an upgraded bathroom? And besides, you don’t have to tell them you did this because you deserve it. No, you can tell them you HAD TO remodel to make your bathroom safer. Who can argue with that?
So, is the time right for you to remodel your bathroom? Do you have questions, or are looking for a contractor or wholesale supplier to assist in this project?
After reading this article are you of the opinion now is – or isn’t – the right time to remodel your bathroom? I’d love your comments below. Or give me your questions if you’re still debating when (and how) to do this project.
And if you’re looking for wholesale pricing for bath and shower products, or wanting advice on the best shower products or bathroom design, contact a Shower Specialist at Innovate Building Solutions (and yes, I’ll admit this is my team!) at 877-668-5888 or request a Free Consultation.
Thanks for reading and learning functional, fashionable, and financial reasons to remodel your bathroom right now. There’s more to this subject than meets the eye, and I hope my article has helped you figure out if now is the time for you.
President of Innovate Building Solutions a nationwide supplier and regional (Cleveland and Columbus) remodeling contractors. Some of our product lines include glass counters, floors, backsplashes, glass blocks and grout free shower and tub wall panels
