6 Dos and Don’ts For Renovating Your Bathroom

by Bongiwe Tshiqi

The bathroom is one of the most utilised places in any home and it’s where a lot of time is spent by all family members. As such, it makes sense that you would want to make sure that it is both beautiful and functional. However, renovating your bathroom can seem like quite an enormous task.

Debra Retief, marketing manager at Tile Africa says it doesn’t have to be. Here are a 7 do’s and don’ts that will make the whole process seem easier…

  1. Plan well in advance and use professionals.  This is arguably the most important principle behind a successful bathroom renovation. Using professionals should also prevent you from making costly mistakes and making impulse purchases adds Retief.
  2. Storage plays an important role in the bathroom, particularly in homes with large families where laundry and clutter can quickly pile up. Nowadays storage can be incorporated in a variety of clever, practical and appealing ways. Think large vanities, elegant cabinets and Tall Boy cupboards.
  3. Try to protect the rest of your house as far as possible while renovations are underway. Cover your furniture, close off other rooms and designate a set entrance and path for the construction workers.
  4. Consider adding elements such as underfloor heating and heated towel rails. It’s difficult to install these at a later stage. Although initially more expensive, such additions can add a luxurious touch to your bathroom and make a real difference to your downtime, especially during winter
  5. Add a 10% buffer to your budget. Inevitably there are cost overruns which aren’t planned for and which can prevent you from realising your dream bathroom.
  6. Simple is usually better, and better from a re-sale perspective too says Retief. Although important to create a bathroom that reflects your personal taste and promotes a sense of well-being, keep in mind that you will probably want to sell your house one day. As such, try to keep things fairly neutral and use materials that won’t date quickly. You can always incorporate more of your own personality in the form of mirrors, vases, towels, mats and candles.