Signs It’s Time for a Bathroom Remodel (and What to Do Next)

There shouldn’t be a single room in your house that you hate. That’s especially true for rooms that you spend a large amount of time using.

And let’s face it, we spend time in the bathroom each and every day. If you’ve ever complained about a bathroom in your home, it might be time to do something about it.

Many homeowners avoid renovations—they can be messy projects, time consuming, disruptive, and, of course, costly. But if you absolutely hate your bathroom or it’s just falling apart, now is the time to make the investment.

Do You Hate Your Bathroom?

Even if your bathroom is a nightmare, you might have grown used to the space enough that you aren’t quite as frustrated with it as you used to be.

However, if the design is so outdated or fixtures are breaking down, there’s no avoiding a bathroom remodel. If you’re struggling to decide whether it’s time to make the move or not, here are some warning signs that show your bathroom needs work.

• Tight Squeeze: When your bathroom makes people feel claustrophobic, it might be time for a new design. Or maybe the layout isn’t working and the cramped space means that you keep bumping into the corner of the sink every time you leave the room. Either way, your bathroom should be designed to have enough space to meet your needs.
• Get with the Times: Homeowners often take it upon themselves to decorate a home with their stylistic preferences. But remodeling a bathroom is a bigger job than most homeowners can handle. If your entire house has a modern look and feel, but the bathroom feels like a time machine to the 1970s, it may be time to remodel.
• Obvious Damage: Cracked toilets, chipped bathtubs, leaky sinks. There are times when a bathroom has clear damage that must be fixed. When things are damaged, but still working, you may be able to push off a bathroom remodel for a while, but eventually you’ll have to take the plunge.
• Can’t See: If you’re squinting to see yourself in the mirror because your lighting is so dim, a remodel may be in order. Sure, you could update the lighting on its own. However, installing new fixtures throughout the bathroom may require updating electrical work. And when you’re taking those steps already, you might want to take the opportunity to upgrade the rest of the room as well.
• Bursting at the Seams: Every bathroom should have a comfortable amount of storage. Opening a closet door just to have towels fall on top of you isn’t a pleasant experience. Remodeling can eliminate storage frustration and give you the room you need to give every item a proper home.

Experiencing one or more of these issues? It’s probably time for an upgrade. But the real question isn’t whether or not you need a bathroom remodel—it’s how to start the process.

Kicking Off Your Bathroom Remodel

Many homeowners kick off a bathroom remodel with the help of some inspiration. Whether they’re obsessed with reality TV shows about home renovations or they’ve done their research on social media, inspiration is a good first step.

But what if you don’t have any inspiration and you’re coming into the process blind? That’s okay, too.

For homeowners who don’t have inspiration to start with, it’s even more important to find the right contractor to work with. Identifying the perfect partner means finding a contractor who will connect you with a professional designer. That way, rather than simply getting advice from someone trying to sell you on the project, you’ll have valuable insight from someone who knows your space and understands how to tailor a bathroom remodel to your specific needs.

While having an idea about what you like and don’t like can help, a great designer can help you no matter what stage of the process you’re at. Then you’ll be able to come up with a project scope that’s perfect for your budget and your bathroom remodel expectations.