Bathroom renovations are a tricky business.

You usually start the project with high hopes for the finished result, but far too often our dreams can be dashed when the project overruns, it ends up costing more than you expected and you’re left underwhelmed with the final result. Well it doesn’t have to be this way! To help you out with your bathroom renovations, we suggest asking yourself these easy questions before work starts to make sure you get the most out of your new bathroom.

It may be for a reason as simple as you’ve moved into a new house and don’t like the current colour scheme, or that your bath, toilet or shower is faulty and it’s time to replace them. Whatever the reason, it is so important to keep it in mind throughout the renovation process, as it is very easy to get distracted and end up with a bathroom that doesn’t live up to your expectations.

*Bathshop Top Tip – Make sure that you relay your vision to the company/person installing and fitting your new bathroom, so that they have the same end goal to work towards.

Is this a bathroom that you will be spending a lot of time in? Do you use it to get ready every morning? When you start to plan the floor layout of your new bathroom, keep in mind how each piece of furniture will work together with each other. Do you mainly prefer baths but would like the option of a shower? Then think about installing a shower over a p-shaped bath or L shaped bath. Shower baths are a great way to save space!

Do you and your partner often fight for mirror space when getting ready in the morning? His and her’s basins below a wide bathroom mirror could be the solution!

*Bathshop Top Tip – Sketch out a rough floor plan to give to your contractors so they know what details are important to you. They may even be able to suggest solutions to problems that you hadn’t even thought of before!

Are you renovating the main family bathroom or a downstairs cloakroom? Is it a bathroom that will be frequently used by guests or just your own personal en-suite? If you are remodelling a smaller bathroom, there are a number of ways you can maximise the space and make it look bigger. Click here to check out our guide on how to do just that!

*Bathshop Top Tip – Always display an element of you or your family’s personality in your bathroom design. So many bathroom renovations these days are so focused on modern design and simplicity, that many bathrooms end up looking very similar to each other. Make sure people get a sense of your personality with framed art, family photos or even just through a distinctive scented candle!

When choosing lighting for your bathroom, it is very important to first take a look at your sources of natural light. If you are remodelling an en-suite, it is entirely possible that you do not have any windows; therefore no natural light. In this case, it is a good idea to invest in one or two small lamps, which is an inexpensive and stylish way to create a nice ambience without lots of glaring overhead ceiling lights.

*Bathshop Top Tip – The positioning of overhead lights is key, as they each illuminate sections of the room. We suggest having a light positioned right above the shower for maximum vision there, and also above your basin. Illuminated mirrors work a treat in small en-suites and cloakrooms!

Bathrooms are notoriously places where damp and mould can easily be found due to the heat and humidity that builds up when we take a bath or shower. There are other contributors to heat and humidity such as heated towel rails. If this has previously been a problem, it is highly likely that you will need to invest in an extractor fan – or if you’re carrying out extensive bathroom renovations you may even consider planning another window into your plans to give the humid air another way to escape.

*Bathshop Top Tip – Shower trays that come with integrated upstands seal in perfectly to your bathroom wall and prevent water from lingering in the corners – therefore preventing damp and mould from forming in the first place!

Make sure to ask your workmen and check with your suppliers on how long the items for your new bathroom will take to be delivered and installed, so that you can make alternative arrangements during this time. Be aware that if this is a big job, there will likely be a lot of noise, dust and workmen in your house – something to bear in mind especially if you have young children or pets who could be disrupted.

Always ask your workmen to give you a breakdown of the timescales for each stage of the project. This way, you can follow the progress yourself and chase up any problems that may occur as they happen to keep your bathroom renovations on track. Additionally make sure that you employ a respected tradesman to carry out the work; we suggest using a service such as TrustATrader.com to give you peace of mind.

To save some money, you may be able to install some elements of your bathroom yourself such as wall hung bathroom furniture.

*Bathshop Top Tip – Bathshop321 offers fitting to customers who live in the region of our showrooms in Cheshire and Manchester, simply ring our team on 0844 811 321 (local rates) to find out more!

Don’t think that you can’t get the bathroom of your dreams due to a tight budget. You may strive for a traditional bathroom suite or maybe a cloakroom suite to enhance your space. Aim high and always keep in mind the vision of your dream bathroom. You’ll be happy to know that most expensive styles can be recreated on a lower budget and Bathshop321.com is always on hand to help you see those designs come to life!

Need some inspiration? Click here to check out the hottest celebrity bathrooms and find out how you can get the look yourself for a fraction of the price! You can also take a look at our Pinterest boards which have hundreds of different style ideas for you to browse, pin and save for later!