Bathroom Renovations - How to Maximize Your Resale Value

If you are planning on selling your home or just want to increase its resale value, improving the home by renovating key areas will help maximize your resale value. When done properly, renovations will increase the resale value of the home and make it more attractive to potential buyers. If you are on a budget, it is important to choose your renovation projects wisely. One renovation project that will maximize your home's resale value is renovating the bathroom.

Renovating the bathroom can be one of the most valuable projects when seeking to increase the home's resale value. Below are a number of tips to maximizing your home's resale value by renovating your bathroom:

Bathroom Light Fixtures

Hire a Professional Plumber: Working with the bathroom plumbing can be a difficult and time-consuming task. For instance, if you are planning to change the layout of the bathroom, you will be facing a big plumbing project. It is a good idea to hire a professional plumber. A plumber will know what permits you will need and he or she will able to perform such tasks as installing pipes and fixtures. After the plumbing project is finished, the plumber will inspect the system to make sure everything is working properly and is up to code.

Adding/Changing Bathroom Accessories: Adding and upgrading bathroom accessories are a great way to improve the bathroom. For instance, consider replacing the bathroom mirror with a new mirror that is very stylish and blends with the bathroom's design. There are mirrors that have decorative frames which look very lovely. As well, consider new and stylish towels, bathmats, and shower curtains. These items are available in a variety of different colours and designs. You can also hang pictures and artificial plants and even have a phone installed in the bathroom.

New Bathroom Features: Adding new features will maximize a home's resale value. For instance, you can add a Jacuzzi or steam shower. These luxury items are very appealing to potential home buyers. You can even get fancy showers that include built in aromatherapy devices, radios, and MP3 players. There are also stylish shower enclosures that are available in different designs, sizes, and shapes.

Change the Look of the Bathroom: It is quite easy to give your bathroom a new look. For instance, you can replace the old floor tiles with new tiles. You can also paint the bathroom a new colour to give it a fresher look. You can replace old sinks and faucets with new fixtures. Adding another sink will make the bathroom more functional. As well, replacing the old toilet with a low flow toilet will be attractive to potential home buyers.

Change Bathroom Lighting: It is important for a bathroom to have proper lighting. Adding dimmers will make the bathroom more functional. You can even acquire a vanity mirror with lighting along the frame.

When you renovate your bathroom, it is important to choose colours, designs, and styles that blend well together. It is beneficial to pick a special theme for the bathroom such as classic, contemporary, modern, or antique, and make sure additions and changes match the theme. An integrated look and feel will make the bathroom more attractive to potential home buyers.

When renovating your bathroom, try to be creative to make it more attractive and functional. When renovating, it is important to create a budget so that you know that you will be able to afford all of the changes and additions. With the right planning and research, it is quite easy to create an entirely new look for your bathroom resulting in an increased resale value of your home.

Bathroom Renovations - How to Maximize Your Resale Value

Tips For Small Bathroom Remodeling

Are you cracking your brains over small bathroom remodeling? You are not alone. Many homeowners are faced wit the problem of having to change the look of a cramped bathroom. Here are some tips on how to make the most of small bath spaces.

Knock off a Wall

Bathroom Light Fixtures

One of the most popular solutions is to simply knock off one side. This will allow you to expand in one direction and get more space. The problem though is that this solution is not cheap. Aside from spending a lot to reconstruct a new wall, you would also have to consider paying for extensive changes in plumbing and wiring.

Choose Small

You have other options if you cannot afford to push back your walls. One of them is to simply replace previously large fixtures and features with smaller ones. There are small bath tubs, sinks, toilets and cabinets that can be installed in place of old ones. You have to make sure though that the largest member of your family can comfortably use these smaller fixtures.

Hang Some Objects

Large, wooden storage cabinets can take a lot of space. Create more space by knocking down these cabinets instead of the walls. You can opt to install free floating cabinets or metal bar shelves. You can also hang small hampers on hooks on your wall. Aside from cabinets, you can also leave some other bathroom fixtures hanging. A baseless sink and a vanity with a hanging glass ledge are examples.

Choose the Right Paint

Small bathroom remodeling will not be complete without a new coat of paint. One technique is to avoid dark colors. Choose lighter ones and pair that with equally light colored tiles and fixtures. The light color will not just be soothing. It can also help create the impression that you really have more space. If you want to paint some designs, choose those that aren't too large.

Use Light

Use artificial or natural light to create the impression of expansiveness. It is always great if you can simply cut out a large top window. If this puts you in danger of being seen from outside, you can use bright lighting instead. Have a dimmer installed so you can create softer light when your mood calls for it.

Strategically Install Mirrors

This is an age old technique that works well for small bathrooms. Wide mirrors in both walls can make bathroom users feel like there is an endless supply of space. Don't overdo the mirror trick though. It can be quite disorienting looking through so many reflective surfaces.

Push Your Fixtures

Make sure that your fixtures are all hugging the walls. This is especially true for your toilet and bath tub. Set these fixtures very close to the walls so you have more free space at the center. As for your sink, you actually have more options here. You can pick corner sinks or corner wall sinks.

Small bathroom remodeling can actually be a lot of fun. The real key is to simply change viewer perspective and utilize every available space you have.

Tips For Small Bathroom Remodeling

How to Choose a Bathroom Mirror

Mirrors of different designs and sizes are used in bathrooms, according to the size of the bathroom, and individual preference. One of the most prominent functions of a bathroom mirror is to reflect the available light. This may be natural or artificial light.

Bathroom mirrors are available in the market in different forms, and in different sizes. They can be round, oval, rectangular and with or without a frame.

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A unique and stylish touch can be given to your bathroom by using decorative mirrors. These mirrors are available in the market in various sizes, finishes and prices. While buying a bathroom mirror, make sure that the style, color and type of mirror will go well with your bathroom's lights and color of the walls or tiles. In order to give a consistent look to the bathroom, a matching mirror frame can be used.

The size of your mirror depends on the size of your vanity. Your bathroom mirror should not be bigger than your vanity, because if you are using sidelights in your bathroom, then the exterior limit of the lights can go beyond the vanity. Mirror lights can be a good choice for a small bathroom, but in a larger bathroom, one extra ceiling fixture is essential for general lighting purposes.

The frameless bathroom mirrors, along with inset lights will give a modern look to your bathroom. Any circular and square mirrors will give that modern ambience to your bathroom. Hanging a mirror creates a modern expression to your bathroom.

Attaching an overhanging light will give an additional look to your bathroom. The wall mounted basin furniture or floor mounted furniture should not be lengthy. In order to give a dramatic look to your bathroom, you can use wall mirrors.

Bathroom mirrors can be used to give a fine look to your bathroom. Bathroom mirrors are one of the important elements of any bathroom. Your right choice of a mirror can give a modern and stylish look to your bathroom.

Bathroom mirrors can change the look of your bathroom completely, if used with proper lighting. It is up to you whether you want to create a traditional look, or a contemporary look to your bathroom. Another option you have is a Victorian style bathroom, which is designed with heavy layers of dark wood. Nowadays, people prefer traditional styles of bathroom mirrors.

In conclusion, it can be said that a bathroom mirror is a very important and integral part of your bathroom. It gives an entirely unique look to it.

How to Choose a Bathroom Mirror

Bathroom Planning - A Great New Look Without The Headaches

Do you look at your current bathroom set up and wished you could just scrap it and start all over again incorporating all the features you have always wanted? Well for most people this sort of project is achievable as well as being affordable.

Maybe your bathroom remodeling could be as simple as just modernizing the existing fixtures by installing a new sunken bathtub or upgrading the vanity setup or even build a separate shower cubicle with multi-head showers. Whatever it is that you want changed in your bathroom you can generally accomplish it without having to extend the space. If, however, your bathroom planning entails an extension of the room itself it could be quite expensive, particularly as walls have to be demolished and rebuilt.

Bathroom Light Fixtures

Whatever your aspirations may be, bathroom planning can be an enjoyable project. Most people consider the bathroom a very important room and without a well functioning, modern and appealing bathroom the value of your home could be depressed if you ever wanted to sell.

When you are undertaking your bathroom planning, the first thing you need to know is how much space you actually have to work with and whether this is enough to enable you to install all the fixtures and fittings on your wish list. You need to take accurate measurements of the dimensions of the existing room. You will find it beneficial to actually draw up an accurate plan of the current room with all the existing fixtures as well as their dimensions.

Once you know the dimensions, and if you have determined that the area is large enough to work with without having to extend the room, then you can then start to investigate the cost of tiles for both the floor and parts of the wall structure. Your next step should be to visit your local plumbing and bathroom shop to price the fixtures and fittings such as vanities, taps, shower-heads, bath tubs and shower structures.

As previously mentioned when bathroom planning one of the first things you have to decide is whether the existing bathroom space is sufficient for your preliminary plan. For instance if the existing area is not large enough to accommodate installing the large sized shower or spa bath that you have your heart set on then you will need to consider adding to the area. If your house is single story then a modest size extension could be quite inexpensive, however, if your current bathroom is situated on an upper floor then the cost is likely to escalate.

Now that you know what kind of space you have to work with, and if the decision has been made that you need to build an extension onto the room, you now need to address the issue of what fixtures and components (such as basins, toilets, tubs and showers) that you plan on installing. You will also have to decide things like the size and style of the new fixtures. One of the main features that you should be mindful of during your bathroom planning is to ensure that you take a consistent approach. If you are going to remodel then you should do the job properly - it is pointless to install a beautiful modern shower and have an old fashioned worn out bathtub.

If you need inspiration regarding your new bathroom it makes good sense to go online and check out some of the bathroom wholesale and retailers for ideas on fixture. You could also visit a few local display homes and see how they have built their bathrooms. Getting ideas and then putting them into practice is fun and with a little bit of imagination, some thoughtful planning and of course the obligatory hard work you can transform your current arrangement into something brilliantly functional and appealing to the eye.

Bathroom Planning - A Great New Look Without The Headaches

Sconce Lighting Fixtures

Sconce lighting fixtures are light sources that use only the wall for support. They do not have floor bases to stand on and lights are usually directed upwards. These indirect lighting fixtures are another elegant way of enhancing and highlighting the beauty of your home.

They are most commonly installed on bathrooms, corridors and hallways. Are sconces only for big houses with large passageways? It used to be, but not anymore. I have a small house and I have them on every bedroom. The lighting creates a pleasant atmosphere with its soft romantic illumination.

Bathroom Light Fixtures

Depending on the positioning of the fixture, it can even provide an illusion making your room appear larger than its actual size. I personally prefer sconces than table lamps for the reason of child safety. Most of our guests bring their children to our house. Since it is a hanging device, children cannot play with the wires or switches.

There are so many styles to choose from such as Tiffany, Victorian, Contemporary and Old Forge. There are also many materials to choose from like wrought iron, brass, glass, metal, and others.

Benefits it Provides:

Saves on precious floor space Uniformity - when you walk down a hallway, you can feel the contour of the hall and the cozy atmosphere these lights bring Energy Efficiency - this fixture typically uses low wattage bulbs. Their main purpose is not to provide direct lighting but to create a pleasant ambiance

Installation Tips

Install your sconce approximately ¾ of the floor to ceiling height. If your floor to ceiling is 10 feet, then install your fixture at about 7.5 feet from the floor. Place your fixture where they will highlight the points of interest in the room. Highlight your fireplace for example or your prized paintings. For a hallways or corridors, the placement and layout should balanced and equally divided.

Sconce lighting fixtures can give your home the stunning effect you desire. They are a beautiful addition to any home style decor; however I do recommend quality indirect lighting fixtures as opposed to cheap and imitation products. Your safety is of utmost importance.

Sconce Lighting Fixtures

Choose Among Bathroom Tile Designs

Bathroom project options are so various, which confuses many people what to choose and how to choose, but tile can shed the light on the right direction. You can find a wide variety of tiles, each of them vary in shape, size, pattern and texture and any bathroom design depends on which type you are going to choose.

Ceramic tile durability makes it the perfect solution for bathroom floor, other characteristics like its resistance to dampness, its safety to walk on when wet and its ease of cleaning help make you decide to start your tile project immediately. For bathroom safety slip-resistant tile is typically what you look for in a bathroom. Unglazed bathroom tile is not a practical solution because it needs frequent washing; otherwise it will look dirty because of the stains and mud stuck to it. Square, rectangle, hexagon and octagon bathroom tile shapes are quiet common.

Bathroom Light Fixtures

You can find lots of tile ideas, for example:

1 - Bathroom tile borders can always have a different color from the tile floor; tile borders can have a repetitive combination of colors too. This makes the bathroom floor more customizable and accordingly more unique.

2 - Using a different bathroom tile size for the walls or laying the wall tiles in different angles like diagonal can give a more customized effect when using tiles of the same color for floor and walls.

3 - Choosing a different grout color from the bathroom tile color looks great in many bathrooms. The contrast between cold and hot types of colors makes the most perfect difference, for example using white bathroom tiles, with blue grout is used by many Décor architects.

4 - Many Décor architects as you about your favorite color first, where many people like adding a few decorative bathroom tiles of their favorite colors for the walls or using shapes, textures and borders of that color to give a spiritual relaxation for the client. Different orientation of the bathroom tiles of your favorite color can be used with walls and floor.

5 - Modern bathroom styles use bright and bold colors with shapes while using cold colors for backgrounds, and remember that modern-looking bathroom is the one that has modern accessories and fixtures.

6 - Floral soft colored bathroom tiles give such a romantic and classic look in your bathroom, cold colors like light green or light blue together with graphics giving hand paint impressions on your tub looks very relaxing and classic.

7 - Colors have a great effect on your feelings, making you feel calm or alert, so try to choose the exact colors that suit your final mood, some colors like yellow give a relaxing mood which is typically what you need during a warm bath.

Choose Among Bathroom Tile Designs

Choosing Right Lighting For the Bathroom

Lighting should be considered an important aspect when building your bathroom for practical purposes as well as for safety reasons. Many a times, it can also affect your mood .Therefore a lot of thought goes into choosing the right lighting.

As we all know that we use the bathroom for a few purposes, but in order to create variations we can use different types of lighting. If you are looking to have a quick bath, for example, before going out then you would want the light to be a bit bright. Most probably you are going to use the mirror too, so choose something that is more of a spotlight and gives direct light preferably above your sink mirror. This will ensure that the bathroom is adequately functional and suits your needs well.

Bathroom Light Fixtures

On the other hand when you are in a mood to relax in the evening with your partner you would not like to have a direct or a bright light. Instead, you can make it romantic for a warm bath with one or two spot lights that would give the right lighting. This will help in creating the atmosphere that you are looking for.

Style and safety both are important factors to be considered and it would be great if both of them can be combined to produce the bathroom of your dreams. In some countries it is mandatory that the light switches are enclosed in a sealed unit. It is better to check with the laws and regulations of the place where you live,  especially where water is an issue. Another reason to choose the right fixtures is that the lighting or decor reflects your personality. Use lights just above the bathroom mirror if you are the one who applies make up in the bathroom. A very common thing is to put the fixture right in the center of the ceiling, which is practical too. However, adding a little style by putting more than one source looks better.

The fixtures in the bathroom are not just for practical or lighting purposes but they can also be used to highlight wall decor or ornaments. This can be especially done in large bathrooms where you have space to display accessories.

Therefore if you are planning to renovate or redecorate your bathroom, spend ample amount of time in looking around for the right fixtures. Use your imagination and be innovative. After all it transforms an ordinary bathroom into a place you would like to spend time in.

Choosing Right Lighting For the Bathroom