Even the most seasoned homeowners can stumble into costly mistakes during a bathroom renovation. Despite careful planning and good intentions, certain pitfalls invariably catch people by surprise, compromising the final result and adding unnecessary expense. The difference between a renovation that delights and one that disappoints often comes down to recognising these common errors before they happen.
So, whether you're embarking on a modest refresh or a complete transformation, understanding these ten frequent missteps will help you navigate the maze of renovation planning with confidence, ensuring your investment delivers the beautiful, functional space you truly envisioned.
1. Underestimating Budget Requirements
Setting unrealistic budgets forces compromises that diminish success. Whether you’ve decided to cut corners with cheaper fixtures or simply overlooked the costly essentials, it all can lead to unexpected additional costs that could have been avoided in the first place.
The Solution:
- Be sure to factor in all of the required fixtures, not just the fancy brassware.
- Consider the labour costs of electrical and plumbing updates, as well as waste removal.
- Allocate a contingency fund for unexpected issues; around 10-15% of your total budget is feasible.
2. Ignoring Lighting
Bathroom lighting often receives minimal consideration during renovation planning. Only once everything else is installed (and the budget exhausted) is your lighting inadequacy revealed. By then, it’s all too late. Bleak, harrowing dankness is all but assured. Simply put, one overhead light rarely serves a modern bathroom well; let’s try to prevent this, shall we?
The Solution:
- Familiarise yourself with and apply the technique of layered lighting.
- Explore the different colour temperatures available.
- Invest in wall lights or ceiling lights, and even LED illuminated mirrors for ambient lighting and easier grooming tasks.
3. Trend Chasing
That striking geometric tile pattern captivates you now, and those ultra-sleek, minimalist basin taps look perfect online, but will these choices still satisfy you in five years? More importantly, do they actually serve your bathroom's practical needs? Renovation excitement often tempts homeowners to chase current trends without considering longevity or practicality.
The Solution:
- Remind yourself to balance aesthetic appeal with practical longevity.
- Opt for the timeless approach; colours and designs that will always be relevant.
- Stay in the know about which bathroom trends have staying power and which future trends are set to emerge.
4. Not Creating Enough Storage Space
Bathrooms can accumulate more items than most people anticipate. The minimalist aesthetic you pictured can quickly devolve into cluttered countertops and overflowing shelves, particularly when you haven’t put thought into adequate storage for everyday essentials. Fortunately, there’s a plethora of fixtures available to suit all bathroom styles and sizes.
The Solution:
- Prioritise standard storage solutions, such as vanity units, and integrate them generously and seamlessly into your design plans from the outset.
- For bathrooms with plenty of wall space, consider mirror cabinets.
- For compact bathrooms, make the most of vertical space with tall bathroom cabinets.
- Think outside the box and bring in innovative solutions, such as recessed shower niches.
5. Overlooking The Layout
Unfortunately, layout problems tend to reveal themselves post-renovation, becoming depressingly apparent over regular daily use. When you realise the lavish freestanding bath you invested in is either too large or positioned infuriatingly just to the left of where it should be, there’s not a lot you can do besides breaking out the chequebook and bringing the fitters back in. Therefore, it’s best to nip these issues in the bud before they blossom into expensive real-life problems.
The Solution:
- Before committing to any purchases, sketch your proposed layout to scale or use a 3D design service.
- Identify door swings, window positions, and existing pipework.
- Walk through the space mentally.
- Consult your fitter about optimal positioning.
6. Making Choices Under Pressure
Renovation pressure tempts overly hasty choices, adding further issues to an already seething brew. Your fitter needs clear decisions, products need to be ordered on time, and delays cost money. This combination leads to rushed decisions you regret once everything's installed and unchangeable.
The Solution:
- Visit local showrooms, order samples, and verify dimensions and product compatibility.
- Sleep on significant decisions to gain perspective and reflect, revealing possible flaws.
7. Skipping Professional Fitter Consultation
Your bathroom fitter (hopefully) has invaluable knowledge from countless installations. Yet many homeowners consult their fitter only after buying products, realising too late that their planned bathroom has thrown up unforeseen installation challenges. For example, a wall-hung toilet might need structural support that the wall lacks, a rainfall showerhead may require more water pressure than your system can provide, and heavy tiles could be unsuitable for your wall substrate.
The Solution:
- Before purchasing anything, arrange a consultation in which your fitter surveys your existing bathroom to assess any limitations and complicating factors.
- Discuss your vision and explain your priorities so the fitter can flag potential issues and suggest practical alternatives.
8. Clashing Designs
You may love an item individually, but without cohesive planning on sanitaryware, brassware, furniture, tiles, and the all-important colour theme, elements compete rather than complement. This creates jarring visual chaos that undermines the value of expensive installations.
The Solution:
- Within your planning, establish a clear style direction and commit to a uniform aesthetic, be it contemporary or traditional; whatever suits your taste and your home’s character.
- Create a mood board to identify and limit your colour palette to 3-4 choices maximum, ensuring harmonisation.
9. Leaving Decisions To The Last Minute
With so many decisions to make - fixtures, finishes, layouts – each with its own implications, delaying these choices until pressure mounts can create problems that compromise the success of your renovation. What should have been a smooth process ultimately becomes a costly, stressful nightmare, leaving you miserable, out of pocket and wishing you’d never started the thing in the first place.
The Solution:
- Create a detailed timeline of all processes, from researching styles to briefing your fitter, working backwards three to four months from your desired completion date.
- Maintain a spreadsheet or notebook documenting every choice - product codes, suppliers, prices, and order dates - to prevent confusion and provide a quick reference when needed.
- Make systematic decisions in a logical order; don’t jump randomly between tasks.
- If delays emerge, inform your fitter immediately to eliminate any future disruption.
10. Not Factoring In Lead Times
Alas, bathroom products don’t materialise instantly. Many fixtures and fittings, particularly large, premium and bespoke items, require weeks between ordering and delivery. Failing to account for these lead times can derail installation schedules and drive-up costs.
The Solution:
- Contact and work closely with suppliers to get a complete understanding of stock levels and any issues affecting delivery.
- Understand seasonal variations: Summer typically sees increased demand for products as renovation projects peak, while the Christmas period tends to strain delivery services.
- Once a product has been confirmed, order at the earliest convenience – even if installation is months ahead.
- Communicate lead times to your fitter and provide them with a delivery schedule so they can plan accordingly.
Start Your Renovation Journey Right With Sanctuary Bathrooms
At Sanctuary Bathrooms, we understand the challenges homeowners face during bathroom renovations. This is why we're committed to making your journey as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Our experienced team can guide you in identifying the best products from reputable brands for your space. We offer a wide range of styles, colours and designs to cater to various tastes and budgets, all while confirming product compatibility and managing lead times.
Contact us today to begin your bathroom transformation with confidence.
