Bathroom Remodel Checklist

When updating a main space like a bathroom, it's important to take into consideration your personal style and your home's look. Do the rooms in your house lend themselves to a more modern look? Or do you prefer the farmhouse look to flow throughout every room? Look around for inspiration online, like our Shop the Room section, or create a mood board with the styles you prefer so you are settled on cottage vs. modern before your start buying your new bathroom items. 

Materials often go hand-in-hand with style. The type of materials you like will also affect your remodel timeline and budget. Marble may be ideal for a sleek, modern bathroom, but granite or quartzite may make more sense for your lifestyle. Once you've landed on style and materials, begin ordering as early as possible. Longer lead times on certain tiles, products and supplies could affect your remodel timeline. 

Functionality and the logistics of a bathroom play major roles in a remodel. Is your small bathroom the main room for the entire family to shower in and use? Will widening a door interfere with current toilet placement? Think through the exact layout of the room and how any updates will affect plumbing or electrical elements. 

This is also the perfect time to decide if you're doing this remodel on your own or if you're hiring a professional. While DIY may be cost-effective, hiring a professional can ensure any major details like plumbing lines and permits are taken care of correctly. Build in time for a demo, contractors or DIY work accordingly, to stay on track. We'd suggest giving yourself 12 weeks from planning to remodel day. 

Figure out what will stay and what will go with a product checklist. Are features like a touchless sink faucet or ADA-compliant grab bars needed in your updated space? Does your dream bathroom involve luxe features like a heated floor, or are you remodeling around tubs and toilets that are staying in the space? 

Consider home value and resale when thinking through which items to keep or remove, because some features are more important than others. For instance, nearly 50 percent of potential home buyers want a bathroom with a standalone shower vs. a shower/tub combination. 

Adding or replacing a vanity is a simple way to not only update a bathroom but to add more storage. When changing the look of a bathroom, a new vanity can act as an anchor for the room. It's also the easiest way to embrace a new style through cabinet hardware, sink shape, faucet finish and cabinet style. 

If you need help determining why size or type of vanity you need, or want a custom vanity, our vanity configurator can help. 

Keep in mind any extra details you want in your updated vanity area including touchless faucets, soft-close vanity doors and so on. 

Consider the use of the space. Is the bathroom a guest bathroom or is it being used by the residents? This will help determine things like pedestal vs. vanity and sink size, such as double sink vs. single sink. 

Bathroom hardware is also essential to the update and upgrade of a bathroom. It's a really simple way to makeover a bathroom when you're not doing a full remodel, but are looking for a refresh, so keep it high on your checklist. 

Tip: Remember the details that may seem small but are important, like P-traps, valves and drains that may need to be changed out with a new vanity or sink, and add these to your checklist. 

Whether or not you envision your bathroom remodeled with shower, tub or shower/tub combination has a lot to do with square footage, household size and budget. While a shower and tub are the best of both worlds, consider what will come in more handy. 

• Tubs are ideal for children and are often cheaper to install, but a walk-in shower is useful as you age into your home, and will take up less space.
• Style also comes into play when deciding between a shower and tub. If you're leaning toward a glam look, a clawfoot tub will play up the look while a standing shower works well in a modern or traditional space.
• Energy-saving options should also be added to the list when it's time to remodel. WaterSense labeled shower and tub faucets will help conserve water and help keep monthly costs down.
• Will your new shower require shower doors? Custom doors may take more time to order and install while standard sliding or walk-in shower doors may be more readily available.
• Showerheads are available in a wide variety of options, so think function plus style. Will you be bathing pets or children? Do you require an ADA-compliant showerhead? Are you looking for a luxe rainshower effect?
• Lastly, keep in mind other items you might need such as exhaust fans, drains and valves.

It may seem obvious given the room, but the toilet may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you're dreaming up your new bathroom. However, it is the hardest working item in the space and should be carefully considered when it's time for a remodel. Here are some things to consider:

• Think about the space you have.
• Is flushing technology important to you?
• Will a traditional two-piece toilet work for you or would a modern, space-saving one-piece toilet be better?
• Is there room for a toilet and a bidet, or do you need a two-in-one?
• Determine if extras like heated toilet seats, WaterSense energy-saving toilets and anti-microbial toilets are right for you.

If there are any details that set the scene for a bathroom's look, it's the flooring and tile. From geometric patterns to penny tile, the options are endless. For DIYers and those sticking to a budget, peel-and-stick backsplash is a great option, while those going for a full remodel may want to start new with wall to ceiling subway tile or eye-catching patterned tile on a shower wall. 

Flooring options should be waterproof and durable given the room. Don't forget to add in grout and trim as well. 

The right lighting in a bathroom will not only set the ambiance, but it will also make getting ready, showering and cleaning the bathroom easier. Here are a few things to consider when adding lighting to your checklist:

• You may need multiple lights in the bathroom. Think: sconces by the sink and a light in the shower.
• Your style preferences will inform if flush mount lights or modern vanity lighting with Edison bulbs are the best choice.
• Consider the electrical work and any wiring that will need to go into relocating a vanity to a different portion of the bathroom, or installing a light in the shower.
• If energy saving is important to you in this remodel, add Energy Star lightbulbs to your list to help cut back on cost.
• Remember the accessories: Will you need a dimmer switch, standard switch plate or additional oulets added?

While they're often called finishing touches, items like towel bars, bathroom mirrors and toilet paper holders, and even paint, are some of the items that should be added to that planning or mood board in the very beginning. The right bathroom accessories can tie together a bathroom and truly turn it into a sanctuary. 

A lot of older bathrooms may lack hanging space like robe hooks or towel rings. Or they may have ceramic, built-in toilet paper holders that no longer work with the look you have in mind. 

Tip: Bathroom paint should always have a satin or glossy finish and be mildew-resistant. 

Anyone who's dealt with little to no bathroom storage for linens, towels and toiletries can tell you how important it is to have more space. Whether you swap out a small vanity for a spacious replacement, add over-the-toilet storage, a new medicine cabinet, DIY shelves or a full linen closet into the space, it's important to think about how much room you will truly need in a bathroom. 

The last thing on your checklist, in order of importance, should be the extra details like towels, bath mats, shower curtains and other accessories. The final piece of the puzzle, these items are important for completing the look and making the bathroom cozy. 

Adding in home accents like stools, decorative trays and candles can bring in pops of personality, too. 

Tip: Non-slip mats are a great choice for any home, but especially for households with elderly residents and children.