A total bathroom renovation is a huge undertaking that would require a costly investment of time and money that is not always practical. Dated bathrooms, however, take away from the everyday appeal as well as the resale value of a home. By picking and choosing a few select updates a la carte, you can make the best impact for your cash.
Consider both big and small options for updating in two main categories – visual appeal and function. Obviously, your walls make up some of your biggest visual interest. Painting your sheetrocked wall space is a big change without the heavy price tag. For more of a change, installing modern wainscoting on lower walls for a contrast is an option.
Fixtures are another easy item to update and replace. You can incorporate new faucets, handles, shower fixtures, and drawer pulls with a more modernized look and have a wide array of price ranges to choose from. Moving away from brass or gold fixtures and adding brushed nickel or chrome pieces in their place brings the look of your bathroom quickly into today. You can also incorporate new functional features when choosing new shower sprayers and nozzles. To take it a step further, replacing decorative tile pieces with a tile style found in new construction homes can take a weekend project and turn it into a major upgrade for your bathroom. With some know-how or detailed instructions, certain tiling projects can be DIY.
An additional way to update a bathroom just on the surface is to replace your linens. If you have a mix-matched set of former towels and rugs, streamlining those pieces into more spa-feel elements brings your space into 2011. White towels, posh hotel style rugs, and a new, more luxurious looking shower curtain removes that dated, worn feel and freshens up the space with clean essentials. Pare down your decorations to things that support the clean spa theme like candles, glass, and dried or grass naturals, and remove any clutter, dated décor or window treatment, and any products on display.
Pick and choose updates to meet the needs of your bathroom space and your financial plan to ensure your home is not stuck in the 70s or 80s. Whether you plan to call your place home for years to come or are considering a move in the future, modernizing your bathroom elements truly adds value on more levels than one.
DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star May 22nd.
