The first step in any remodel is making a plan. And that goes for the big stuff as well as the small stuff.

For example, if your tub-shower combo doesn’t suit your needs, consider a to-the-studs overhaul. Or if you’re replacing tiles, stick to stock options, rather than more expensive ones made from marble or quartz.

Layout

The Bathroom Remodel is a very important aspect to consider when designing your new bathroom. It determines how comfortable the space will be and what kind of features you can add. The ideal bathroom design uses an intelligently arranged space that makes the most of corner areas to create a beautiful and relaxing space for bathing.

This smart bathroom layout places the bathtub at diagonally opposite corners and houses the shower cubicle in the middle. This is an excellent solution for smaller bathrooms that need a spacious showering area but don’t have the room for a separate bathtub. The front of the bathroom houses a basin and WC while the back holds a large window that brightens the whole space.

Using an L shaped partition wall, this contemporary space offers a great deal of convenience. The room opens into an area that houses 2 wall hung double basins with opulent mirror cabinets and a toilet separated by toughened glass panel. This is followed by a dedicated showering cubicle and toilet at the back. The asymmetry of this space is what adds to the charm of this modern bathroom.

Storage

There are many ways to add extra storage to a bathroom, including inside cabinet organizers, turntables and folding trays. Baskets can also corral clutter and double as decor, like this elegant option in a guest bath designed by Home by Polly.

When counters are cluttered with daily products, try dividing a drawer into a few stacked trays. Heavier items can go on the bottom, while lighter ones like cotton balls and q-tips are placed on top. The simple trick from Darkroom & Dearly keeps everything from nail clippers to tweezers and brushes on hand without using up precious space.

If built-in shelving isn’t in the cards because of budget constraints, renovation costs or rental restrictions, consider repurposing furniture. An antique secretary desk, like this one in a master bathroom by Henderson, can hold a variety of toiletries and cosmetics and look pretty doing it. Hanging a wire bar caddy from the ceiling can help keep hair tools off countertops, like this solution from Dream Green DIY. It’s also easier to reach than hanging a hook and doesn’t risk rusting if it gets wet.

Lighting

A well-thought-out lighting plan will not only illuminate the space, but also provide a decorative element. When choosing a light fixture for your bathroom, keep in mind that different parts of the room need different types of illumination. The three main types of lighting include ambient, to illuminate the space; task, for specific tasks such as shaving or brushing teeth; and accent, for highlighting certain features.

The ambient illumination that comes from ceiling-mounted fixtures such as flush mounts helps to set the overall tone for your bathroom. Consider opting for bulbs with a softer hue than traditional incandescents to emulate natural daylight.

Task lighting is generally concentrated around vanity areas, so installing spots or LEDs in vertical rows on either side of mirrors will give a flattering, bright light that makes it easier to get ready in the morning. For a more decorative touch, look for sconces with pretty shade options like the swooping curve of these reimagined twin shades. For a little extra illumination in hard-to-reach nooks and crannies, install staggered wall sconces that aim light in two different directions.

Fixtures

Choosing the right bathroom fixtures and fittings can make all the difference in creating the space of your dreams. These can range from practical items like tubs and showers to decorative elements such as lighting ideas.

While there is no single bathroom fixture style that works best for every design, many popular styles include the use of different metal finishes to complement a wide variety of bath design schemes. The use of brushed nickel and bronze fixtures with chrome sinks is common in contemporary designs, while faucets featuring a toile de jute pattern are often used in bathrooms with a French country feel.

The distinction between bathroom fixtures and fittings is a key aspect to understand when designing your dream bathroom. Fixtures are permanent components that cannot be removed without major renovation work. Fittings, on the other hand, can be moved to new locations when renovating a home. This is important to keep in mind when buying a home because outgoing homeowners typically leave fixtures, while taking fittings with them. Luckily, PyCharm makes the process of working with fixtures simple. With autocomplete, navigation, and the ability to hover over a fixture for additional information, it’s easy to quickly create a design you love.

Plumbing

From a leaky faucet to a toilet that constantly runs, plumbing issues can be a major pain and an eyesore. Not to mention they can lead to rot, mold, and damage to your floors and walls. A remodeling project will repair the existing problems and install new plumbing that works efficiently.

For homeowners who want to add a bathroom to their home without destroying the existing concrete slab, there are innovative macerator pumps available that will allow you to run sewage into the wall cavities and through the roof rather than boring under the footings to a septic tank or sewer point outside the house.

Many people confuse remodeling with renovating. While a renovation alters the layout of a room, a remodel simply replaces the hardware within the existing space, like replacing a tub with a shower.