Are you tired of the same look and feel your bathroom has had for years? Remodeling your bathroom isn't cheap and there are a lot of things you need to consider in the planning process. Whether it be planning for universal safety, color pallet matching, or floor & tile sizing, we've outlined below our top 6 considerations before remodeling your bathroom:
1. Take your time
Before rushing into the first style you come across for your next bathroom renovation, do a little bit of research on the different styles and options available to you. Popular social media sites such as Pinterest and Instagram are great tools for learning about the latest and greatest trends where you just might find the inspiration you need! We would recommend compiling a list of your favorite designs from Pinterest and Instagram and narrowing down your options from there before making a final design decision.
2. Do something different
A refinished dresser or small chest of drawers can make a beautiful vanity that can bring a fresh or a vintage look to your bathroom. If you aren’t quite that adventurous, there are vanities made to look like vintage furniture.
3. Plan ahead for universal safety
Especially when approaching the later years in life, you want to be planning for the future. Installing bathroom fixtures such as grab bars, shower seats, and other safety tools will ensure you have the safety & security you need. If you aren’t quite there however, you may be more inclined to renovate with universal design in mind. Universal design is the design of buildings, products or environments to make them accessible to all people, regardless of age, disability or other factors.
Nobody wants their home to look like a nursing home, but people also want to feel safe from slips & falls at the same time. Grab bars in elegant finishes such as teak or acrylic are alternatives to the institutional feel of some stainless steel bars. Walk in tubs and zero threshold showers are other ideas using universal design for a remodel of the bathroom. There are many brands out there that allow people to change the way they think about bathroom beauty & safety.
4. Pay attention to different color variants
With hundreds of thousands of differing shades of color out there, you might want to consider investing in color swatches. Even with white being the most common color for walls, there are about a zillion different shades of white to choose from. Another thing to consider is the way the lighting reflects off the colors in the room. Different lighting will affect the hues differently whether it be natural light or LED lights in the room, so keep that in mind when deciding which colors to go with.
5. Research different flooring options
The floors of your shower are a great opportunity to go the extra mile and make your bathroom truly something special! Contrast the tiles with the rest of the flooring in the bathroom or coordinate coloring of the tiles to match the color of the walls for that added effect. It's important to note that larger tiles tend to be slipperier because the grout lines are more spread apart and the tiles are more challenging to slope correctly. With that being said it might be best to look into smaller tile options that have more traction to minimize the risk of slips & falls. The options for floor tiles are endless, so at the end of the day it all comes down to personal preference.
6. Consider the footprint of the room
There is a significant difference in the layout of bathrooms when comparing those of younger people to those 65 and up. The younger generations tend to focus more on the design of the shower, while the older generations tend to make go for the bathtub look and make that the centerpiece of the room. The problem for senior citizens however is when they try to fit too big of a tub in too small of a room. Nobody wants to cram the tub they invested thousands of dollars into designing into a corner in the room, they want to show it off in the center of the bathroom. Whether you are going for the shower layout or the tub layout, do your research to find out how to best utilize the space in your bathroom.
There are many renovations that you should consider to prepare your home for aging in place. To learn more about aging in place design and to see the other personalized grab bar styles we offer for you, contact GreatGrabz today.
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