Thinking About Renovating a Bathroom? Here's What We Learned When We Modernized Our Master Bath

So much has changed in bathroom design over the last decade. Today, it’s all about clean lines and creating a space that evokes a spa-like retreat. Technology improvements have also introduced many new products such as integrated LED-lit mirrors, heated towel racks, free-standing tubs that maintain water temperature, many tile options, and more.

We’ve all heard about a neighbor whose bathroom renovation was insanely expensive. Or the friend whose bathroom took twice as long as originally scheduled due to product delivery issues or sub-contractor schedules. Bathroom renovations, even the simple ones, are not cheap and they take longer than most people anticipate. There’s a lot of product and work involved in a small space.

In fact, the bathroom unsurprisingly is one of the most expensive rooms to renovate (along with kitchens) due to plumbing, tile work, and general labor costs. Choosing high-end products for everything will bring you to the ‘insanely expensive’ category of bathroom renovations. Choosing less expensive options for some items can still give you that designer look without breaking the bank.

Here are some things we experienced and the decisions we made during our ‘down to the studs’ master bath renovation.

Your Bathroom Layout—Does It Need To Change?

If the layout works, don’t mess with it. You’ll save on plumber and electrician fees that add up quickly. Just moving a pipe or rewiring a room can be a major expense. However, if your layout is problematic, address that before making any product purchases. Get an estimate for the additional labor required. It may be worth it.

We had a platform jacuzzi that took up a large area of our bath and by replacing it with a standalone tub we not only gained valuable space but also significantly reduced the amount of tile (and associated labor) required. This helped offset the cost of a new tub and tub filler. The tub and tub filler was still more expensive than just retiling the platform jacuzzi area but the additional cost was well worth the change. The tub we now have is more comfortable and the room has a cleaner, more spa-like feel to it. See the results here.

Tiles That Create A Streamlined Look

If you haven't visited a tile store recently, you'll be surprised by how large the tile used in bathrooms is today. You can still buy a 4” x 4” wall tile for around your tub but designers are leaning toward bigger tiles everywhere (floor and walls). I like the larger tile format because there are fewer grout lines and it offers a cleaner look than the smaller tiles of the past.

To save costs, backorder issues, and have the ability to return unused tiles, choose a tile that is stocked by a local distributor. We used 24" x 24" floor tiles and 12" x 24" tiles for the shower. Less grout and fewer lines give the room a much cleaner look. Using different tile colors can cut up a room visually.

If you use the same tile (but in different sizes) for the floor, shower, tub walls, etc., you’ll create a streamlined and airy feel. I’ve even tiled the entire wall behind vanities, sinks, and mirrors instead of using the 4” typical backsplash made from tile or counter material.

You won’t save on installation costs by using larger tiles. In fact, some of those tiles are mighty heavy and take a bit more time to install. You need an experienced tile installer to determine the best layout, including where the best center point is before installation begins.

All White Or Wood?

All-white bathrooms have been in vogue for some time but recently I see changes afoot. Designers are now branching out and an all-white bathroom is no longer the only thing you see in showrooms or from designers.

Personally, I like a bit of wood or some natural elements in an otherwise sterile-looking bathroom. It helps warm up the space that could otherwise feel cold or uninviting.

In some situations, I think a wood vanity can be a safer choice than a vanity that is white. But if you want an all-white bathroom, add a rattan hamper, bamboo trash bin, wooden frame around artwork, or other natural accents.

Choosing Fixtures—How Many Metals Is Too Much?

How many metals (faucets, cabinet hardware, lighting fixtures, towel racks) should you use in a bathroom? I’ve read no more than three but personally, I think three is a lot for a bathroom. I always shoot for two. The number of metals is similar to my recommendation on how many tile colors or designs you use. Less is more.

Personally, I like faucets and towel bars to be the same metal and, if possible, from the same product line. I found these items to be more expensive than I anticipated so I advise you to select them for the long term like your tile and tub. Price them online as well as in-store. Build.com has great prices and delivery but many plumbing supply stores will match to stay competitive and offer more service.

Items in a bathroom that have shorter shelf lives in my experience are lighting fixtures, mirrors, and cabinet pulls/knobs. These items can start to corrode from moisture after a number of years regardless of how expensive they are (even with good bathroom ventilation). For that reason, If you want to introduce another metal or trending element, consider doing so with these items.

Simplifying Faucets

Another way to streamline the look of your bath is to use single-hole faucets. It reduces the 'clutter' on your countertop and your cleaning time (not as many crevices for soap scum and dirt as a traditional three-hole faucet.) For sink faucets, go with a brand that plumbers like to work with (some high-end brands are actually difficult to repair). Select one that has consistently high ratings and few issues with leaks. Personally, I like the Delta brand and for a more contemporary design, the Brizo brand (which is a Delta brand).

I chose the Sotria line from Brizo in polished chrome. When we had problems getting a matching Brizo tub filler in time for our renovation, I was able to find a Delta brand tub filler that worked nicely. Plus, that decision saved us a significant amount of money as compared to my original Brizo choice. Tub fillers are ludicrously expensive (I saw many over $2K from Brizo and similar brands.)

Some faucets have touch or visual sensors for turning on/off. I can’t recommend these. I have a kitchen faucet with sensors that has a mind of its own. I suspect the sensors used are cheap even though the faucet wasn’t. Until the sensors improve, they’re more trouble than they’re worth. Keep it simple and forgo sensor technology for now.

What About The Shower?

Our local rep at Frank Webb Home was extremely helpful with our shower fixture decision because of the number of options out there.

Our last shower was functional but basic. Fast-forward thirty years, and our needs and desires have changed. We now have a dog that requires an occasional shower, the women wanted a footrest when shaving their legs, and I wanted a cleaner look with a place for shampoo and shower gel bottles rather than the shower floor.

The Brizo Odin shower system is a considerable step up from our old system. I never realized there was such a difference in shower systems. We chose the Odin design because we didn't like the Sotria showerhead that matched the sink faucets. Since the sink and tub faucets are in different rooms than the shower, I had no concerns about using both Odin and Sotria in the same bathroom.

We designed the built-in tiled niche to be above the shower line so that it would remain dry most of the time. The niche helped create a low-clutter, streamlined look.

Spend Time On Lighting Because It’s Super Important 

Your bathroom is going to look great. Allow yourself to look great in the space too.

Proper lighting makes a world of difference, even though lighting is often a last-minute decision. We added LED recessed lighting and installed mirrors with integrated LED lighting. This was a game-changer. I never realized how dark and terrible our previous bath lighting had been.

Your skin looks better in LED light. You look less tired compared to incandescent light. Your wrinkles are less noticeable (no joke). LEDs are energy savers and last many, many hours. Go with LED. You never knew you looked so good!

I also ditched the countertop standing make-up mirror (the same style I had as a 20-something) and installed a pull-out LED make-up mirror. This decision supported the airy, streamlined look we were seeking. More free counter space!

A good electrician with have solid ideas for adjusting lighting locations or types of lighting used. One cost-effective trick is to use recessed ceiling lights instead of pendant or surface-mount fixtures. Less clutter. Great lighting.

Should You Splurge On A Towel Warmer?

I had a big 'I told you so' coming from my husband on this one. We needed a towel rack near the tub, but the wall was just the right size for a towel warmer. The electrician's fee for adding the unit was minimal, and the warmer was about double the cost of the Brizo Sotria towel bar, and fit within our budget. See where I'm going with this? It was easy to justify what I thought was a mid-end model with a 4-star rating. 

It sounded so lovely. A warm towel was waiting for you after a nice, luxurious bath. Full disclosure: The unit was too far from the shower and would require sprinting around a corner on a tile floor naked and dripping, so this was realistically for the tub experience only. 

Today, I think of the towel warmer as a glorified towel rack.

We have never had that 'hotel' experience. It takes 45 minutes to warm up, and then the towel is warm, not hot. And by warm, I don't mean 'just out of the dryer' warm—not even close. We did not buy an expensive unit (ours cost $300-350), so perhaps that is why our experience has been disappointing. Not sure.

The contractor's team thought a towel warmer would be the best part of the entire bathroom. They loved the idea of a hot towel after a shower. And it doesn’t seem to be a defective unit. A sibling has the plug-in version of the exact unit (ours is wired), and she has the same review. Meh.

Supply Lead Times

It is common for a custom cabinet (i.e., 'not stocked' in the vendor’s warehouse) to have a lead time of 10-12 weeks. Many plumbing fixtures are stocked but those that aren’t can take up to four months for delivery.

Before your contractor starts demolition, it’s wise to have your vanity, plumbing fixtures, tile, tub, toilet, lighting fixtures, mirrors—basically, everything you need for the renovation—ready for delivery. Recheck delivery dates for items where you were only given a delivery date range. Bathrooms (even a second bath) are tough to live without and you’ll want the renovation to move forward quickly without any delays.

What are your bathroom renovation experiences? Any tips for our readers? We'd love to hear from you!