Bathroom Remodeling Minneapolis – Key Considerations Before You Begin

Bathroom remodeling is one of our specialties at Treasured Spaces. We are industry experts when it comes to renovating Minneapolis bathrooms of all shapes and sizes. Whether you want to modernize your 1900s half bath or do a full demolition and re-build, we are here to turn your dreams into reality. There are many things to consider before you begin your bathroom remodel. Some designs you may be dreaming of don’t work within the constraints of your existing space, but if they do, it’s a good thing to consider any and all options before you demo that vanity!

Plumbing

Before you touch the plumbing in the bathroom, you will want to take a thorough look at what plumbing will or won’t work. You may want to have the minimalist look of your dreams, but maybe your old building won’t allow it, without having to do more work out of budget. If you live in an older building, you want to make sure your plumbing is sound, and you don’t run into any issues during remodeling that could halt the entire process. Aside from the actual functionality of the plumbing, you need to decide if you want to hide or expose plumbing with fixtures and cabinetry. In older buildings, it may be quite fitting to have exposed pipes and fixtures underneath your pedestal sink. Small details like that, can leave the biggest impressions. 

For a modern look, having minimal pipe and plumbing exposed is very on-trend. There are even wall-mounted toilets that allow for a very clean look, with no visible tank or pipes. Plus it makes it even easier to clean that area of the bathroom floor. And who doesn’t want a bathroom that’s easier to clean? 

Functionality

You want to make sure that the updates you make are functional, and aren’t just aesthetically pleasing. Even the smallest considerations can affect how functional a fixture or feature actually is. For example, choosing drawers over doors in your vanity can immediately improve organization and ease of use.

If you are updating your shower, add a bench or footrest, and make sure it’s not a pain to reach in and turn on the faucet or showerhead. Decide whether a shower-only versus tub and shower combo might be more functional for that bathroom. Be mindful of faucet placement, the height of the vanity, and other appliances, and know that this is an opportunity to make everything easier, with better flow and ease of use. 

Lighting

Lighting is one of the most important elements of your bathroom renovation and should be well thought out before any time is spent on electrical. There are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to bathroom lighting. From sconces to exposed bulbs, you want to make sure the lighting works for you, fits the aesthetic, and is easy to clean or repair. 

Recessed Fixtures 

Recessed lighting is often used in basements or rooms with low ceilings because it doesn’t take up any extra space as a drop-down fixture would. They sit just inside the ceiling and easily illuminate the room, with a minimalist look that can go with any design or colors. They do take a bit more work to install as a hole must be cut in the ceiling to fit the fixture along with the proper electrical work. Similar to track lighting, recessed fixtures can be moveable and pivot on an axis to get just the right lighting you want, and can be adjusted as you wish. They can also drop down from the ceiling for more of a spotlight effect. Recessed lighting works perfectly for getting some much-needed light in the shower. They don’t have any exposed wires or switches and can have protective glass put over the fixture that can easily be wiped clean or dry. 

Vanity Lighting

Every woman’s dream, to have a bathroom mirror with bright vanity lights, like their very own dressing room. If there is room to have a dressing table, amazing, that is where you can fully utilize that cool exposed bulb vanity lighting. The lighting around the bathroom mirror should be comfortable, but bright enough to be able to see yourself shave, put on makeup, get ready without having to be blinded by super bright lights. Vanity lighting can be hardwired in, or if you want a less invasive option, you can buy the bulbs as a chrome bar you attach to the wall and plug into an outlet. The bulbs should be easy to replace, clean, and will give you that dressing room lighting like the stars!

Dimmer Switch

The bathroom often has some of the brightest light in your home, and that can be really intense sometimes especially right after waking, or even trying to wind down while you get ready for bed. Dimmer switches are relatively affordable and easy to install. That late-night walks to the bathroom doesn’t have to be blinding bright anymore, simply turn the light to dim so you can see, but not have to jolt yourself awake. It can also make for a nice moody bath or relaxing night shower. 

Windows

Having a window or skylight in your bathroom can be another way to light your bathroom that feels nice and natural. A naturally lit bathroom can be one of the best ways to start your day and can bring a lot of light into your otherwise dark shower. If your bathroom is on an exterior wall, and it doesn’t have a window, or only has a block window, it may be a good opportunity to update that. 

Tile

Painting may seem like the easiest option when it comes to updating your bathroom. It’s incredibly DIY-friendly, and if it wears away you can simply paint over it. However, over time that doesn’t seem like the best investment you could make on your bathroom remodel. Tile is easier to clean, will last a lot longer, and can still be swapped out if you ever want to update again. There are a few options that are more commonly used in showers, tubs, and even bathroom flooring.

Some of the best types of tile for your bathroom, especially for flooring, include ceramic, terracotta, and vinyl. They are all relatively inexpensive and incredibly resilient by being less prone to cracks or scratches. Floors that are marble, granite, linoleum or wood are all more expensive, and more susceptible to scratches and damage, but are incredibly beautiful and unique. So, if you are remodeling a guest bathroom or are looking for that extra something, those more luxury materials could be worth the effort, but be mindful of their maintenance and cost to repair if they are damaged. 

Integrated Elements

Integrating some unique elements into your bathroom can help you stay organized, clutter-free, and be just plain cool. Bathroom closets and cabinets can be a mess waiting to happen. It can get really old having to keep organizing your storage spaces in baskets, or bags, and it’s hard to find everything you need. Well, making sure to use up every inch of the larger spaces can help organization and de-cluttering. Under your bathroom sink, is a highly useable space, that consistently gets underutilized. Despite there being plumbing underneath, a drawer can still be installed by cutting it to fit. This creates double the storage space and having smaller places to put things can help keep it neat and tidy. 

Bring technology into your bathroom with smart lights, drawers, and faucets! Using smart home devices like Alexa, you can have app-controlled or voice-activated lights in your bathroom, which means no more searching for the light switch in the middle of the night! No-touch faucets can be super useful when washing your hands, and maybe help you go a little longer between polishing the hardware, which you’re gonna love. 

Up-cycling

Up-cycling elements of your current bathroom can be a fun way to reduce waste, but also keep a bit of nostalgia factor in the juxtaposition of your new remodel. If you are pulling out tiles, light fixtures, cabinets, etc. from your bathroom during your remodel, try recycling some of the materials! Use old faucet nozzles for hanging towels or robes, integrate old tiles into a vanity tray for make-up, perfume, soaps. Being able to recycle as much as possible can help reduce waste in landfills with otherwise useful materials. If it’s in good condition, there’s no reason to toss it, give it away to your neighbors!

Privacy

The bathroom should be a place you feel you can spend some alone time relaxing or otherwise just having a moment in the day. During your remodel you could consider adding extra privacy, whether it be block windows for the shower, a high-ledge shower, or even building out a separate shower and toilet room. For homes where the whole family shares the main bathroom, creating a separate toilet and sink room can allow someone to shower at the same time, with the added privacy of a closed door. This can act as both a shower or bathtub room, plus a changing room.

 

Before you begin the planning process, putting together a “dream board” of sorts can help give an idea of what you want the end result to look like. Treasured Spaces can help evaluate your bathroom and determine what updates they can or cannot do based on space, plumbing, and other factors. We are here to guide you through all the steps to give you the bathroom of your dreams. It’s a good idea to consider all options before taking the plunge. Give us a call for a free quote!