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A bathroom remodeling project may be the perfect way to update your space without becoming overwhelmed or taking on more than you can handle. The key to simplifying the process is applying the appropriate strategies to the project to make it a little easier.

Stick to a Plan

The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) recommends spending up to six months evaluating and planning before beginning work. With this time, you can create a roadmap that will guide decisions, even the ones made under remodeling stress. Once work has begun — a process that averages two to three months — resist changing your mind. Work stoppages and alterations add costs. Check the fine print to see if your contractor includes a clause in their contract that specify premium prices for changing original plans.

Keep the Same Footprint

You can afford that Italian tile you love if you can live with the original square footage you already have in the space. Keeping the same footprint, and locating new plumbing fixtures near existing plumbing pipes, saves demolition and reconstruction dollars. You’ll also cut down on the dust and debris that make remodeling a challenge.

Make Lighting a Priority

Multiple shower heads and radiant heat floors are fabulous adds to a bathroom remodel. But few items make a bathroom more satisfying than lighting designed for everyday grooming. You can install lighting for a fraction of the cost of pricier amenities. Well-designed bathroom task lighting surrounds vanity mirrors and eliminates shadows on faces: You look better already. The scheme includes two ceiling- or soffit-mounted fixtures, and side fixtures or sconces distributed vertically across 24 inches (to account for people of various heights). Four-bulb lighting fixtures work well for side lighting.

Clear the Air

Bathroom ventilation systems may be out of sight, but they shouldn’t be out of mind during a bathroom remodel. Bathroom ventilation is essential for removing excess humidity that fogs mirrors, makes bathroom floors slippery, and contributes to the growth of mildew and mold. Controlling mold and humidity is especially important for maintaining healthy indoor air quality and protecting the value of your home — mold remediation is expensive, and excess humidity can damage cabinets and painted finishes.

Keeping your remodeling project simple requires the right strategy and can make the process easier than you might expect. To learn more about updating or changing your restroom in a San Diego home, contact the Jenn Blake Real Estate Group at 858.663.6788!