7 Ways to Make Your Bathroom Renovation Stand the Test Of Time
Bathroom remodels are among the most popular projects homeowners take on. And that’s for a good reason: while these projects can be costly and time-consuming, bathroom renovations provide a reliable return on investment. According to the New York Times*, in all 50 states, the average bathroom makeover increases a home’s resale value by more than what the renovation costs upfront.
But getting that return on investment depends on a number of factors, including the scope of the renovation, the quality of materials, and more. And even if you have no plans to sell your home, the choices you make about your bathroom remodel matter because many of the elements involved—with the exception of things like paint, light fixtures, and faucets—are not easy to swap out. That’s why it’s important to make choices that will last.
Selecting quality materials and workmanship is one critical part of planning a bathroom redesign, but there’s another element to keep in mind: how do you ensure that your style, design, and color choices won’t feel outdated 5, 10, or 15 years down the road? Here are a few ways to help ensure that your bathroom renovation stands the test of time.
1. Opt for Timeless Materials
Classic materials like marble, limestone, or granite are timeless, luxurious, and durable. Marble or granite slabs come in a range of shades and varieties, leaving you with lots of options for a gorgeous bathroom countertop or shower surround material that matches your personal style, while still remaining timeless. As long as you seal them according to the recommended schedule, they’ll last a lifetime.
2. Neutral is Always in Style
Color trends come and go, but neutrals are forever. Too many colors or patterns in a bathroom can quickly make the space feel disorganized, overwhelming, and busy. With permanent bathroom elements like flooring and tiles, opt for a simple, neutral palette to make the space feel clean, unified, and calming. You can always get more adventurous with paint, fixtures, and lighting. However, if you do want to make a statement with tile or something more permanent, choose something you truly love that you believe will keep its appeal.
3. Don't forget storage
A cluttered bathroom can quickly look dated and unkempt. Adding storage like built-in cabinets, floating shelves, or a vanity with ample storage can help keep your bathroom organized and tidy. On that note …
4. Design With the Future in Mind
Design your bathroom to meet your current and your future needs. For example, you may not have children now, but if your family may grow in five or ten years, keep that in mind when choosing sinks, hardware, and storage options. Can your space be adapted for aging in place? An elderly relative moving in? Consider your future goals for your home and family, and make sure that your bathroom is designed to fit your potential needs in 5, 10, or even 20 years.
5. Experiment with Small Details
When making decisions about your bathroom renovation, a good rule of thumb to follow is this: experiment with your own personal flair or design trends in design elements that are easy and inexpensive to change. Wallpaper or paint colors, cabinet hardware, and lighting fixtures are all easily updated or changed as your style or preferences change over time. With more expensive, permanent design choices – think flooring, tiling, countertops, and cabinetry – it’s best to stick with timeless, classic colors and materials.
6. Ditch the Shower Curtain
Like marble or subway tile, glass is always in style. And unlike shower curtains, clear glass showers help create a bathroom space that feels spacious, light, and airy. But keep in mind that standard shower glass is porous, leaving it susceptible to the damaging and dirtying effects of hard water, heat, humidity, soap residue, and more. Shower glass that becomes foggy, dirty, or difficult to clean can, over time, become a liability rather than an asset in your bathroom.
One way to avoid this is ShowerGuardTM shower glass, which comes with an advanced protective coating fused into the surface at the point of production. As this video explains, ShowerGuard glass provides permanent protection against damage from hard water, heat, humidity, soap residue, and cleaning agents, helping to keep your shower glass as clear and clean as the day you installed it.
7. Prioritize Quality Materials
Renovating a bathroom is time-intensive and expensive: the design and material choices you make should be ones that can stand the test of time. Prioritizing quality materials—from plumbing to flooring to hardware to shower glass—in your bathroom renovation will save you from renovation remorse down the road.
Choosing ShowerGuard glass as part of your bathroom renovation is an important way to help protect your investment. ShowerGuard glass is permanently protected from the contaminants that dull and damage standard shower glass. Unlike spray-on products, ShowerGuard glass’s coating never needs to be reapplied and is backed by a robust limited lifetime warranty. That means that when you choose ShowerGuard glass for your shower enclosure, you’re buying the peace of mind that your investment is guaranteed to last.
Styles change, but ShowerGuard glass stays beautiful for life.
*nytimes.com/2022/09/15/realestate/bathroom-remodel-resale-value.html