We sometimes overlook the obvious when it stares us in the face every day. Our homes are where we spend most of our time, so it’s easy to become accustomed to its quirks, aging and deterioration. What others might deem unacceptable, we just think of as “home”.
The bathroom is on the list of top 10 renovations Canadian homeowners made this year. Maybe you’ve gotten used to the current state of your bathroom. Take a closer look for these top 10 signs that it might be time for a bathroom renovation.
1. The Colors Are Outdated
The styles of the 21st century tend to favor neutral color schemes. Splashes of color are welcome, but not usually in the paint colors or fixtures. Bright and bold colors are reserved for accents.
If your bathroom walls and fixtures (or both) are still the originals from when you moved in decades ago, it’s definitely time for an update.
2. It Smells Old
A faulty toilet wax seal or poor ventilation can, over time, create an unwelcome “old” smell in a bathroom. Worse, some older bathrooms don’t even have ventilation – a windowless room without a fan is a breeding ground for mold, mildew, and other unpleasant developments.
3. The Plumbing is Old
Brownish spots on your ceiling, on the walls, or around the fixtures are bad signs. In most cases, these unsightly marks indicate a leak. If a leak isn’t fixed, you could end up with more than discoloration to deal with. Rotting wood or mold can turn what could have been a minor remodel into a massive (and costly) renovation.
Besides, those brown marks make the bathroom look dirty no matter how meticulously you clean it.
4. The Lighting is Poor
The lighting in your bathroom is an important feature to consider. Most people get themselves ready for the day ahead in this room, so lighting that’s not bright enough can mean missing a stain on your shirt or over-applying makeup.
Some older bathroom designs did not factor in the shower when the lighting was installed. It can feel like you’re showering in the dark even when the light is turned on.
You want to be comfortable in your home. The bathroom should be functional and a place where you can feel relaxed. Quality lighting is essential to a good bathroom.
5. It’s Just Not Functional
Does the bathroom door hit the toilet when you try to enter the room? Is your bathtub taking up valuable real estate you’d rather have to create more space? Maybe having the toilet right next to the bathtub is annoying to you.
Even if your bathroom is small, redesigning the space can make it more convenient and functional.
6. You Need More Storage
The amount of things we store in our bathrooms is actually quite surprising considering the size of the room compared to the rest of the house. Everything from towels to toothbrushes and everything in between accumulates until we end up with cluttered countertops.
If your bathroom belongings are spilling out and making it look constantly messy, or if you have a hard time finding anything because the cupboards are stuffed full, it’s time to create more space. Even if the floor plan of your bathroom won’t change, there are other ways to maximize the storage space you do have.
7. Your Family Has Grown
Your needs change as your family grows. If you first moved into your home when you were single or when your family was just a couple of people, your bathroom may have been sufficient. But as you add children to your family, or if you take in elderly parents, you need a bathroom with more space and functionality.
8. You Need Added Safety Features
If someone in your home requires added accessibility, adding functionality and safety features is necessary. It might be time to convert your tub to a shower with handrails, or install a higher toilet and sink. Whatever the special needs of your family members are, a bathroom renovation specialist can help you create a bathroom where everybody gets what they need.
9. Your Want to Increase Energy Efficiency
The average Canadian used 220 litres of water per day in 2017. That’s a lot of water! But just 6 years earlier, that number was 251 litres!
One of the factors contributing to the decrease in water consumption is the installation of low-flow toilets. Older homes were not built with energy efficiency in mind, so if you’re interested in conserving energy (and lowering your utility bills), upgrading your bathroom fixtures is a step in the right direction.
10. You Want to Increase Resale Value
We’ve mentioned the value of a kitchen renovation if you plan to resell your home, but that doesn’t mean you should overlook your bathroom. Even if you’re not planning to sell your house within the next couple of years, if your bathroom has any of the other signs we’ve addressed in this post, it’s probably worth the upgrade.
You might be comfortable with your bathroom as it is, but for a potential homebuyer, the idea of needing to renovate the bathroom right after purchasing the house could be a significant deterrent.
Is it Time to Remodel Your Bathroom?
So, does your bathroom pass the test? Is it time to remodel your bathroom? Let the bathroom renovation experts at Riverstone Kitchens & Renovations help you decide. We can advise you on the most cost-effective upgrades if you want to keep your bathroom renovation small, or we can completely redesign the space to create the luxury bathroom of your dreams.
