Much like any renovation, your bathroom renovation can be a big job that’s very disruptive to your family and finances. But, big projects can always be made more manageable with proper planning and forethought.

So, here are some things to consider when planning a bathroom renovation.

Budget and Saving

Unfortunately, renovations like this cost a lot of money. Depending on the extent of the refit, you could spend thousands on your bathroom. Yes, the end result is worth it, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that your finances will take a major hit. You also need to keep in mind that it’s not just fixtures; it’s also pipes, and you might need to hire a plumber to do a professional drain inspection before the renovation can actually start. So overall, it’s not exactly a cakewalk, but yes, it’ll be pricey!

So, before any work starts on your bathroom, you need to work out what you can afford and how you’ll pay for it. The quickest way to finance any renovation is to get a home improvement loan or take out a personal loan. But it’s also beneficial to save as much as you can before biting the bullet. This way, you will be left with much less debt to pay off.

When setting a budget, don’t just go for the maximum that you can borrow or conceivably afford. Instead, work out a balance between what you want, need, and what you can afford. The lower the cost, the better. 

While you’re at it, factor in any nasty surprises. Ideally, the project will go smoothly, but sometimes you might stumble upon a sudden unexpected additional cost, which can halt a job in its tracks. If you have some extra cash to buffer the damage, things will go much better. Besides, if you have anything left, it can be used to pay off loans, add to your savings, or even make another purchase.

Designing the Bathroom

Once you have a budget in mind, you can start designing your new bathroom with the help of a company like The Bathroom Workshop. Look up ideas of the kind of bathroom you’d like, and use a room planning app or software to work out your preferred layout. This is where already having a budget comes in handy because it is automatically factored into your design. You don’t even have to consider options you might love but that are out of your budget.

Once you have a basic design in mind, you should look into hiring professionals and purchasing what you need. Some bathroom remodel phoenix companies allow you to design a new bathroom from their website, including the fixtures, fittings, and decorative features, so the whole process is much easier and you can figure out what it will cost and look like.

A professional bathroom contractor will then inspect your bathroom and give you an estimate of the cost and the timeframe. 

Logistics

As you can imagine, going without a bathroom is incredibly disruptive, especially if you have family. If you have a second bathroom, it’s best to stagger the renovations. But what if you only have one bathroom?

Well, in some cases you can ask a friend, family member, or neighbor for help. Some people find it easier to stay somewhere else temporarily, or to at least have the children stay with someone for a week until the bathroom is usable again.

Depending on your choice of contractor for your bathroom renovation st paul mn (or indeed elsewhere), it might be semi-functional throughout the duration of the project. It’s best however to get in touch with your contractor and ask about the timeframe, as well as what will be installed and when. This way you can plan around each job and still be able to use the space.

It can also be disruptive to pets when workmen are in the house, especially if they’re alone. Also, wandering pets can get in the way of the contractors and might even get hurt. Work out a way to keep them out of the way and, ideally, keep their anxiety down.

Making Smaller Changes

While a bathroom renovation can be expensive, it doesn’t always have to be. For example, you can completely change how a bathroom looks without replacing the large fittings and fixtures, which automatically saves a huge amount of money. 

Obviously, if you want to change the layout of your bathroom, this will involve ripping out these appliances and potentially doing work on the plumbing, but if you’re happy with the layout as it is, this is a good option.

For example, you can change the faucets around to change the look of the sinks and the bath. Copper faucets will give your bathroom a more old-fashioned look, and can be perfect with cottage styles or even a more bohemian and quirky design. Or you can change the toilet seat to update the bathroom for less money.

The great thing about these smaller changes is that you can sometimes do them yourself. You can look up how to measure a toilet seat and install it, or you can switch out some more decorative features. Of course, for larger jobs or jobs that involve actual plumbing, the cheaper and less stressful option may be to hire a professional plumber, so nobody makes any mistakes.

If your appliances are worse for wear, you can sometimes repair them rather than replace them. New parts aren’t just cosmetic changes, they can be practical ones as well. 

Finishing Touches

The bathroom doesn’t have to be all about function with no sense of design or personality. As well as installing fixtures, fittings, tiles, and completing other essential tasks, your bathroom can be enhanced with a few finishing touches. One key detail to consider is the shower door finish, which can greatly influence the overall look and feel of the space. Selecting the right finish, whether brushed chrome, polished chrome, or another option, can complement your bathroom’s style while providing durability and ease of maintenance. Consulting this guide from GlassCrafters Inc., or a similar resource, can help you make an informed choice and achieve a polished, cohesive design.

For example, wall art can have a place in the bathroom, especially if it follows a certain theme that you like. You can also decorate the walls with quirky wallpaper, but bear in mind that bathrooms tend to get steamy quickly.

Houseplants are an amazing addition to any bathroom, and some plants thrive in this environment. The trick is to play around with the decor, have fun, and make your bathroom special.

The post Planning Your Next Bathroom Renovation: Tips That Can Help appeared first on InstantELLA.

You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout and I’m telling you why, because it’s nearly Christmas time!

No matter if you are the type to put up the Christmas tree as soon as Halloween is over or if you are the day after thanksgiving type, who doesn’t love Christmas and decorating for the holiday?

There is something so heartwarming about seeing all the lights, ribbons, wreaths and ornaments, but it can also be a little intimidating to know where to start.

If all you wanted to do is spread Christmas cheer but you need some ideas, here are a few to help you out.

Here are seven easy but really cute Christmas decoration ideas to help your home scream, “Merry Christmas to all!”

Mason jar elves and reindeer

Elf Christmas Mason Jar Gifts

Mason jars are great for so many things, including creating really cute Christmas decorations.

The best part is these jars can be totally customizable, but also you can put little treats inside and give them as gifts for your neighbors and friends.

A DIY Wreath

65 DIY Christmas Wreath Ideas to Give Holiday Guests the Warmest Welcome

For these decorations that you can never have too many of in or outside of the house, all you have to do is go to any craft store or even dollar store and get a plain wreath, and then just pick out all the flowers, ribbons, and lights you want to decorate it with!

You can even keep it simple and classic and buy some spray snow, spray it on a green wreath and tie a red ribbon on the top and there you have it! A super cute and festive wreath for less than five bucks.

Lighted garland with ribbons

DIY Christmas Scrappy Lighted Garland Tutorial

Something cute and unique, that is also pretty easy to make, is using a couple strings of lights and some ribbon to make a lighted garland.

You can choose the colors and type of material you want to use, and then all you have to do is tie them all along the string of lights, then hang wherever you like!

Make sure to get plenty of extension cords and check that your electrical system is up to date, and order any parts you need from websites like www.electricalwholesale.com.

Pipe-cleaner snow-flakes or snowmen

Pipe-Cleaner Snowflake Ornaments Project

Simple and cost-friendly, you can involve the kids in making these adorable ornaments to hang on the tree.

Ornaments made from cookie cutters

Cookie Cutter Ornaments Project

Cookie cutters come in all shapes and sizes, and all you need are some pictures or pretty colored paper to glue behind them to turn them into beautiful ornaments.

These can also double as a cute gift that your kids can put together for Grandma and Grandpa or whoever else is on their gift list.

DIY Snow-globes

DIY Snow Globe | Sea Lemon

Another decoration idea that uses ever useful mason jars, there are so many Pinterest posts to follow on how to make these fun little snow globes and place them all over your house just in time for Christmas.

Easy paper plate Santa

PAPER PLATE SANTA CLAUS

This is a Christmas craft the kids are sure to love and have them feeling the Christmas spirit.

All you need are some paper plates, scissors, red paint, glue, and some black constriction paper!

The post 7 Easy but Oh so Cute Christmas Decoration Ideas appeared first on InstantELLA.