If your home improvement vision involves a bathroom renovation, you’re not alone. Many homeowners are getting stuck into freshening up their homes with a focus on the bathroom or ensuite.

Nick Crossland, from Highgrove Bathrooms, offers expert tips based on first-hand reno experience. Plus, he’s helped countless home renovators and tradies choose the right components like baths, sinks, toilets, and accessories such as mirrors, vanities, and fittings.

Where to start

Planning is crucial.

If you’re following the current layout and replacing your vanity, toilet, bath, and shower, you just have to decide about the tiling: do you top-dress existing tiles, which is easier and quicker, or completely redo the tiling? This decision affects the finished look, budget and timeframe.

If you’re re-doing the layout of your ensuite or bathroom, it’s best to follow the plumbing as this usually determines the placement.

If you’re completely changing the layout, consult your plumber first to determine where you can best place your new shower, bath, toilet and vanity in the space available.

Mistakes to avoid

A few of the most common bathrooms renovation mistakes you want to avoid are:

• Lack of design planning
• Underestimating the extent of design choices available
• Not ensuring water ‘in’ and ‘out’ are free from leaks or faults
• Not fully considering the long-term needs of the household
• Attempting the reno without expert advice
• Unrealistic budget
• Smashing into your existing bathroom without turning off the water mains first!

Keep a big picture view

For a main bathroom update, consider the changing needs of your family. If you’re planning to sell in a few years or sooner, look at features that add extra buyer appeal, such as a double shower, or a spa instead of a bathtub.

Because an ensuite is the more personal space for the couple of the house, strike the perfect balance between spa-like sanctuary and functionality. Stick to stylish, classy, beautiful and timeless.

Think practical

Designs for basins, baths and vanities are not just about appearance, but usability and practicality, such as ease of cleaning. For example, avoid creating tight corners behind above-bench basins, or consider how difficult claw-foot tubs are to clean underneath versus a floor-fitted bath. 

Storage is a key consideration, especially if the space is not very big. Sacrificing a second basin for more bench space, drawers or a wall cupboard might worthwhile.

Good ventilation helps to avoid mould and condensation; also, most lotions and creams must be kept at cool temperatures.

Allow sufficient space between the vanity top and any power point to fit diverse plugs and power cords.

Bringing it all together

Once you have considered all these suggestions, different layout and design options, and obtained the right advice from experts, it’s time to bring it all together.

Things must be done in order and often require drying times in between.

Renovations tend to go longer than planned, so don’t do all bathrooms at the same time and end up without a working shower or sink in the house.

Order the accessories, ceramics, and fittings online or in-store.

Book your tradie or handyperson and work in with their schedule, unless you’re DIYing. 

Even for DIY, it’s worth talking to a professional who is well-versed in bathroom installations and trained to assist in your planning. You can access support in store or online at highgrovebathrooms.com.au