Now that the housing market is on the rebound, many homeowners are spending their money on remodeling projects. Buyers specifically look at kitchens and bathrooms when making decisions, and upgrades to these rooms can make a big difference in resale value. But just as importantly, making improvements that add enjoyment to your home can’t be overlooked in favor of return on investment. In fact, sometimes a little remodeling can make the difference between staying in your home or moving.
All these reasons make a bathroom update a good remodeling choice. After all, a bathroom is where you relieve stress at the end of a long day or invigorate yourself for a new one, so you deserve a little something extra special in yours.
The US Census Bureau conducted an American housing survey and discovered that remodeling bathrooms ranked number two on the list of projects homeowners spent the most money on. However, you don’t need to completely remodel a bathroom to get an updated look. So whether you plan on selling your home or staying put, making these bathroom fixture updates will elevate your bathroom from dated to delightful.
Vanity Hardware
Updating the hardware on an out-of-date bathroom vanity can change the entire look of your bathroom and is one of the least expensive and easiest ways to make a big impact. With the right hardware, the entire look of a vanity can change from dated to industrial, glamorous, vintage, or modern. New hardware can also take a vanity from blending in to standing out and vice versa. Even easier is using a metallic spray paint to change the finish color on your existing hardware. Metallic spray paint can be found in most home improvement stores and comes in a variety of finishes from chrome to oil rubbed bronze.
Towel Hardware
Another inexpensive update that will freshen up your bathroom is to replace the towel racks and holders. Once again, this bathroom hardware is available is tons of styles and finishes. If traditional towel bars aren’t for you, try some DIY versions that will add a touch of personality to your room. Or forgo the standard wall-mounted versions and add towel storage with small pieces of furniture or freestanding towel hangers. Even such a small change as where you hang your towels can make a dramatic difference in the feel of a space.
Lighting
We talked with Exotic Home Expo who said that lighting is one of the most overlooking aspects of a bathroom redesign for their customers. It’s amazing what the right lighting can do for your bathroom. Consider simply swapping out existing light fixtures for newer ones. Additionally, adding new fixtures is a relatively inexpensive option that can brighten up a dark and tired room. If your current fixtures have shades, replacing the shades is a thrifty way to make a big difference. Once again, metallic spray paint can freshen up existing fixtures. Swapping out lighting fixtures is a fairly easy process for any homeowner to tackle with a little knowledge. If you feel uncomfortable trying this on your own, don’t hesitate to hire an experienced professional who can show you how to do it for future projects.
Faucets
Add more style to your bathroom with new sink faucets. Faucets are available in tons of styles at different price points, so finding one that fits your bathroom and budget is not difficult. Consider coordinating your sink faucets to the faucets on your bathtub and your shower fixtures for a cohesive look. Replacing faucets requires a little bit of plumbing know-how. When buying new faucets make sure you know what type you need to fit in your existing vanity holes and plumbing configuration.
Shower Fixtures
Add a touch of luxury to your shower with new shower fixtures. There are a number of types of shower heads available in many stylish finishes and designs. The basic single-head spray shower is a good choice. Or you can go with a more updated rain shower. These have large, flat heads suspended above the bather either from the ceiling or wall mounted with an arm. Another modern choice is the waterfall shower head which features water that comes out of one large opening in a steady stream rather than many small holes. A new shower head will increase the look and the enjoyment of your bathroom.
