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Bathroom remodels are one of the most expensive home improvement projects you can undertake. Even a mid-range bathroom remodel can easily go into the $10,000 to $25,000 range. That said, there are ways to keep costs down, and that's what we're going to be covering in this article. So if you're looking to transform your bathroom on a budget, read on to find out how! 1. Budget Smartly A successful remodel starts with a good plan. Before you start spending on anything, it's crucial that you plan out everything you'll be spending on. This will help ensure that none of your spendings go over the limit and result in you having less for other items. It will also give you a good idea of the price points that you should be shopping at for each item. When allocating your budget, firstly, remember to factor in a buffer of 10-15% for unexpected expenses like tool rental or fixing any damages that you might discover. So if you're willing to spend, say, $5,000 on your remodel, your budget should only be spending between $4,250 and $4,500. The remaining $500-750 should be set aside as a buffer. Next, when deciding what to spend on, always prioritize your needs first. This means things like leakages, water damage, poor lighting, poor ventilation, and so on. While this may sound obvious, you'd be surprised how many people would rather spend on sleek, stylish upgrades like a new bathtub, thinking that small issues can be ignored. This is a huge mistake because while those issues are small now, if left unresolved, they often spiral into large problems. A small leak can cause rotting and mold. Poor ventilation also encourages mold growth. And if you leave your leaky plumbing as it is, it can easily lead to the water and moisture damaging your walls or even your flooring, which are expensive to remedy. Small issues can over time become large, costly repairs, so don't let them escalate to that point. Always prioritize your needs over your wants, or you might find yourself spending much more than you would have if you had just fixed the issue early on. Finally, when planning your bathroom remodel, try not to move your plumbing. Any sort of movement, even small changes, usually requires demolition. In addition, it's not always as simple as just changing a small portion. Your plumbing system is quite complicated. For example, moving a small part, like the toilet, might also require relocating the main waste pipe. In short, even small changes to your plumbing system can be quite expensive due to the complexity and inaccessibility. So try not to make any changes to your plumbing to avoid unnecessary expensive costs. Ideally, keep your existing fixtures that require plumbing, eg your sink, toilet, bathtub, and so on, in the same spots. 2. Refresh Instead Of Replacing

When remodeling small bathrooms, the biggest challenge usually lies in space, specifically fitting everything in without making your bathroom feel cramped. There's only so much that you can downsize your fixtures, and perhaps you might feel that with the little space you have, it's impossible not to have it feel cramped. We're here to tell you that's not true. With the right colors, a bathroom with the exact same space, fixtures, and layout can feel much more spacious than another bathroom with the exact same elements and layout. It's not all about the fixtures you use. By using the right colors, lighting, and materials, along with smart positioning, even a small space can feel comfortable and spacious. In this guide, we'll be sharing keys to ensure your small bathroom remodel turns out well, including how to make sure it feels uncluttered, budget tips, as well as mistakes to avoid. Let's get started. Priorities Whether it’s a small space or a regular-sized space, most people will still be working with a limited space. As such, for most people, you can’t have everything. But you can have something, and it’s up to you to decide what that is. Do you prefer a more luxurious toilet but a simpler, smaller shower? Or do you want a high-end bathtub equipped with hydrotherapy jets, and settle for a simpler toilet instead? Or maybe you like taking showers and want built-in seating? This is particularly important with small spaces. If there’s any aspect that you care more about, maybe something more luxurious, or just a feature that you really want to have, identify that first, then work around it. It’s better to have something that you like and compromise a little on the other elements than to try and make everything the same and not have anything that you really like in your bathroom. In addition, the purpose of your bathroom will heavily influence your design and layout. If it’s a master bathroom, you’re probably going to want to make it much more comfortable and enjoyable to use, whereas if it’s a guest bathroom, a simple bathroom will suffice. Either way, you’re still going to be following the same principles to optimize your space. You just need to consider carefully first and decide which, if there are any, features you want in your small bathroom taking up more space or costing more than the others. Once you’ve decided, it’s time to go about actually designing and planning the layout. Here are the keys to follow for a smooth small bathroom remodel. 1. Layout Planning

Why is it that some bathrooms feel cramped, while others can feel spacious, even with the same amount of space? A lot of times, it boils down to how the elements were arranged. Even the most luxurious and grand elements, when positioned wrongly, will be wasted, and the final result will be disappointing. Remember, positioning is different from design. Even if you have a beautiful bathroom design, without proper planning, you could end up positioning the pieces too close to each other, too close to the walls, or leave too little space and end up not being able to fit any additional planned elements in. The Importance Of Layout Planning Some people confuse bathroom design with the layout planning, and that’s a common mistake. A bathroom design focuses on the aesthetic side. This would include the style of the bathroom, the colors, and the materials used. It may include a rough drawing or plan of where to arrange each feature, but it doesn't go into the details. On the other hand, the layout planning focuses strictly on the dimensions and positions, ensuring that the dimensions of every element are factored in, and detailing the exact distances between the elements. So when you look at a bathroom design, you should have a good idea of the overall aesthetics and design of your bathroom. When you look at a layout plan, there should be no question in your mind as to exactly where each of your pieces goes. In essence, the layout plan is what makes your bathroom design a reality, as it not only ensures that there's adequate space for every piece, but also that they’re spaced out enough to not ruin the aesthetics by being too cramped. As such, the bathroom design document is usually different from the layout plan. Standard Fixture Dimensions When installing bathroom fixtures, there are actually standard distances between the fixture and the other areas of your bathroom that need to be followed, based on standard dimensions for the fixture. These distances are actually part of building codes, and you’re legally mandated to follow them. For those wondering why the government has the right to interfere with your own bathroom, there are a few reasons why these building codes are necessary. For one, having enough distance prevents awkwardness and feeling cramped when you’re using the fixtures or moving around, and they enhance your aesthetics. More importantly though, these set distances ensure that there’s adequate space for emergency movements like moving someone who’s fallen down. By reducing awkward movements, there’s also a lower chance of falls. Furthermore, these distances also make bathrooms usable for those with mobility challenges and may require assistive devices. As such, these building codes are put in place for your safety and anyone else who uses your bathroom. They also ensure that contractors are required by law to build you a bathroom that’s accessible and safe, which gives homeowners peace of mind knowing that if the remodel isn’t done properly, they have the backing of the law. Here are the standard fixture dimensions for the various common bathroom fixtures. 1. Toilet Dimensions