The bathroom is one of the most personal spaces in your home. It’s where mornings begin and evenings wind down. When thoughtfully designed, it does more than meet basic needs. It supports your routines, brings a sense of calm, and adds quiet comfort to your day.
If your current space feels cramped, outdated, or purely utilitarian, it may be time to rethink how it functions. A well-planned bathroom remodel can transform an everyday room into a space that feels intentional, efficient, and genuinely restorative.
Planning ahead is key to a stress-free, successful bathroom renovation project. Take time to lay the groundwork, and you’ll ensure your remodeled bathroom is the beautiful space you’ve always wanted and that the remodeling process unfolds as you expect.
Take a look below at our collection of expert tips and advice for planning a successful bathroom remodel.
Ask Yourself Why
Are you wondering where to start when planning a bathroom remodel? The first step is to think about your goals for the project. This requires asking yourself, “Why?” Why do you want to redo your bathroom? Why is this project important to you? This will guide your decisions throughout the project.
There are three primary reasons why people decide to remodel. Your reason may be one or a combination of all three:
1. Resale Value
If you plan on selling your house in the future, your remodel will aim to attract potential buyers. While you can’t anticipate the exact needs of a buyer, you can research what styles and designs appeal to most house hunters. If you're remodeling for resale, you'll want to avoid ultra-trendy or bold design choices.
2. Better Functionality and Features
Maybe the space in your bathroom isn’t being utilized to its full potential. Perhaps there are certain features you’ve always wanted that would make the space more accessible or comfortable, such as a walk-in shower, a soaker tub, more natural lighting, or two sinks instead of one. If you want to make significant changes to your bathroom, such as moving fixtures or reconfiguring the space, you'll likely need to gut the existing bathroom and rebuild it or add an additional bathroom.
3. New Look
Many people simply want to refresh the look of their bathroom. This type of remodel is typically focused on replacing materials, like faucets, shower heads, or cabinets, with something that delights instead of offends the senses and brings the bathroom up-to-date.
Determine Your Budget
Setting a budget will help you decide what to include in your bathroom remodel. If you plan to finance your remodel with a loan, talk to your lender about your options and the amount you qualify to borrow. When you first meet with your remodeler, it is important to share your budget to start on the same page.
A trusted bathroom remodeler can work within your budget and help you understand how much you can expect to spend on labor and materials.
Think About Your Time Frame
How extensive is your bathroom remodel? When does your project need to be finished? Do you have a hard deadline?
You’ll need to plan ahead and give yourself enough time to meet specific deadlines. When determining your timeline, think beyond the actual remodel. Other intermediate steps to consider are finding a remodeling contractor, scheduling a consultation, creating a design, scheduling subcontractors, and ordering materials.
This planning step is especially crucial for those who have only one bathroom in the house. If so, you must make arrangements for when the shower and toilet are unusable.
One last timing tip: Plan your timeline, but be flexible and make adjustments based on your remodeler's recommendations.
Look for Inspiration
It’s time to think about what you envision for your remodel. Dream big and get inspired! Think about the design and look you want for your bathroom, as well as its functionality.
To help you get inspired, we recommend doing online research and viewing pictures of your favorite designs. As you research, identify your preference in the following areas:
- Paint Color
- Tile/flooring
- Faucets and shower head finishing
- Cabinets
- Shower/bathtub
- Light fixtures
Houzz and Pinterest are great resources for determining your style preferences. Save enough photos, and you’ll likely notice a trend in your preferred bathroom style. We also recommend you review a few bathroom remodeling projects we’ve completed in the area.
Don't Forget About Storage
Ample storage space can make a huge difference in your bathroom, but you must think beyond linen closets and medicine cabinets. If you really want to create a functional, comfortable bathroom, consider how you use the space on a daily basis.
Here are a few unique bathroom storage ideas that make all the difference:
- Shower niches or corner shelves for shampoo, conditioner, and other products.
- Charging drawers to cut electrical cord clutter.
- Toilet roll and towel storage space-custom cabinets or ladder shelving.
- Custom drawer dividers to help organize items like makeup, razors, brushes, and more.
Try not to get too stuck on one specific storage or design idea. Instead, use your ideas and inspiration as a guide to help you create a plan. Depending on your budget, home layout, or timeline, certain aspects of your vision may not be financially or physically possible. Only an experienced remodeler can help you translate your inspiration into a realistic remodeling plan you love.
Choose A Trusted Remodeling, Design & Construction Team
The next step in planning your bathroom remodel is to choose a remodeling contractor to execute your vision with integrity. Ask friends and family for recommendations and visit websites. Narrow your selection to a few before you start getting quotes to avoid becoming overwhelmed. Home improvement expos are an excellent way to check out several professionals in a short time. Be sure to ask about references and quotes in writing.
At Patrick A. Finn, we take pride in providing functional and beautiful bathroom remodels you’ll love. We aim to transform your bathroom into the space you’ve always wanted.
Learn About Your Contractor's Bathroom Remodeling Process
Homeowners throughout the greater Chicago area trust our remodeling process, but are still curious about the order of a bathroom remodel. We've summarized it here to give you an idea of what to expect during a bathroom remodel.
- Consultation & Design Plan: During your initial consultation, our designers get to know you, your house, and your vision. We’ll work with you to outline a timeline, budget, and detailed remodeling plan so you know exactly what to expect and when.
- Obtaining Materials & Building Permits: Once your plan is finalized, we’ll help you source all the materials needed for your remodel and handle all necessary building permits.
- High-Quality Remodel: We’ll communicate with you throughout the remodel process and work with you at every step to ensure it meets your vision.
We’re dedicated to making your bathroom remodeling process as efficient as possible. We want to produce results that you love! Download the eBook, A Complete Guide to Building the Ultimate Luxury Primary Suite to explore how a thoughtfully planned bathroom or primary suite remodel can support the way you live today and adapt to your needs in the years ahead.
