You might not think of it this way, but bathroom remodeling
is a big investment. The size, look and fill of your bathroom directly affect
your home’s value. If there is even the slightest possibility that you might be
selling your place at some point in the future, you should consider future-proofing
your bathroom. Future-proofing simply means creating a timeless look that will
(1) work for your needs and (2) appeal to the most buyers even 10 years from
now.
So, How do I
Future-Proof My Bathroom?
Go Big
Bigger is better – remember that commercial? If you have an
option to expand your bathroom without turning your bedroom into a closet, do
it! “I want a home with a tiny bathroom,” said no one ever. Large bathrooms
will always be desirable because they are more usable. You don’t have to build
a football field of a bathroom, but make it spacious enough for two people to
use simultaneously. If possible, include a small closet for bathroom supplies,
such as towels, paper towels, toilet paper, etc.
Split it
Space-saving tub & shower combos have their place, but
if you are redesigning and expanding a master bath, consider splitting the
bathtub and shower into separate units. After all, they do serve different
purposes: a shower is for a quick rinse
and a bathtub is for long, relaxing soaking. It’s only logical that these two
should be separated if the space allows.
Avoid following trends
Remember the orange and green sinks and toilets that were
all the rage in the 70s? Well, guess what? They are far from cool right now.
The same fate awaits your 2013 trendy bathroom in 10-20 years or maybe even
sooner. If you don’t want to remodel again before you sell, keep the design and
décor simple and classic:
- Avoid bright-colored sinks, toilets, bathtubs and tile
- Don’t do wallpaper – paint is much easier to customize
- Avoid busy patterns on walls and flooring
- Stick to neutral tones and natural materials
Express your style with accessories
Does it feel like you are designing a bathroom for someone
else? While it’s partially true, there is still plenty of room for your
creativity. As long as you establish a good neutral base with the key elements,
such as plumbing fixtures, tile, countertops and flooring, you can freely
customize the look with accessories. Go as bright and colorful as you wish and
when there’s time to sell, simply swap the accessories for something simple and
clean. Towels, wall color, floor mats, shower curtain, cabinet door knobs and
handles are just some of the things you can easily customize without spending a
fortune.
Go green
More and more people are becoming conscious of the
footprints their lifestyles leave on the environment. There are many ways you
can conserve water in the bathroom and installing low-flow toilets and faucets
is one of them. This is definitely an additional selling point, because
low-flow plumbing fixtures appeal not only to eco-conscious home buyers, but
also to thrifty ones who would enjoy savings on their water bills.
Of course, making all these changes to your bathroom(s)
might not be possible due to the space limitations or financial reasons, but you
can still follow the general guidelines. Make sure you get all the expensive, hard-to-replace
elements right, which includes choosing neutral colors and natural materials
for tile, flooring, countertops, sinks, toilet and bathtub. Add your personal
touches with removable décor and you are good to go. When it’s time to sell
your home, just add a fresh coat of paint and stage the bathroom with white or
off-white accessories to emphasize the freshness.
These bathroom future-proofing tips were brought to you by
Maryland Re-Bath, the specialists in bathroom remodeling in Maryland.
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