How to Remodel a Bathroom
The order the work happens in, and what to settle before anything is ordered. Small enough that every surface is visible at once, which is why finishes carry it.
BeforeAfter
- 1
Work out what the room has to do
A bathroom is the one room where you can see every surface without turning your head, so the finishes have nowhere to hide. Most bathroom remodels keep the fixtures roughly where they are and change tile, vanity, lighting and glass — which is enough to make the room unrecognisable.
- 2
Decide what is actually changing
On this project the work touches wall and floor tile, vanity and top, mirror and lighting, shower enclosure or glass — and often tapware and fittings and toilet. Settling that list first is what stops a remodel growing sideways once it has started.
- 3
Hold the dimensions
Whatever the finishes, these do not move. Leave 30in of clear width centred on the toilet, and 21in of clear floor in front of it. A shower needs 36×36in of interior floor to be comfortable; 30×30in is the practical floor. Hang the mirror so its centre sits at 62–65in — eye height for most adults.
- 4
Plan the light before the finishes
Light the face, not the ceiling. Sconces either side of the mirror at 60–66in throw even light with no under-eye shadow; a single downlight above the mirror does the opposite. Add a separate damp-rated fixture in the shower.
- 5
Check it against the room you have
Photograph the space and render it before anything is ordered. A Standard run costs 4 credits and a new account starts with 4, so the whole thing can be seen before a single decision is paid for.
Questions
- What should I decide first in a bathroom remodel?
- A bathroom is the one room where you can see every surface without turning your head, so the finishes have nowhere to hide. Most bathroom remodels keep the fixtures roughly where they are and change tile, vanity, lighting and glass — which is enough to make the room unrecognisable.
- What goes wrong most often?
- A ceiling light behind the person at the mirror, lighting the back of their head. Large-format floor tile fought into a small room, leaving slivers at every wall.
- Will it work in a small bathroom?
- Under 40 sq ft, a wall-hung vanity and a clear glass screen instead of a framed enclosure buy back more perceived space than any tile choice. Seeing the floor run under the vanity is most of the effect.
- Can I see it on my own bathroom before starting?
- Yes — photograph the space and run it through the Studio. It is generated imagery, so compare the render against your photo rather than treating it as a plan.