How to Remodel a Primary Bathroom
The order the work happens in, and what to settle before anything is ordered. The one bathroom with room to make choices instead of compromises.
BeforeAfter
- 1
Work out what the room has to do
A primary bathroom has the square footage to separate the wet zone from the dressing zone, which is the whole difference between it and a family bath. The remodel is usually about earning that separation: a bigger shower, a double vanity, and somewhere to stand that is not in front of the toilet.
- 2
Decide what is actually changing
On this project the work touches shower enclosure and bench, double vanity and mirrors, freestanding or built-in tub, floor and wall tile — and often water closet partition and heated floor. 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. A double vanity needs 60in minimum; at 72in the two basins stop competing for the same elbow room. A walk-in shower without a door wants 42in of wet-zone depth so spray does not reach the room. Leave 30in in front of a freestanding tub on its access side, 6in behind for cleaning.
- 4
Plan the light before the finishes
Two circuits at least: a bright dressing layer over the vanities and a low warm layer for the tub and shower. Put the low layer on its own switch — the point of a primary bath is being able to use it at 6am without the full array on.
- 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 primary bathroom remodel?
- A primary bathroom has the square footage to separate the wet zone from the dressing zone, which is the whole difference between it and a family bath. The remodel is usually about earning that separation: a bigger shower, a double vanity, and somewhere to stand that is not in front of the toilet.
- What goes wrong most often?
- A vast shower with a single ceiling head, so it is cold everywhere except directly underneath. A tub installed where nobody can reach around it to clean.
- Will it work in a small primary bathroom?
- If the room will not take a tub and a real shower, drop the tub. A generous shower used daily beats a tub used twice a year, and the space it frees is what makes the rest of the room work.
- Can I see it on my own primary 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.