Planning a bathroom renovation with our simple advice will help you get the best finish for your budget
(Image credit: Tile Giant)
A bathroom renovation can be transformative in the way to you interact with a home, but with the average price of a renovating a bathroom costing around £3,000, taking stock of where to spend and when to save is important when keeping costs low.
Considering finances right from the beginning of a bathroom design before you design layout or choose sanitaryware will definitely pay later.
1. Work With the Existing Layout
When this terrace was renovated to a budget, the homeowner ripped the old bathroom suite out and replaced with modern sanitarywear in the same places to keep costs down. (Image credit: Dave Burton)
Although it’s tempting while updating a bathroom to change the layout around, this can actually be one of the most expensive aspects of a bathroom renovation. Moving the location of the toilet – and more specifically, the soil pipe – is a labour intensive, yet usually avoidable, job.
As a starting point, mark down the soil pipe’s location on some graph paper, along with positions of the windows and door and use this as the foundation of any layout design, big or small. Trial our different arrangements and assess where is best to position other key items of sanitarywear to limit your bathroom renovation cost.
2. Keep Track of ‘Hidden’ Costs in a Bathroom Renovation
Concealed taps and rainfall shower heads will need studwork to hide the pipes behind (Image credit: Victoria + Albert Baths)
In addition to the obvious new bathroom fittings and the cost of plumbing or electrics, there are some potentially unexpected tasks associated with a bathroom renovation project which could drain a budget.
For instance, studwork may need to be built to house a new bath or wall-hung sanitarywear and the existing walls may require skimming or replastering once old tiles have been removed. It pays to consider these jobs from the outset.
3. Shop Savvy for the Best Deals
Don’t be afraid to ask for a discount in store as even the big high street DIY stores like B&Q and Homebase can be open to negotiation on prices. Also, dedicating some time to researching the best possible deals online can also save precious pennies, as can watching out for seasonal sales such as Black Friday and Boxing Day where stocks are priced lowest.
A modern bathroom needs to be the perfect blend between functionality and relaxation so planning lighting well in advance will be worth its weight in gold when you come to using the space day after day.
Heating is equally as important and a towel warmer is a cost-effective solution to creating a comfortable environment, but consider long-term running costs vs initial savings when thinking about electric underfloor heating mats.
5. Plan Storage in Advance for a Luxurious Finish
When planning their 85K barn extension, the homeowners took advantage of flexible delivery times to keep costs to a minimum. Here, off-the-shelf units and sanitarywear have been finished to look like a bespoke design. (Image credit: Jeremy Phillips)
Adequate bathroom storage in a renovation is a must and definitely a worthwhile investment, but built-in bespoke units aren’t the only way to achieve a mess-free sanctuary. Incorporating alcoves into a design with shelving is a good idea, as are free-standing units which can create a sense of space and be picked up at a bargain.
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Amy is an interiors and renovation journalist. She is the former Assistant Editor of Homebuilding & Renovating, where she worked between 2018 and 2023. She has also been an editor for Independent Advisor, where she looked after homes content, including topics such as solar panels.
She has an interest in sustainable building methods and always has her eye on the latest design ideas. Amy has also interviewed countless self builders, renovators and extenders about their experiences.
She has renovated a mid-century home, together with her partner, on a DIY basis, undertaking tasks from fitting a kitchen to laying flooring. She is currently embarking on an energy-efficient overhaul of a 1800s cottage in Somerset.
