Save time and money with these bathroom renovation shortcuts
Everyone thinks they know the right way to hang a roll of toilet paper. But now we have a official, scientific answer as to what is right: Inc. reports that a recent study conducted at the University of Colorado, the [right" way to over because with that method you`ll only touch the toilet paper you`re personally using. The right way to hang your toilet paper is with the end going over the top. If you hang toilet paper using the under method, then there`s a good chance your hand will brush the wall, leaving your bacteria or picking up someone elses. With the over method, you can easily avoid the wall and get the paper you need. Wochit
So your bathroom is in dire need of renovations, but you don`t have the time or patience to figure out where everything will go or to pick out every product you want in the remodeled room-and you don`t want to spend a fortune. Here are seven ideas that will save you time, frustration and probably a little bit of money.
1. Embrace [faux" materials. It`s nothing short of amazing how realistic manmade products look these days. You can find acrylic, vinyl and laminated products that will make your houseguests believe they are looking at genuine wood, marble, tile and granite. Some companies even mix natural stone into acrylic shower wall surrounds and shower bases for a more realistic look. A bonus: Faux materials often are easier to clean and require less maintenance than the genuine article.
2. Install a factory-made shower unit instead of using tile on the walls and shower pan. All-in-one shower units generally are less expensive than tiled showers, and they can be installed by a single company, so you don`t have to hire lots of contractors to put your new shower together.
3. Don`t rearrange the room. Leave your tub/shower, sink and toilet where they`ve always been. You can upgrade to newer models without having to have the plumbing rerouted.
4. Consult an interior designer. Look for a contractor that has one on staff or on call so the two can work in tandem. A lot of my clients at JEB Design/Build tell me they thought a designer would add a lot of cost to a job. But after everything turns out just the way they wanted, they realize that without the advice of a designer, they would have had to either do parts of the job over-or settle for something that doesn`t make them happy. The designer also will do your shopping for you so you don`t have to take much time off from work.
Leave your tub/shower, sink and toilet where they`ve always been. You can upgrade to newer models without having to have the plumbing rerouted. Brandpoint (Photo: Courtesy)
5. Paint the bathroom yourself. It won`t save you a ton of money, but it will shave some of the cost off of the job. It`s a do-it-yourself job that doesn`t require the expertise of a carpenter or plumber and doesn`t take much time because bathrooms are small rooms.
6. Replace just one big item. If you`re on a budget and can`t remodel the whole room at once, consider replacing just the shower/bathtub, the shower surround and the shower door. Then, you can spruce up the rest of the room with cosmetic changes by replacing towel racks and door knobs.
7. Restore, don`t replace your cabinets. If the doors are still in good working order and the wood hasn`t rotted from the constant exposure to moisture, consider staining or painting the doors and replacing the hardware. They`ll look like new. A tip: White and gray are the hot colors for bathroom cabinets this year.