Remodeling a bathroom can freshen the space, increase the resale value of your home, and make it a place where you want to spend time rather than just get in and out. Before you tackle a bathroom remodel, however, there are a few things you should know. You’ll want to be prepared so you can plan ahead. Whether you’re looking for a coastal theme to go with the beachy vibe of South Tampa, or something elegant and minimal, preparation is key.

Expect it to take a month

Alair Homes South Tampa takes pride in quality workmanship and delivering a finished product that exceeds your expectations and enhances the quality of your life. This can’t be done in a day. On the plus side, you’ll get a bathroom that will last the next 20-30 years, but in the short term, it is an inconvenience. Plan ahead by hiring a portable toilet and/or shower, using your nearby gym’s showers (or joining one for the showers), or renting another place to stay until the job is done.

Minimal does not equal cheap

Many people ask for a minimal bathroom design. Most ask because they like the sleek, clean, simple lines of a minimalist design. Some ask for that reason, but also because they think those sleek and clean lines are inexpensive to achieve. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

Simple lines can require expensive mechanisms or hand-cut joinery to give you no cabinet handles. A stone mason may have to hand cut an oversized slab for the countertop, or porcelain sheets laid on the floor. Two tilers may be needed to lay the enormous tiles to avoid grout lines.

Photo by Alair Homes South TampaSearch bathroom design ideas

Leave the tile to the experts

Sometimes, it’s tempting to try to save money on a remodel, and tile seems like the place to do it. After all, how hard can it be to lay tile? It’s actually more difficult than you’d expect. And once you’ve seen a crooked tile or uneven grouting, you’ll never unsee it. It will ruin your love of your new bathroom.

A tiler will plan the space, tile by tile, before they lay the first piece. They’ll ensure that the placement of cuts and grout lines are perfect, and disguise uneven walls or unsightly edges to a degree. Tilers work faster than you could, while providing quality work. Epoxy grout will also be used to give you a superior, longer-lasting finish than the cement-based grout you would use yourself.

Go big or go home

If your budget is tight or you just don’t have a lot of ideas, consider purchasing one large, expensive item to provide a focal point for the room. Think things like large lighting fixtures, oversized handles, or repetition throughout the space. By drawing attention to a particular aspect of the bathroom, it can look like you spent a fortune even though you didn’t.