Remodeling a bathroom isn’t like getting new
curtains installed or sticking on a new backsplash in your kitchen. Making
changes to a bathroom is a major undertaking, and anytime you’ve got plumbing
involved, engaging the assistance of a professional is a good idea. By letting
the pros worry about running water pipes and installing floor tile, you can
focus on all the amazing new things you’re going to have in your newly
renovated bathroom.
Nowadays, a home bathroom, especially one in
the primary suite, is more than just a water closet and a shower/tub combo. A
new bathroom can essentially bring the full spa experience right to your own
home, with options that once required going to a fancy hotel or taking on an
expensive gym membership.
Here’s a few things to think about adding to
your new home spa:
Add a Steam Room to your Shower Stall (Or More)
Not all of us have room for a full
freestanding bathtub in our home spa, but we probably all have a shower stall
that can stand some upgrading. One of the easiest ways to add some extra luxury
to your shower experience is by adding a steam shower.
Steam showers not only envelop you in a cloud
of hot, relaxing vapor, they use less water overall compared to the showerhead
(or multiple showerheads) you may be using to rinse yourself off.
While you’re making shower changes, get rid of
that old hanging shower caddy and build some recessed shelves into the shower
walls, add a tiled bench so you can lounge a bit longer, and even consider some
mood lighting or aromatherapy to complete your shower’s spa-ificiation.
Work In Some Warmth (In
Unexpected Places)
You’ve got the water heater tuned to your
perfect temperature, and your steam shower has you covered in a calming,
decadent mist … but when you get out of that watery haven, you probably don’t
want to feel that temperature drop by dozens of degrees the second you emerge.
Adding heated floors and a heated towel rack
are some small thoughtful touches that can take your bathroom from nice to
luxurious, even if your winters aren’t terribly harsh. Heated floors take more
work to install, so this is best if you’re doing a full down-to-the-studs
refurb, but adding an electrically-heated towel rack is an easy thing to add to
nearly any bathroom.
(There are even heated towel racks that
connect to your smart home hub, so you can tell it to start heating when you
step into the shower. Pretty cool!)
Trick Out Your Tub
If you’re lucky enough to have space for some
tub enhancements, now’s the time to get a tub that truly fits you - whether
it’s extra length or depth for taller bathers, a jetted tub for a relaxing
massage during your soak, or in-tub heaters to keep the temperature consistent
instead of cooling slowly while you relax. And of course, there are truly
decadent add-ons like chromatherapy lighting and smart-device integration to
get your bath just to your personal liking.
Before you go too crazy adding the equivalent
of an in-room swimming pool, remember that if your hot water heater has fewer
gallons than the capacity of the tub, you might need to add a second one to
your utility room - and that equals not just higher renovation costs, but
higher long term energy bills as well.
Tech Toys to Build Out Your
Bathroom
While enhancing the relaxation factor of your
bathroom is probably your primary focus, remember that you can add a little
extra function to your home spa as well. Bolting on a “smart” toilet seat with
heated water and a warming seat, or a smart faucet with hands-free capability
are nice little touches to bring in quickly. Adding some speakers to the wall,
especially ones with bluetooth connections, are also a lot better than bringing
your phone into the shower with you.
You can also even go as far as to add a TV
screen onto the wall for in-tub binge watching or you can program a smart
screen to show you things like weather or news headlines. If you want to really
go the extra mile, you can hide a screen behind your mirror, showing up through
the glass only when you want it to.
If learning more about any of these options
has inspired you to make changes to your bathroom, the team at Final Touch Construction and Remodeling
should be your first call when it comes to figuring out your next steps.
Whether it’s a bathroom update, finally finishing that unfinished basement or
making even basic changes to your kitchen, Final Touch has 25 years of
experience working with hundreds of homes and businesses in the Cleveland area.
