Bath

10 steps to transforming a small bathroom on a budget

From tooth brushing and face washing to luxuriating in a long shower, most homeowners spend a significant amount of time in the bathroom. For many, it’s a sanctuary. One survey found two in five homeowners rest and relax in their bathroom.

We love helping transform outdated bathrooms into spa-like oases. A recent project helping a young family of four revitalize their small and inefficient primary bathroom was especially rewarding and everyone was pleased with the end result.

The owners’ existing bathroom felt closed off, dark and claustrophobic. It had a small shower with an unnecessary step-up at the entrance and an oversized tub on a raised platform toward the back. Designers often like to make a tub the focal point of a bathroom. But, in this case, it looked like the tub was added as an afterthought.

The bathroom also didn’t give the owners adequate storage, and having only one sink in the room created traffic congestion in the morning when everyone was getting ready for their day. The bathroom needed a major change. We planned to give it a completely new layout, and we started the total remodel by gutting the small room.

Here’s how we approached the small bathroom remodel, which our client needed to be done on a tight budget. As Don Draper from the TV show “Mad Men” likes to say, we wanted to “Make it simple, but significant.”

1.     Planning it all out. We started by creating a new bathroom layout. The owners didn’t use the tub at all, so we decided to get rid of it and instead put a larger shower in the room. By removing the old shower from the entry way, we opened up the space and then had room for a nice linen closet by the entrance. 

We wanted to hide the toilet so it wasn’t the first item seen when entering the room. We found the perfect place—in between the linen closet and the shower. That way, we could fit a double vanity in place of the prior single vanity and toilet. There was also a space in the wall behind the toilet we could use for storage. We found the previous contractor made the wall thick enough to accommodate a storage space. We used mosaic tile and put it in the middle of the space.

Since we were working with a small space with almost no natural light, we chose bright colors for the room. Knowing the tight budget, as we picked materials, we found wholesale items and items on clearance at warehouses that worked well.

Arieli Custom Homes Bathroom Remodel Ideas

2.    Demolishing the old bathroom. We ripped out everything in the room—including the elevation differences and stepsleaving only the walls.

3.    Making the plumbing adjustments. Since we moved the toilet and shower and added another sink, we needed some substantial plumbing work in the bathroom. The house is slab on grade, so we had to cut through the slab and back porch concrete deck, onto which the previous contractor had extended the bathroom.

4.    Doing the electrical work. We like layering lighting and believe the more options, the better. We added LED panel lights on the ceiling and installed LED lighted vanity mirrors above each sink.

5.    Covering the walls. We replaced all the old insulation and sealed the exterior walls with Polyseal. In the shower area, we added a new shower pan, per code, and covered the shower walls with 1/4" cement board sealed with a waterproofing membrane. We built the bench from CMU blocks and cement and sealed it, too, with the waterproofing membrane.

6.    Installing the tile. For the shower walls and bathroom floor, we chose a 12x24 porcelain tile. For the shower floor, and as an accent tile, we found a beautiful marble mosaic to add some texture. On the vanity wall, we used a 3x9 gloss subway ceramic tile with a gentle texture. A tile like this reflects more light than a matte finish and it has the effect of adding more brightness to a space.

7.    Painting the room. We chose to use SW7009 Pearly White for walls. This creamy white paint helped add some warmth to the space. We chose other design elements, such as cabinet hardware and finish of vanity faucets in satin nickel (a warm-toned silver), for the same reason.

8.    Putting up the shower glass. The previous shower had a traditional framed design that didn’t let much light pass through. We installed a frameless modern shower glass that goes great with the look of the new bathroom. It’s also glass treated to prevent water spots. 

9.    Trim out. In this last phase of electrical work in which plugs, switches and light fixtures are installed, we decided to install a humidity sensitive exhaust fan (with a built-in night light) and LED panel lights. A good place for the fan is on the ceiling between the toilet and shower.

10.   Finishes. We liked a deep blue vanity to add some color to the mostly white and gray of the new design. The vanity has a bright quartz countertop that goes beautifully with all other elements. Adding black shower fixtures and a heated towel rack complemented the dark color of the vanity and made the design look cohesive and finished. With Houston’s high humidity, we also included a heated towel rack that helps with faster drying.

In the end, our clients were thrilled with the bathroom results and they’ve been enjoying their time in their new bright, open space.

Why showers are replacing tubs

People bathed in bathtubs until modern plumbing made it possible for the most U.S. homes to have a shower starting around the 1920s. Since then, we’ve seen trends come and go when it comes to bathtubs and showers in home bathrooms.

For many, a large soaking tub has been–and still is—the hallmark of an upscale master bathroom. But, overall, homeowners tend to use their shower more than their bath. A recent study also found online searches for walk-in showers surged by 100%. At Arieli, we’ve seen signs that showers may be replacing tubs. We’ve had clients ask us to scrap the bathtub in their bathroom and install a larger shower instead.

While a long soak in a deep soaking tub can be a relaxing end to a long day, there are many compelling reasons for showers to completely replace tubs in the modern home. A large, luxury shower can be just as satisfying and elegant.

Here are six reasons to consider including showers in your new custom home design or replacing a tub with a luxury shower during your home renovation.

1) Showers are more accessible. Getting in and out of a shower is much easier than a bath tub. So, if you have someone in your home who has a disability or who’s older and less mobile, a larger shower might be a good option. Showers can be built so they’re walk-in, with no ledges to step over. You can also add customized built-in benches, grab bars and even non-slip tiles.

showers might be on their way to replacing tubs. Arieli Custom Homes

2) Showers are quick and convenient. Nothing beats a shower when you need to wash your body quickly. You don’t have to wait for the water to warm up and then an entire tub to fill. Simply hop in, soap up and rinse off. This is a good option if, because of your lifestyle – maybe you’re an athlete or you exercise often – you find yourself bathing very frequently.

3) You can conserve water with a shower. Showers only use around two-thirds the amount of water of baths if you take a quick shower, around 10-15 gallons versus up to 70 gallons. With showers, you can control the amount of water you’re using based on the fixture you use. Some fixtures are made with water conservation in mind. You can also try taking a Navy shower, or a way of showering where you conserve water by turning off the faucet while you soap up your hair and body.

4) Cleaning a shower is easier. It’s easy for dirt and dead cells to stick to the walls of a soaking tub, building up grime that you have to spend time and muscle scrubbing off. A shower can be easier to both clean and maintain. Steam is a great tool to loosen dirt on shower walls. If you squeegee after every shower and turn on the fan in the bathroom, you’ll help keep mold at bay and regular cleaning will be simpler.

5) Your body after showering may be cleaner, too. When you shower, the dirt and dead cells you scrub off your body flow down and out the shower drain. The water pressure can also help get the dirt off of your skin. However, when you clean yourself in a soaking tub, anything that you scrub off your body sticks around with you in the tub until you’re done and you drain the tub.

6) A shower can be luxurious, too. A shower can be a relaxing spa-like experience, too, depending on the design and the various features you choose to install. Start with beautiful tiling, and then add features like custom benches, rain showers, or a steam option. More companies are also now making products to use in the shower to make it just as indulgent as a long soak in a bathtub.

After replacing our clients’ tubs with large, luxurious showers, we’re growing more convinced that showers might be on their way to replacing tubs. However, as you plan your custom home or think about how to renovate your current one, keep in mind that having at least one bathtub in your house is probably a good idea when it comes to resale value.

Showers only in a home might be okay if, when you’re ready to sell, you attract elderly buyers or a couple that doesn’t plan to have kids. But if a family with young kids, or a couple with a child on the way, is interested in buying your home, they’ll likely want a bathtub, and not having at least one could turn your potential buyer away.

Why showers are replacing tubs.