With every room design, for me, it starts with a plan, and I know it kind of sounds cliche, but it SO helps! Getting into the fine details like measuring and calculating isn’t the easiest, but it saves time in the long run for sure.
My favorite part of planning any remodel though, is the dreaming. We’ve been in our home for about a year and a half now, and are finally getting around to our master bathroom remodel.
I say finally because since we’ve moved in, we haven’t had a useable shower! When we moved the laundry from what is now our pantry to our garage, we tapped into the water lines from our bathroom, and that meant a partial demo of the shower. We didn’t plan to wait quite so long to finish the remodel, but you know how life goes… and house projects. Other things popped up, and for us, our master bathroom kept getting pushed to the back burner.
Right before Christmas we spent what seemed like every extra hour and minute on our master bathroom remodel – laying tile for days, grouting (ugh!) and adding in extra little changes – and you guys, I can’t even tell you what having two working bathrooms for a family of six feels like!!! We’ve been a one bathroom family for a loooong time.
Before we made even one purchase or one change for our master bathroom remodel though, I spent quite some time on the planning. For any home project and for life in general, I’m a BIG FAN of vision boards! To me, planning out a remodel is best done when you have something to look at and I used to call them inspiration boards. Really, it’s like a vision board of what’s to come…. though for me, it’s typically digital.
To start with, I’ll browse Pinterest and pin away! When planning our master bathroom remodel, I would pin photos of every bathroom that caught my eye. Eventually, with a board FULL of gorgeous bathrooms, I could see the theme that I was drawn to, the color scheme I liked, and details that could be worked into our own space.
From there it came to our actual plans. Once I knew I was working with Lowe’s again for this project – which flows so well since we’re in a Lowe’s store pretty much on a weekly basis! – I took to their website to see which items fit into the design that was beginning to take place in my head. I knew the colors I was drawn to, and we’d already measured the size vanity we needed… so this was all about picking the right items.
I was pleasantly surprised by the variety AND the amount of items that were available in-store as well – especially because this meant I could visit in person to make some final decisions. Some of YOU even helped me out on FB when I did a live in-store video all about our tile choices!!
Are you ready to see the BEFORE photos of our master bathroom remodel?
You guys, there was pink, pink and MORE pink – and I couldn’t wait to get my white paintbrush and brightened color pallette all over this space.
How to Plan For Your Own Master Bathroom Remodel:
- Start with a vision board. Whether you’re cutting photos from magazines and ads or using a digital version like Pinterest or just saving images from Instagram or other online sources… SAVE everything that speaks to you.
- Define your priorities. A remodel can get overwhelming quickly, but rank every choice by priorities. Are you wanting to make your space family-friendly or user-friendly? Do you really need more storage? Are you looking to mainly update colors? What DIY muscles are you prepared to flex? How much time do you want to spend on this makeover? Sometimes a makeover can be as simple as paint (even on tile and on cabinets), and sometimes you’re ready to truly go for it and fully demo a space first… this is something you should decide BEFORE you even begin, or you can find yourself in too deep, and really quickly.
- Measure, measure and then measure again. From the size vanity you need/want, to the amount of tile or paint you’ll need. From the door size to the shower opening, etc. For every part of the design that you’ll be updating and/or replacing, make sure you take detailed measurements. It’s much quicker to measure a couple of times and write those measurements down, than it is to make a purchase or order only to find it won’t fit or work in your space.
- Lay it out first. Once you have a good idea of what you want to happen in the space, find photos online or pictures of the items you want to use and lay them out so you can see how they all work together. Before the vision board of our master bathroom remodel that I shared above was completed, I actually had a couple of different faucets and shower heads, and two different tiles that we were choosing between. We even went as far as picking up a couple of the different tiles to look at IN our bathroom before making a final selection, as well as made different choices based on how all of the items looked together “on paper.”
I will be posting videos and updates of the process on our Instagram stories, and I’m so grateful for the the real MVP Chris Blue.
Please leave us any questions you have below!
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Catherine says
Tabitha,
This is a fabulous topic to cover. I had a bathroom remodel project go south about a year ago, and I’m still traumatized by it — we have some other projects we’d like to do, but I’m not ready to go through that again!
Your recommendations are important whether it’s a DIY or someone else is doing the work. It’s critical to have a good plan and knowledge of all the details going in.
Catherine
Jordan | Read. Eat. Repeat. says
I love before and afters so I can’t wait to see how this remodel turns out! If I could change one thing about our master bath it would be to knock a hole in the wall for a window because it’s so dark in there. Since that’s not really an option (at least according to my husband;) I would love to paint our cabinets a lighter color to brighten things up a bit. Thanks for this post!
Patricia @ Grab a Plate says
Look forward to seeing the final! The tile & toilet in the post are amazing!
Leigh Suznovich says
My husband and I are dying to redo our master bath and are currently saving up for it. This is so helpful for getting started!
Dawn @ Our Food Fix says
Remodeling is so exciting and stressful at the same time. However, it really pays to be prepared. Thanks for the tips!
Jilli Smith says
Hiii…Tabitha Blue
Thanks for sharing such a nice post on master bathroom remodeling. We certainly learned a lot from your post.
Keep sharing 🙂
Bathroom Renovations West Auckland says
These are great ideas. I know I need to do both our Master Bath Remodeling at some point too.I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article.
Sarah says
what shade of white did you use for your bathroom?
Tabitha Blue says
We carried into our bathroom what we’ve used in most of our house… Falling Snow from Behr. We love this white!!
Mindy Jollie says
I appreciate what you said about defining your priorities during a bathroom renovation. My husband and I want to redo our master bathroom, but we have a small budget. We’ll probably end up doing some of the work ourselves, and have a professional reglaze our tub instead of replacing it.
Keith says
I really loved this article! It gave me some new insights I never really thought about before.
Marc Mandell says
Thanks for sharing! Love what you did to the bathroom!
Tabitha Blue says
Thank you!
Cassie Beck says
Hi, Wonderful site. Plenty of useful info here. Got real useful and I am very impressed by your tips. I will use this. Hope you could bring out some more helpful tips 🙂
Kevin Melton says
I really like the idea of using a vision board in designing a bathroom. thank you for the inspiration!
Jerry Austin says
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Cherry, Honolulu says
We always suggest our clients to look at magazines and internet pictures and compile them for ideas when planning on bathroom remodeling.
Bathroom Renovation Kapolei says
Great that you emphasized the measurements. Even us, general contractors, re-measure just to be sure. Especially when it comes to the vanity, I had situations where the manufacturer’s measurements were wrong. Always measure if you are DIY, or ask your contractor
Tile Installation says
That’s a great tip! Impressive site and post are you made. Your bathroom really looks good.
Love all of your ideas for the future!
Bathtub Refinishing says
A bathroom looks good. Thanks for sharing this I personally like your work. I’m also a professional plumber and provided my services as remodeling/repairing/refinishing of things.
Catie Benett says
I accidentally visited this site while looking for something else!, But Wow!, Good thing I came into this site.
Catie Benett says
Well, this is an awesome post and written very well. Your point of view is very good.
bitakashane says
Thank you so much for the feature!
timmi says
Thanks for sharing such excellent information with us.
Sanjay Chilly says
Planning for a master bathroom remodel is crucial for ensuring a smooth and successful renovation process. From setting a realistic budget to envisioning your desired layout and style, this guide offers valuable insights into every step of the planning journey. By carefully considering factors such as functionality, aesthetics, and practicality, you can create a space that not only meets your needs but also reflects your personal taste and style. Whether you’re aiming for a luxurious spa-like retreat or a sleek modern design, thorough planning is the key to achieving your dream master bathroom.
Speed Infra says
Planning your master bathroom remodel is crucial for a successful and satisfying outcome. Taking the time to carefully consider your needs, preferences, and budget ensures that every aspect of the project is thoughtfully executed. From selecting the right fixtures and materials to optimizing space and functionality, thorough planning sets the foundation for a transformative renovation experience. Remember, attention to detail in the planning phase leads to a beautiful and functional master bathroom you’ll love for years to come!
San Diego Tile Installation Co. says
This blog post offers a comprehensive guide to planning a master bathroom remodel, emphasizing the importance of starting with a clear vision and detailed planning. From creating vision boards to prioritizing needs and measuring meticulously, it provides practical tips to help homeowners navigate the complexities of a renovation project.