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Maybe you have just purchased that diamond in the rough, the house with the good bones and beautiful architecture, but the bathroom tile resembles Pepto bismal and your kitchen has army green linoleum that matches the ancient appliances. Or perhaps, you have lived in your home for years and now that abundance of oak in your kitchen has gotten old or the once glorious jet tub ceased to sooth your aching muscles long ago or you plan to sell your house soon, it is probably time to make some changes to your home. There are many things to consider when you approach either of these type of renovations. Perhaps, after careful consideration you may decide you want to renovate both of these spaces.
The first house that I owned in Texas was functional, but not at all aesthetically pleasing. Every room in that house needed some sort of update either because it was cosmetically challenged or outdated. However, my budget was small and I had to think carefully about what projects to tackle first. I considered many things as I was making decisions about what projects to undertake and in what order. After much thought, the master bathroom was the first room that I renovated. This decision was based on a couple factors, one was that it was hideously ugly and the other was the growing mold in the shower. Also, it felt less daunting to approach this room because it was smaller and I had another bathroom that I could use while the master bathroom was being worked on. This in the end became a huge blessing because the tub and shower ended up having to be replaced (thank you, black mold!) which caused the project to last almost 5 months. This would have been a long time to be without a functioning bathroom! In the end I was happy with the changes to flooring, cabinets and the new bath tub. I felt my house functioned better and of course I breathed easier knowing that my air wasn’t full of mold. This was the best decision for me, but it may not be for you. Maybe, you are a gourmet cook and absolutely need a professional kitchen as soon as possible, or your kitchen is an eyesore and you know a new one would help you sell your property. If you are selling your home or just moving in to a fixer upper, you may decide to make both of these renovations at the same time.
Clearly, there is a lot to think about when you are considering what changes to make to your bathroom and kitchen. Here are some helpful tips for renovating both of these important spaces:
There are many important things to keep in mind when you decide to renovate your bathroom. The first and perhaps most significant of the tips to follow is to make sure that you know what your needs are and make your renovations follow these goals. After you have decided what your needs are whether you need more space, more storage, repairs need to be made or you desire to modernize your space you will need to come up with a plan and make sure that you stick to it. After you have made a concrete plan as to your needs the next thing to consider is which renovations will give you the highest return on your investment. Some of the most economically advantageous renovations you can make are replacing a vanity, flooring, or the tub/ shower. These changes make both a high visual impact and functional impact on your bathroom. In recent years’ bathroom renovation trends have moved away from adding whirlpool tubs and instead maximizing space with walk in showers. In addition to these changes some
easy and cheap renovations that you can make are changing the lighting fixtures, shower and sink hardware, and paint. It is amazing what a new high end lighting fixture can do to the overall appeal of a room. No matter what renovations choices you make, it is important to always consider your family’s health and functional needs. If you have structural or mold issues in your bathroom that is where your money should go before you consider that flashy new vanity!
Like bathroom renovations there are many important things to consider when you are renovating your kitchen. One imperative thing to address is whether you are going to change the floor plan of the space. Adding square footage, new cabinets, an island or configuring the kitchen in a different way can make a huge impact on your kitchen’s functionality and style, but can be costly. Other renovations that can have a big impact, but cost less would be things like changing the paint color, adding new light fixtures and even installing new appliances. However, you might wonder which of these renovations are right for you and which ones will have the most return on your investment. Upgrading your kitchen will give you the most bang for your buck! This would include changing the flooring, refinishing cabinets,
installing new lighting and upgrading your appliances. Any changes to plumbing or structural changes will give you less of a return. That doesn’t mean you can’t make these changes and if they will make your life easier by all means you should make them. However, the number one tip to follow if you are going to make significant structural changes is to contract a reliable construction professional. Gutting your entire kitchen or installing plumbing are not jobs for amateurs and can cost you excess money and
time!
Hopefully, this sheds some light on the benefits and costs of renovating the two most popular and used spaces in your home. Remember to keep in mind what the purpose of your renovations are and what you hope to achieve by improving your spaces. If you are looking to make more money when you sell your house you should make more conservative changes than if you plan to live in your home for the next 10 years. If you are moving for instance, save the money you might put into those fancy fixtures for
your new house and only focus your pre-sale renovations on necessary items that might come up in a home inspection. If you are just moving into a fixer upper house that you want to make your own, go all out, make changes that will make this house truly your home! Also, always consult a professional and interview several contractors before you hire one. You cannot put a price on your own happiness or your home’s comfort and functionality!
