Why Remodel Your Bathroom?

10 Good Reasons to Remodel

Is it worth it to remodel a bathroom? We think so. Remodeling isn’t just about making repairs or updating the design so your home will sell better. Investing in the bathroom is investing in yourself literally and figuratively. There are many reasons why remodeling your bathroom is beneficial. Here are several.

1. Add a Bathroom

You can’t go wrong when you add a bathroom. Whether you install a powder bath in your main living area or create an en suite in an upstairs bedroom, it adds value now and into the future. Your family, guests, and potential buyers can definitely get behind additional bathrooms.

2. Expand a Bathroom

Small bathrooms have a charm all their own [link to small bathrooms post]. But that charm wears off when you find yourself doing battle for some functionality or trying to share space with your significant other. Enlarging a powder bath to a full or ¾ bath adds value to your home and a more workable solution for you now. 

3. Increase Accessibility

If you or a member of your family has special needs, bumping up the accessibility can be as simple as adding a few features like grip bars or lowering countertops. Or it can be a more involved project that transforms the entire bathroom into an oasis that anyone can use easily. Design features like zero-entry showers allow for full accessibility and yet, are a design that is on-trend, even in demand. 

4. Update the Design

If your bathroom is still sporting pink tile, gold fixtures, and other outdated design, you might need a little update. Retro design like pink tile may be on-trend, right now, but you’ll get more mileage (and potential buyer appreciation) if your design leans toward more neutral rather than eclectic.  Stick to neutral colors and classic materials and your bathroom will look great and maintain value for decades.

5. Update Functionality

If you and your significant other have been trying to share a sink or make do with a bathtub/shower combo it may be time for a functionality update. Take stock of your needs and design a bathroom around that. Go for the double vanity. Create a spa-like bathtub experience or skip it altogether and put in a spa shower.

6. Repair Plumbing

Have you ever watched the plumber cut holes in the wall to repair plumbing and wonder if while you’re at it you should just replace the whole vanity? Plumbing problems are often the catalyst for further projects. Or if you’re doing a cosmetic remodel, take the opportunity to invest in the little-seen but absolutely necessary inner workings of the bathroom too.

7. Save Water

If you have an older bathroom, consider adding some water saving features to your remodel. Most of your household’s water usage comes from the bathroom. Look for the WaterSense label to decrease your water consumption on faucets, showers, toilets, etc. 

8. Become More Energy Efficient

Another great behind-the-scenes update in the bathroom remodel is for its electrical components. Any investment in your electrical will pay you back multiple times over and increase the sustainability and value of your home.

9. Boost Resale Value

Is it worth it to remodel your bathroom? Smart improvements to your bathroom will give a boost to the value of your home. If you remodel the bathroom with potential buyers in mind, you’ll broaden your design appeal and the longevity of your bathroom and entire home. 

10. Add Tech

Add a little luxury to your bathroom with some technology upgrades. We’re talking water heaters right at the faucet, toilets you can program, towel warmers, and more. Technology in the bathroom adds value and convenience that make everyday tasks easy and even enjoyable. It can also be healthy for you since it can decrease touchpoints and increase cleanliness. 

Why remodel your bathroom? We hope you found a few reasons to take the plunge. It’s an investment that gives back now and into the future. The next step is deciding how to begin. Learn more about the next steps for your bathroom remodel.

Next Steps for a Remodel

Bath or Shower?

A Discussion on Health, Hygiene, Conservation, and Property Value

In the battle between bath vs shower there are no clear winners. Each has its positives and negatives. What you decide to do will be based on your priorities. Here are four perspectives on the bath vs shower debate to help you decide the best course of action.

The Water Conservation Perspective

If you are concerned about conserving water, your primary question is “does a shower or bath use more water?”. A standard showerhead uses about 2.5 gallons of water per minute. So a 10 minute shower uses 25 gallons of water. Standard bathtubs can use up to 70 gallons of water per bath. Showers nearly always use less water than baths. 

If you enjoy an occasional soak, there are things you can do to reduce your water usage. Instead of filling the tub all the way up, just fill it halfway. You can also save water by plugging it right away instead of waiting for the water to warm up then adjusting water temperature as you fill the tub. 

Showers not only use less water than baths, but you can easily decrease water consumption even further. Consider taking a shorter shower. You can also upgrade your showerhead to a WaterSense labeled product. The EPA WaterSense label certifies that a showerhead doesn’t use more than 2 gallons of water per minute with the same experience of a 2.5 gallon or greater showerhead. 

The Hygiene Perspective

If cleanliness is your priority, you’re probably asking yourself, “what is more hygienic, a bath or shower?”.  You probably already guessed that the shower is more hygienic. Fresh water continuously comes out of the faucet and contaminated water washes down the drain. Baths are still effective at cleaning your body but the shower does it a bit better. 

Showers are generally better for your skin too. A long soaking bath tends to remove needed skin oils and can actually leave your skin dryer after your bath than a shower does. 

The Health Perspective

Water and water therapies have been used for health for millennia. So in the bath vs shower health debate, there are really no losers. 

Showers, especially cold showers, reduce tension and improve circulation. Warm showers relieve sore muscles and get rid of headaches. A 2016 study found that a hot-to-cold shower (start with hot and decrease temperature over the course of the shower) resulted in adults needing fewer sick days in a year. It’s also possible that this type of shower can help with depression: stimulating your nervous system and increasing endorphins. 

Different types of baths have been used over hundreds of years to treat eczema, psoriasis, sore muscles, colds and flu, inflammation, and are often prescribed for hemorrhoids and after giving birth. A 2019 study showed that people who took daily immersion baths in warm water had less fatigue, stress, and depression. Additionally, baths are home remedies for a good night of sleep and better circulation and blood pressure. 

The Property Value Perspective

If you’re considering a bathroom remodel you may wonder about the influence a bath vs shower has on your property value. Any bathroom remodel produces a good return on investment but what you include or exclude in that bathroom can have an impact on property value. 

There is a huge trend toward luxury showers over bathtubs with many opting to get rid of the tub entirely. Technically, this downgrades the bathroom from a full bath to a three-quarter bath but that doesn’t necessarily spell a decrease in value. Be sure that at least one bath in your home has a tub and you shouldn’t see a decrease in value. If you put that full bath on the main level, it’s even more enticing. According to a 2013 National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) study, 81% of home buyers want a full bath on the main level.

If you are getting rid of a bathtub but amping up the shower with luxury features (like a spa shower or walk-in shower design), you might even see an increase in value. If you’re remodeling the master bathroom, the NAHB study found that 51% of home buyers prefer a bathtub in the master bath.

Bath or shower is purely about what’s most important to you. Find your best bathing experience right here at DecorPlanet.

Luxury Bathrooms

Top Shower Faucet Brands

If you love the luxury of the spa at home but aren’t sure you have much time for relaxation, think again. These top shower brands offer deluxe shower experiences like body sprays, shower systems, and design that gives you the pampering you deserve. Take a closer look at what these distinctive brands have to offer. 

Fresca

Because our days begin and end in the bathroom, it is important that it is a peaceful and private sanctuary. They pair high quality, durable materials, and cutting edge design to achieve excellence for the most important room of the house. Check out their shower massage panels for the ultimate in shower luxury.

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Graff

Premium-quality bathroom fixtures that satisfy the most refined tastes. Each piece reaches a harmonious balance between form and function. Be sure to take a look at their distinctive body sprays, hand showers, and shower panels.

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Vigo

Vigo aspires to increase value with products that fit seamlessly into your life. They reflect your style while simultaneously improving each day. Case in point, their all-in-one shower panels combine a spa experience with everyday functionality.

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Delta

Proposing better ways to experience water, Delta is dedicated to design that incorporates smart thinking and anticipates needs. Enhance your shower experience with body spray that soothes, comforts, and revitalizes all while using less water than a standard body jet.

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Rohl

Crafted in the small villages of Western Europe, North America, and New Zealand, ROHL reflects the charm and craftsmanship of the places that inspired them. Fine quality and authentic production produce a product with an experience all its own. We offer a wide selection of showerheads and shower fixtures. Don’t miss the complete shower systems that offer luxurious design and all the elements you need for a better shower.

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Phylrich

For over 50 years, Phylrich had been creating luxurious bathrooms in elegant homes and hotels all over the world. Made in the USA, you can count on Phylrich continuing to influence trends in decorative plumbing into the future. Experience the assortment of showerheads, hand showers, and body sprays that will make your shower the best part of your day.

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Grohe

Grohe sees designs as more than simple aesthetics. It is also a quality feature that is the perfect synthesis of form and function. Their motto and their products exude “smart looks, smart technology, and smart price”.  Their collection of showerheads offers you comfort born of technology. Take a look.

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Aquabrass

Bathroom and kitchen solutions that offer discerning buyers exceptional quality. Aquabrass’s expertise and craftsmanship are second to none. But the flair they add to functionality is what truly sets them apart. Peruse shower arms, showerheads, and body sprays.

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Brizo

High-fashion Brizio purports that fashion isn’t just about what you wear, but your whole lifestyle. Explore hand showers, faucets, and showerheads that prove that form and function can be one in the same.

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Santec

Santec blends equals parts art and technology to deliver innovative bath products that meet the highest quality, design, and functionality standards. They invite you to explore the crossroads between the bathroom and your imagination. Body sprays, hand showers, and showerheads are just the beginning. 

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California Faucets

Nurturing a culture of “yes”, California Faucets gives you the go ahead to embrace your unique sensibilities. Enjoy hand-finishes, custom assembly, and artisan pride in every product, including adjustable body sprays and showerheads.

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Moen

Customer needs and insights drive the development of delightful, innovative Moen products that help to make every day tasks just a little bit easier and more enjoyable. Deluxe shower fixtures, body sprays and hand showers make every shower an experience. 

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Explore more top brands at DecorPlanet for the bathroom and kitchen.

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