Planning a Bathroom Renovation: What I Learned and What I’d Do Differently

It all started with a tap that wouldn’t stop dripping and a tile with a tiny hairline crack.

What should have been two small fixes spiralled into a full-blown bathroom renovation. One week I was looking at soap dishes and the next I was deciding on tile choices, layout design and searching for the perfect shower tray.

If you’re contemplating a bathroom makeover (no matter how big or small), read on to see what I learned, what I wish I knew and what I would definitely do differently.

Don’t Rush the Planning Phase

I’ll be honest — I was guilty of this one. I wanted that beautiful new bathroom like yesterday. But if you’re going to make the effort and investment, you might as well do it right, right?

Once you have that old bathroom ripped out, those plumbers won’t wait while you figure out how to deal with that lovely piece of ‘macaroni beige’ bath lurking underneath those tiles.

I didn’t appreciate the many decisions I had to make. Wall finishes, grout colour, taps, lighting, shelves, toilets, even the movement in the toilet roll holder — the list goes on. Fortunately, my beautiful sister-in-law is an interior stylist and helped me bring my ideas together.

I spent time collecting your thoughts and ideas. Pinterest and those bathroom showrooms are great and all, but there was nothing like having plumbers, chippies and tilers walk into that space and give me the real deal lowdown.

Function First, Always

It’s easy to get caught up in aesthetics. That matte-black tap was beautiful. Reality check: it was a designer’s dream, but when I saw every watermark and finger blemish, I soon realised it was a real estate agent’s nightmare.

More slip-ups included the design and an almost water-sized catching basin. Seriously, before you get distracted by shiny things, take a good minute to think about how everything works together.

The basic, simple equation is that if an accidental plumber fit-out leads to tears, I’m guessing it was probably because someone didn’t pay enough attention to form and function. This was evident with my shower innovations.

My first idea was to have an enclosure with a frame, and it was going to be bigger and better. Unfortunately, many builders in my neighbourhood were picking up the hustle and bustle of everyday work for clients who would go classic over complex any day. You don’t necessarily need it all.

Wet Rooms Are a Game Changer

Halfway through my bathroom renovation project, I stumbled on the concept of a wet room. A shower area that melds seamlessly into the rest of the space and doesn’t require a door? Sounds perfect — and it is. The secret ingredient is the complete wet room shower tray from Wetrooms Design. They are so slim, install quickly and most importantly, are leak proof.

Where a traditional shower tray is elevated above the general floor level of the room, a wet room tray is built into the floor, creating that smooth look. So that means no more awkward edges or aesthetic interruptions. The mood was streamlined, pared back and spacious. If you’re not ready to do a full bathroom reno yet and only want to retile your shower, focus on this step. It will open up your entire room.

Think About Future You

You’re not just building for today, but for 5 to 10 years down the road. You have to ask yourself some questions. Will it look outdated? Will it help you age? Will it be a beneficial selling point? I decided to throw in heated floors, which seemed extravagant but ended up high on my new-favourite features list once they kicked on on a cold morning. I also put in a couple of grab bars that get overlooked because they are attractive.

What I’d Do Differently Next Time

Here’s my short list of “do-overs” if I had to start again:

• Hire a designer, even just for a consultation.
• Spend more on plumbing infrastructure and less on trendy finishes.
• Go all-in on wetroom design from the start.
• Choose fixtures based on durability, not just style.
• Add more closed storage.

However, I would still 100% recommend using wet room shower trays from Wetrooms Design again. They were easy for the installer to work with, sloped perfectly for drainage and gave the bathroom a clean, spacious look that still wows visitors.

Renovating a bathroom isn’t just a project, it’s a journey. It tests your patience, decision-making skills and sometimes even your sanity. But when you walk into a space that feels calm, clean, and completely you, it’s all worth it.

Plan carefully; prioritise function. And if you want a modern, hotel-style finish that doesn’t sacrifice practicality, consider going the wetroom route, starting with the right shower tray. After all, a bathroom isn’t just where you get clean. It’s where you start and end your day. So, make its design and construction count.

Like this post? See what happened when we renovated our kitchen.