Update Your Bath Using Popular Materials
Updated bath incorporates natural stone, neutral tones. Photo courtesy of HGTV.
Looking for a weekend project that won’t cost you an arm and a leg, but will improve your home’s value and maybe make your mornings a little easier? The bathroom is a perfect place to start! Even if you aren’t thinking of selling right now, resale potential should always play a part in your decision-making process, so try to keep current trends in mind, and add your personality with easily replaced items like artwork, towels, shower curtains, and rugs.
The National Kitchen & Bath Association has compiled what it sees at the year’s dominant bathroom renovation trends. They are:
In With the Old, Out with the New - Traditional will be the most popular design style in bathrooms in 2010, as contemporary designs will be a distant second, followed by the Shaker style as an even more distant third. Beiges and bones will be the most common colors used in bathrooms, followed by whites and off-whites, and then by browns, indicating a somewhat subdued color palette this year.
Ceramic and Granite - Ceramic and porcelain tile will be the dominant flooring materials in bathrooms this year, while natural stone will continue to prove popular as well. Though increasingly popular in kitchens, hardwood flooring won’t become common in bathrooms in 2010. For vanity tops, granite will remain king, with quartz and marble also proving popular options.
Simple Fixtures - Perhaps more than ever, the most common color for fixtures will be white. Bisque and off-white will be the only other fixture colors at all common in new or remodeled bathrooms. For sinks, simple undermount models will be most popular, followed by integrated sink tops, drop-in sinks, vessel sinks, and pedestal sinks.
A Nickel for Every Finish - Faucet finishes in the bathroom are similar to those used in current kitchen designs, with brushed nickel continuing to lead the way in 2010. Polished chrome and satin nickel will also be incorporated into many bathrooms, just as they had been throughout 2009. These faucet finishes will be followed by bronze and stainless steel.
Keep in mind your home’s value when tackling DIY and remodeling projects. If your property’s market value is around $200,000 - it doesn’t make sense to spend more than a couple thousand dollars on a bathroom update - it’s money that you won’t get back on resale. But, there are some things that are worth the investment, and that buyers tend to look for when looking for a new place:
Real tile. I know that the peel and stick products on the market right now are sometimes really tempting - they are super easy to install and you can trim them with scissors - in most cases you can find a cermic tile for a comparable price and with a little extra time and effort, you will add value with the real thing.
Jetted tubs. Most people love a relaxing bath, and in some cases they might never have had one, so it’s a coveted item. If you are going to have to replace your tub anyway, spring for the jets - you will see that money come back at resale, and you will have it to enjoy in the meantime!
Framed mirrors. Nothing looks cheaper than those frameless mirrors attached to the wall with those little plastic tabby things. Framed mirrors can be found at any craft or home decor supplier for a minimal imvestment. Hobby Lobby and Target often have them on clearance, and thrift stores usually have them as well. Painting an old frame is a great way to update and reuse a found item.
Wondering what you need to do to get your home ready for sale, or which improvement projects are worth the investment? Contact me, I would love to help you out!
Tags: bathroom, DIY, home improvement, investment, popular materials, remodel, resale
This entry was posted on Sunday, January 17th, 2010 at 7:26 am and is filed under Green, Quick Hits, Uncategorized, What's going on?!. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.