One of the biggest aspects of home renovation is the ‘samples.’ This is most commonly used when painting rooms in your house as you take home the swatch to see how the colors will match your current décor.
“Samples” are also prevalent in bathroom renovations via the showroom. The showroom is the base example of what your current, perhaps bland, bathroom has the potential to be. That’s one of the reasons you want the showroom to be luxurious as well – to show you options. An underwhelming showroom is a telltale sign of how the contractor’s work will be. Here’s what you should look for in choosing the best bathroom showroom:
Bathroom Vanity
The feature may seem somewhat inconsequential, but the vanity is really what holds the bathroom together. You should be able to see all your vanity options available when you visit a showroom.
For starters, do you want one sink or two? Do you want the sink to be embedded in the countertop or the modern bowl types that have gained popularity lately? These bowls can be rustic, clear, or even different shapes like rectangles.
A great showroom will also give you an example of the types of materials that are available for your vanity. Marble seems like the go-to, but in some homes is almost too fancy. Granite is durable and peaceful.
Vanities don’t always have to be the traditional “drawers underneath” style either. No doubt this style offers great storage, but open bottom vanities are gaining in popularity because they make a small bathroom look more open. That’s what a great showroom will do – show you your options.
Functionality of Your Bathroom
Don’t always expect a bathroom showroom to have working plumbing, but top-notch bathroom showrooms will have some functionality though. How does this showerhead detach from its holster? What do these kinds of lights look like turned on? Even something as simple as opening and closing drawers lets you visualize them being installed in your home.
Customizable Options for Your Bathroom
One thing to remember is that the showroom is just an example of the features that are available. It can be renovated “as-is” or you can mix and match the different products and styles that fit your tastes.
Home renovations always come with options. It’s a good rule of thumb that to remodel to your tastes while also considering future buyer’s preferences – but that’s not a law. Free-standing bathtubs may look too modern for some buyers. Others will say “we’ll never use that bathroom fireplace or that heated towel rack.” You can’t please everyone, so you might as well please yourself.
Bathroom Renovation Pricing
Budget is always a concern when discussing home renovations. A showroom can ‘show’ you all the potential that your bathroom could see and note many of the luxury items available, but they should also be upfront about what those features would potentially cost.
The decision to invest in your bathroom is a wise one, and you’ll likely recoup your finances in market value at some point if you hold on to the home. The bathroom also has to be part of the whole house scheme though too. You want to ultimately create a space that home buyers remember, but not at the cost of other areas of your home.
What you’re ultimately looking for in a showroom is value. Don’t spend your entire budget on the shower, only to be left with a low-end vanity and flooring.
Integrate Your Bathroom With the Rest of Your Home
Showrooms give you an idea of options available when remodeling a bathroom, but you’ve also got to consider how these features and layout will integrate with your current square footage.
Will you need to do more extensive renovations to install the features you’ve found attractive in a showroom? We would all love a spa in the corner of our bathroom, but not if it means having to knock down walls in the master bedroom and downsizing from a king bed to a twin.
The bathroom only has value if the whole house has value. Showrooms give you an idea of the potential that can easily be reached. The ultimate bathroom comes from one part showroom, and one part creativity of the homeowner. A perfect recipe.
Best Bathroom Showroom Overview
Bathroom showroom browsing doesn’t have to be overwhelming. You’re not locked into any of the products on display, and these are just options available for remodeling.
You should make a list of your bathroom renovation priorities. Looks are huge, functionality is important, and energy efficiency should always be considered. Something else to note is that you shouldn’t have any regrets. If you’ve always wanted a walk-in shower, go for it. You can always make one feature your focal point, and design around that.
