Designer Lists Common Mistakes in DIY Bathroom Renovation

Many people view bathroom renovation as a simple task: it seems like there can't be many problems when decorating the smallest room in an apartment. However, even careful homeowners don't always manage to do a quality bathroom renovation on their own. No one is immune from failures: people make mistakes in calculations, forget about organizing storage systems, and even neglect safety techniques.

Together with Ella Meliksyan from the architecture bureau melix, we look at the most common mistakes homeowners make during bathroom renovation.

Ella Meliksyan — co-founder of the melix bureau

Ignoring Moisture Protection

Moisture protection for electrical equipment is necessary in bathrooms. This includes both sockets and lighting elements. Ignoring this rule can lead to serious consequences: contact between sockets and water is not allowed.

Track systems are suitable for kitchens or living rooms, but they must not be installed in bathrooms. When choosing sockets and lighting, attention should be paid to the degree of protection against moisture, indicated in the marking as IP. The minimum indicator is IP44.

Design: TAUPEHOME design studio

Improper Tile Volume

Bathrooms have utilities that require maintenance. These should not be obstructed by cabinets or other interior elements that block access. A common mistake is placing the sink cabinet right against the bathtub in small bathrooms, which restricts access to the drain. If you're doing the renovation yourself, don't neglect at least one consultation with a specialist.

Design: Irina Nika

Attempt to Save Money

Designers and supervisors know which manufacturers to trust, while homeowners often rely on the size and price of sanitary fittings. The last criterion is especially important: don't try to save money where it's not advisable.

Sinks with defects or constantly breaking showerheads will become a headache, faulty concealed flush tanks and low-quality or incompatible flushing panels will also cause countless troubles in maintenance. When doing the renovation yourself, approach the choice of all sanitary equipment responsibly.

Interest

Calculation Errors

It's important to plan in advance the mechanism for opening cabinets and basins so they don't bump into other furniture or sanitary fittings. Insufficient clearance threatens doors to hit the toilet, towel rack, or hooks. In such cases, it's advisable to plan for “add-ons” when ordering furniture.

Also, keep in mind that sanitary appliances often have built-in elements. This can affect the required screed height or thickness of erected partitions. It's also important to plan for this in advance.

Design: Maria Lapteva

Lack of Storage Space

It's important to provide enough storage space. Often, in the pursuit of design, people forget about their own comfort: as a result, cosmetic bottles, straighteners, and other items are scattered randomly on the sink. During planning, thoroughly analyze your needs and plan how many cabinets, basins, and shelves you will need to meet them.

Design: melix architecture bureau

Improper Design

If you decide to do without a designer's services, it is recommended to train your eye and choose trends that will last. One of the key motivations for this year have been tactile experiences — designs you want to touch. Pay attention to natural materials, ribbed or matte surfaces.

Design: Anastasia Shabelskaya

Violating Established Standards

Under no circumstances should load-bearing structures—monolithic walls—be grooved for electrical wiring, installation of sanitary equipment, or other purposes. This rule applies not only to bathroom renovations but to the entire apartment. The consequences of homeowners' initiatives can be devastating: cracks form in walls, structural integrity is compromised, and load-bearing capacity decreases.

Design: Merra Architects

Photo on cover: livingaftermidnite.com