Quickly and efficiently transform your small bathroom
Homeowners often imagine that remodeling a small bathroom—about 50 square feet or less—will be faster, easier, and cheaper than remodeling a large bathroom. The reality is that you probably won't save as much time and money as you'd like, since a small bathroom requires installing many of the same amenities and hiring the same professionals -- just to work in tighter spaces. Find out what parts of the makeover you can do yourself and where you can save some money.
A smaller bathroom will challenge you to get creative by doing more with less space. Dive into the trade tips of the interior design industry and see how color choices, lighting, and mirrors can make a room feel bigger. Think of your bathroom remodeling project as a challenging puzzle and enjoy solving it without breaking the bank.
Planning Considerations
Bathrooms are often categorized by their function, big or small. These definitions are based on the location of the bathroom in the home, its primary users, and whether it includes a bathtub or shower.
Powder room or half bathroom
Larger homes often have a powder room or half bathroom with only a sink, toilet or door for privacy. It's a handy extra bathroom for a multi-story home or large family. The small size and limited number of fixtures means you can remodel a powder room fairly quickly, but since it's an auxiliary bathroom, you can take your time if needed. The time crunch also comes with costs.
Full bathroom
The term refers to any bathroom with full amenities - toilet, vanity, sink and tub/shower. It can be a master or ensuite bathroom, a guest bathroom or a children's bathroom. It differs from a half bathroom in that it has either a bathtub or a shower. Small bathrooms for children can stand up to decades of use and abuse. You'll want a kid-friendly tub, and keep an eye on the floor; you can expect water to spill or drag behind them. Durable fixtures and waterproof floors and walls are essential for bathrooms that kids use. Good storage is necessary.
Master bathroom
The master bathroom is a full bathroom. The word "main" usually means that it is used by the homeowner on a daily basis; usually, an en-suite bathroom is considered the main bathroom. This room is a relatively important one, and you may want to spend more on high-quality, durable and attractive fixtures and materials.
Process overview
The steps to remodel a bathroom are very detailed. It depends on how far you've come, but if you're going for a full remodel, the process starts with a solid, lengthy plan, building permits, arranging skilled workers and sourcing materials. You can save a lot of money and do all this legwork, or you can hire a general contractor to handle all the details.
Dismantling and framing
All remodeling starts with dismantling and removing the elements you will be replacing. Homeowners do this to save money. Some only remove fixtures or floors. Others got rid of everything down to the wall studs and floor joists. It can be hard work, but it's not difficult. You can do most of the demolition work on weekends - plan to rent a litter box or arrange for a disposal company to take away the demolition debris.
Most remodeling jobs will involve opening up some walls and ceilings. If you need structural framing work, such as framing work in a new shower, having previous experience or basic carpentry skills will help. Framing work may require inspections to ensure the work is done correctly.
Plumbing, wiring and drywall
Plumbing and wiring are two areas where you should get professional help. Many skilled remodelers hire plumbing and electrical specialists, as faulty wiring and poor plumbing can lead to disastrous results. Inspections are required at the beginning of rough plumbing and electrical repairs and at the end after final installation.
A licensed electrician will run new circuits when needed, install lighting and ventilation fans, and schedule inspections. Later, after inspections are complete and walls and ceilings are finished, plumbers and electricians will return to make plumbing connections and connect sockets, light fixtures, and fans.
Once a rough inspection of the plumbing and wiring passes; then a drywall professional or DIYer can install and finish the drywall. It's tedious work, but one that most DIYers can handle. Since professional drywall installation is not expensive, the savings are minimal.
Tile and Flooring
A tiled bathroom can be one of the higher costs of a bathroom in terms of time and material cost. The tiles in the shower and floor are high quality materials. Many homeowners choose to leave installation to professionals because it is labor-intensive and requires precision. However, if you know how to do it right and have patience and absolute will, you can save a lot of money. Flooring choices and materials are very different from ceramic, stone, vinyl or laminate. Tile and flooring is one area where you can save money by researching and buying materials online or when your product line goes down.
Cabinetry and Finishing Work
In most cases, once the electrical work and plumbing have been installed, the drywall has been sealed, the room has been painted, and the vanity, wall cabinets, light fixtures and mirrors are the last entry. Most homeowners can handle this part.
Guest bathroom
A guest bathroom is a full bathroom that includes a shower, bathtub, or both. It is used occasionally, mainly when guests are visiting. You can transform your child's full bathroom into a guest bathroom for an empty nest. Since guest bathrooms are only used occasionally, many opt for economical fixtures and materials, which can significantly reduce costs. Since this is a secondary bathroom, you can take the time to remodel it and save money. Another way you save: You don't usually need extra storage in this bathroom. Note that if you often expect older guests or family members, you may want to add some special add-ons such as grab bars, lower counters, non-slip floors or a walk-in tub.
How much does it cost to remodel a bathroom?
The cost of remodeling a small bathroom, which usually means remodeling, new drywall, flooring, lighting, vanities and tiles, averages around $5,000 to $30,000. Most average around $10,000. If you plan to include the highest-end tubs, sinks, toilets and fixtures, you start to hit the $30,000 range. Costs go up as you add square footage and make multiple appointments with a professional installer. If a home's plumbing or electrical system needs a major overhaul, costs can skyrocket.
The good news is that according to a U.S. Census Bureau survey of homeowners, the median bathroom remodel cost in 2019 is $3,300 if you plan to renovate and keep the walls and the overall bathroom footprint remains the same.
Even better, if all you need is a quick paint job and a new sink and toilet, you can save yourself hundreds of dollars by handling these connections yourself and forgoing professional assistance.
Smaller bathrooms require less material, so remodeling costs are generally lower—but because they have less space, you're likely to buy standard-sized building materials and leave a lot of cut material waste. A 3-foot-by-5-foot powder room can cost about $1,500 to $2,250 to renovate, while an oversized 9-foot-by-10-foot bathroom can cost as much as $13,500.
You can do general contractor work - interview, hire, supervise and pay individual professionals to do their work. Hiring a subcontractor can save you a lot of money because you eliminate the time and overhead of a general contractor. Here is a breakdown of bathroom renovation costs:
The average cost for faucets and plumbing ranges from $250 to $1,450.
Fixtures for professional options range from $200 to $1,800.
A bathroom counter can range from $200 to $1,000.
Cabinets can cost anywhere from $250 to $3,000, depending on the size and style of the space.
Flooring is about 10 to 15 percent of the budget, or $200 to $1,350.
Paint costs between $150 and $550, depending on the paint and the size of the room.
Replacing a light fixture can cost between $100 and $400.
The price of a ventilator is between $50 and $300.
If you're a DIYer with previous building skills, you can save a lot of money while doing some of these tasks. The labor for remodeling a bathroom is 40 to 60 percent, and typically ranges from $50 to $75 an hour. General contractors can cost between $300 and $400 per day, electricians can cost around $50 to $100 per hour, and plumbers can cost as much as $2,000 per day.
