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How to plan a bathroom renovation

Modern bathroom with a grey and white colour scheme. There is a bath, shower and sink in shot.

Overview

There are lots of things to think about when you are planning to renovate your bathroom. We give you a few suggestions to help you get the look you are after without breaking the bank. Plus we remind you of some fundamentals like, you can never have enough storage.

Steps

1Make a list of your bathroom likes and dislikes

Think about what you do and don't like about your current bathroom. Then put together a scrapbook of any new features, fixtures and fittings you'd really like to have when you renovate. Collect a few sample tiles and colour swatches so you can see how colours and textures will work together.
Close up of a ruler, pencil and assortment of colour swatches

2Think about your current bathroom plumbing and electricity

Consider where your current bathroom plumbing and electricity are positioned in the room. The less you need to reposition these, the less you will need to spend on tradies. You should also consider how well your old inlets and outlets will work with new fixtures and fittings.
Close up of a Bunnings team member filling a small container with cement

3Measure up your bathroom walls, windows and doors

Measure up the whole room to work out how much space you have to install any new fixtures and fittings. Remember you can never have enough storage – especially in a bathroom – so think about ways you can fit some more in. Don't forget that all wet area rooms such as bathrooms must be waterproofed.
Close up of a person marking a spot with a pencil against a measuring tape

4Think about your bathroom's finishing touches

Think about the finishing touches for your bathroom and how they tie in with your fittings. If your space is small, consider using large tiles to make the room feel larger. Smaller, mosaic tiles are a great option if you want to draw the eye to a detail or make the room feel cosy.
Close up of a person placing a tile against wet concrete

5When using colour in a bathroom follow the 60-30-10 rule

The 60-30-10 rule is a good guide when using colour in the bathroom. 60% of the room should be your main colour, like white tiles on your wall and glazing on your bath or sink. 30% is your mid-range colour and is good for areas like the floor or vanity cabinet. 10% is your accent colour, a bold, punchy colour that you can add with your linen.
Bathroom with a white and beige colour scheme. There is a bath, shower and sink in shot.

6Think about the positioning of towels rails and toilet roll holders

A final thing to consider is where you put your towel rails and toilet roll holder. Ideally, you want everything within easy reach. The towels should be close to the edge of the shower – and the heater if you have a cold winter. The toilet roll should be somewhere you can reach when you are sitting down.
Towel rail with two white towels hanging from it, against a tile wall
Health & Safety

Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.

When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.