Where to Splurge and Save in your Bathroom Renovation
Cautious times call for careful spending. If you're moving numbers about in your reno spreadsheet, we've got suggestions
Along with the kitchen, the bathroom is the other must-reno room in resale homes. Mark Yong of PIU Design walks us through what’s worth putting money towards and where you can hold back without losing the bathroom of your dreams.
Save: Tiles
“If the bathroom is big enough, consider not tiling every single wall,” says Yong who suggests painting the walls furthest from the shower with moisture resistance paint. It’s also wise to install a ventilation fan to wick moisture out of the bathroom.
“If the bathroom is big enough, consider not tiling every single wall,” says Yong who suggests painting the walls furthest from the shower with moisture resistance paint. It’s also wise to install a ventilation fan to wick moisture out of the bathroom.
If you’ve fallen in lust with an artistic and expensive tile, use it as an accent alongside a cheaper tile. Cheaper, plainer tiles can be laid differently to take the blandness out. Herringbone, a popular pattern for timber strip flooring, can make simple subway tiles look luxe for example.
Another way to cut tile cost is to shop for non-Italian/Spanish tiles. “China-made tiles are good and have improved tremendously,” Yong says.
Find a renovation professional in Singapore
Find a renovation professional in Singapore
Save: Plumbing
Relocating plumbing is expensive and can greatly increase the cost of your bathroom renovation. If your current bathroom layout is functional, leave it as-is. Even a simple tweak like having wall-mounted taps to go with a wall-hung vanity will impact your budget.
Another costly consideration for wall-hung or floating vanities in HDB flats is that the visible waste pipe will need to be in stainless steel and not the cheaper PVC. This is largely for cosmetic purposes.
8 sneaky ways to disguise HDB piping
Relocating plumbing is expensive and can greatly increase the cost of your bathroom renovation. If your current bathroom layout is functional, leave it as-is. Even a simple tweak like having wall-mounted taps to go with a wall-hung vanity will impact your budget.
Another costly consideration for wall-hung or floating vanities in HDB flats is that the visible waste pipe will need to be in stainless steel and not the cheaper PVC. This is largely for cosmetic purposes.
8 sneaky ways to disguise HDB piping
Next big thing in bathroom looks
Here’s what Yong predicts we’ll be seeing more of in the wet room:
Monolithic tiling or stone for walls and floor
The ‘surround sound’ effect of wall-to-wall stone-look tile creates a calming environment with an organic feel. This is achieved through the use of large format tiles – up to 120 centimetres in length – and minimal grout lines. Ah, bliss!
Here’s what Yong predicts we’ll be seeing more of in the wet room:
Monolithic tiling or stone for walls and floor
The ‘surround sound’ effect of wall-to-wall stone-look tile creates a calming environment with an organic feel. This is achieved through the use of large format tiles – up to 120 centimetres in length – and minimal grout lines. Ah, bliss!
No more shower doors
Yong sees more homeowners opting for a single glass panel to demarcate the shower and contain splashes rather than the swing or sliding shower door. The added openness enhances the spacious feel of the room and is a boon to ventilation.
Yong sees more homeowners opting for a single glass panel to demarcate the shower and contain splashes rather than the swing or sliding shower door. The added openness enhances the spacious feel of the room and is a boon to ventilation.
Navy, green, white
Blues and greens are a natural fit for bathrooms and depending on the hue, can be pale, watery and spa-like; pastel and postmodern; and dark and shadowy. Whichever colour you choose, white sanitary ware is a staple.
Blues and greens are a natural fit for bathrooms and depending on the hue, can be pale, watery and spa-like; pastel and postmodern; and dark and shadowy. Whichever colour you choose, white sanitary ware is a staple.
Mix of material or pattern
“Special accent or patterned tiles for the shower cubicle” and “wallpaper with strong motifs outside the shower” are Yong’s top picks.
“Special accent or patterned tiles for the shower cubicle” and “wallpaper with strong motifs outside the shower” are Yong’s top picks.
Tell us
What did you spend on and stint on in your renovation? Share your ideas in the Comments section. And if you enjoyed this story, like it, save the photos and join the conversation.
More
12 Space-Expanding Tricks for Any Bathroom
What did you spend on and stint on in your renovation? Share your ideas in the Comments section. And if you enjoyed this story, like it, save the photos and join the conversation.
More
12 Space-Expanding Tricks for Any Bathroom
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Yong guns for quality bathroom fixtures and fittings so that means toilet bowls, sinks, taps, showers and non-plumbed hardware. The difference between a pricier well-made toilet bowl and a cheaper poorly-made one lies in the subtleties that are apparent once you actively use the toilet. The latter may have poorer glazing on the inside, making the bowl harder to keep crystal-clean; have poorer flushing capacity; or the height may be shorter, making it ever so slightly less ergonomic. For something that you use several times a day, these little differences can add up to a big deal. Keep an eye out for toilets that flush quieter, have a soft close lid and have replacement parts easily available.
Quality taps and showers are worth the expense as they are made with durable materials, are well made and more water-efficient. They even feel better to the touch.