Bathrooms and kitchens are two of the most important rooms in any home. When you get home from a long, exhausting day the two things on your mind are probably a meal and a shower. A nice kitchen and bathroom can make you feel relaxed, happy, and even a bit fancy. You want these rooms to be tasteful, but also functional for you, your family, and guests.

Kitchens and bathrooms have similar aspects, especially when it comes to running water, so remodeling them will have some similar steps and considerations. Any remodeling project is a huge undertaking, so you should always plan ahead before starting.  

When remodeling anything in your house you want to make choices that you will enjoy, but also consider what people are going to want when you sell your home. Updated bathrooms and kitchens are an investment, but homeowners often make back more than half of what they put into the project. Here are some helpful tips that can guide you through beginning your remodel.

Determine a Budget

Any home remodeling project can quickly spiral into a very expensive project, so the very first thing you should do is create a budget. One of the biggest expenses for a project is the cost of labor, so it can be helpful to find a contractor that has fixed prices rather than estimates. The other aspect of remodeling is the cost of materials and depending on what you choose this can skyrocket your expenses.

You’ll want to first determine how much you want to spend on the remodeling project. According to HomeAdvisor the average cost of a kitchen remodel is around $12,500 to $34,962 and the average bathroom remodeling cost is around $6,500. This cost will vary depending on the size and location of your home.

Whether you are remodeling your kitchen or bathroom, the costs can rise before you know it depending on the materials you choose to use. By setting a budget, you can keep costs within a range you are comfortable with. If there is a place you want to spend a little more, such as high-end appliances or countertops, by creating a budget you can do this and then cut costs in another area. 

When creating a budget you want to ask yourself the following questions:

●      Are you going to sell in the next few years?

●      Which aspects are most important to you?

●      Do you want to move anything that would require help from a plumber?

●      How much can you afford to invest?

Choose Long Lasting Materials

Whether you plan to enjoy your remodeled space for two years or ten, you want to make good choices on materials. Kitchens and bathrooms see a lot of use from you and your family, so you need materials that are going to withstand water and wear and tear over the next few years. When you invest a lot of time and money into remodeling a room in your home, part of this is adding value to the house that will make it worth more when it comes time to sell. If you invest a lot into your project but find things need to be replaced a few years down the line, you are wasting money.

The key is to choose materials that are quality above anything else. Of course, you want the aesthetics of your new bathroom or kitchen to be to your taste, but when you are making decisions it is important to consider the longevity of the materials before making any decisions. If you have a countertop that you adore, but the material is low-quality or known for being easily damaged, you may want to opt for a material that looks similar but is more durable.

Make Choices You Can Live With

While it is important to take the potential market value of your home into consideration when making choices about your remodeling project, you still want to make sure that you are going to enjoy the updated room. If you are planning to remain in your home years after remodeling your kitchen or bathroom, you don’t want to make choices that you’ll regret.

While granite countertops may add value to your home, if you hate the way that they look or it isn’t functional for your family, it’s not worth it. Additionally, forcing valuable components into your project could result in the room looking incohesive. Your best bet is to make choices that fit your lifestyle and style first, then take into consideration whether those choices will make good selling points.

After going through all of the work to fix up your bathroom or kitchen, you want to be excited to live with the results, so make choices that will suit you and your family.

Jenn Walker is a freelance writer, blogger, dog-enthusiast, and avid beach goer operating out of Southern New Jersey.