11 Priceless Bathroom Design Tips We've Learned From HGTV's Hilary Farr
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It's no surprise that bathroom renovations are at the top of many homeowner's wish lists. Having a luxurious bathroom to get ready in can help to ensure your day gets off to a great start. And, it's equally nice to return to a relaxing space after a long day. The good news is that a bathroom renovation won't just improve your appreciation of your home. It can also make you money when it comes to the resale value of your property, making the project a productive use of your hard-earned cash. On average, you can expect a return on investment of around 70% from a bathroom remodel.
If you're new to home renovation it makes sense to get some advice from the experts so you don't end up making costly mistakes. Looking for the best bathroom design tips to get started? HGTV's Hillary Farr has some awesome tips that she has used herself in bathroom renovations featured on HGTV.
Install enough faucets for each family member
Tired of listening to your children arguing over who gets to brush their teeth first every morning and evening? It's a common issue all too familiar for families with multiple kids, including the parents featured in Season 1, Episode 8 of "Tough Love With Hilary Farr". Hilary solved the problem by opting for multiple water sources with enough space for everyone to share. She said, "I'm going to install an elongated trough sink and three faucets, so no more fighting over who brushes their teeth."
To ensure your household starts the day positively, design the bathroom around the number of people who share it. This could include using Hilary's tip of matching the number of faucets to the number of users. You could also follow this tip more broadly to allow multiple people to use the space at once. Consider installing several mirrors on the walls, or positioning dual vanities a distance apart to allow for movement. If you do install multiple taps, remember you'll need to set aside a little more time to clean all of your household faucets.
Reglazing tiles instead of replacing them
Tight bathroom renovation budget? No problem. Hilary transformed the look of dated and old yellowing tiles in the bathroom in Season 1, Episode 8 of "Tough Love With Hilary Farr." Instead of ripping out the old tiles and replacing them with new ones, she had them reglazed. Hilary explained that reglazing makes more financial sense for homeowners with a limited budget since tiles can be a big bathroom renovation line item.
The process of reglazing involves covering the existing tiles with an epoxy or resin coat which can be applied with a brush or paint roller. This DIY bathroom tip can completely transform the look of a room at a fraction of a typical renovation cost. If you hire a contractor, you'll be looking at somewhere between $4 and $10 per square foot. However, this is a fairly simple project that many DIY enthusiasts could tackle themselves. If you want to use Hilary Farr's genius trick to refresh your outdated bathroom tile you can pick up tile reglazing kits for around $100 to $150.
Use wallpaper in the bathroom
Wallpaper in the bathroom is a design choice that many people stay well away from, but Hilary returns to this style tip time and time again. The bold wallpaper Hilary uses in many of her bathroom overhauls allows homeowners to display their personality in their decor. Hilary proves that, despite the common misconception, this wall covering can work incredibly well in these spaces from both a practical and design point of view. She even used a stunning geode-inspired print paper in her own home's powder room.
Organic materials like paper don't usually fare well in wet or humid spaces. So, you'll want to be particular about your product choice, especially in a full bath. Make sure to select a product that is designed to be used in humid environments, like the non-porous vinyl options at Tempaper & Co. Always refrain from using wallpaper on surfaces that will be directly in contact with running water, such as the shower stall or around the bathtub.
Create a sense of space with a wall-hung sink
In Season 2, Episode 8 of "Tough Love With Hilary Farr," Hilary explains that using a wall-hung sink in a small bathroom can create the illusion of more space. She says, "Because it doesn't go to the floor it doesn't take up as much visual space". Hilary opted for a bold green floating vanity beneath the sink to create additional storage and make a stylish statement.
Use this tip in your own home to maximize visual space without compromising on storage. This way, you still have drawers or cupboard space to accommodate bathroom essentials. Select a floor that contrasts with the color of the vanity, as this will highlight the way it extends beneath the fixture. Avoid placing anything beneath the wall-hung unit such as storage boxes or a low stool, because these can distract from the illusion. If you require more storage than the vanity can offer, consider installing shelves that utilize vertical space. This over-the-toilet shelving unit from Target provides storage while using minimal floor space.
Install two showers in one bathroom
Do you get annoyed waiting for your partner to finish in the shower so you can have your turn? Hilary eliminates this issue in Season 2, Episode 1 of "Tough Love With Hilary Farr" by installing two water fixtures at either end of a walk-in shower. These operate independently of each other so they can be used by different people simultaneously. The luxurious space also features a niche at each end of the shower so users can store their own personal toiletries. Separate vanity units line either side of the bathroom as well, adding to the way this en-suite was personalized to the needs of the couple.
If you have enough space in your bathroom for a double shower it can make sense to install two fixtures. You can wash at the same time as your partner to save time and it means you won't have to have the water at the same temperature as each other. Fortunately, you don't need to undergo an entire remodel to benefit from a double shower. The Tandem Shower, by Boona, allows you to create dual water fixtures in your current space.
Build a niche in the shower
One design feature Hilary loves in the shower is a niche that essentially operates as a built-in shower caddy. It is a cutout box in a shower wall where you can house your shampoos and shower essentials. Not only is it functional, but it also elevates the style of a room, as Hilary shows us in Season 1, Episode 2 of "Tough Love With Hilary Farr".
If you want a shower niche you'll need to design this into your bathroom plans when you're renovating, since it involves hollowing out part of the wall before it gets tiled. Although it's a simple design feature that's easy to add to a project, it can make a lot of difference to a shower's style and practicality. If you already have one, you can make the most of your shower niche by displaying plants and candles or incorporating an LED lighting strip. You don't have to be restricted to the shower if you want to have a niche in your bathroom. They can also work well over a built-in bathtub or next to the vanity mirror.
Get a shower stool
Want to know how to make your shower even more relaxing? Invest in a stool to take the weight off your feet while luxuriating in the falling water. Hilary often incorporates shower stools into her bathroom designs as both a functional and stylish feature. In Season 1, Episode 1 of "Tough Love With Hilary Farr" Hilary places a low wooden bench into a shower for seating or storing essentials.
If you're going to get a shower bench you'll want to make sure it is made from a suitable material. Obviously, any piece of furniture you put in a shower will get wet but that doesn't mean you have to compromise on looks. Shower stools made from teak or bamboo, like this one from Wayfair, will be aesthetically pleasing and offer superior water resistance. Plus, if you look for benches or seating with an extra lower shelf, you'll boost your bathroom's in-shower storage.
Cover over old floor tiles
If you're looking for bathroom design ideas on a budget, then this one is for you. Removing an old floor can use up valuable time and money in your renovation project and it isn't always necessary. However, luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) can be installed directly over a tile floor. And, this is exactly what Hilary did for the homeowners who had a small budget in Season 1, Episode 8 of "Tough Love With Hilary Farr". Hilary chose a wide-plank LVT in a farmhouse woodgrain finish to make the bathroom feel more spacious while tying into the rustic design.
LVT is a popular bathroom flooring option because it is low-maintenance, hardwearing, and budget-friendly. It also looks classy and elegant so you won't have to compromise on style and resale value. Just like you would when installing LVT over any other type of subfloor you'll want to check over the tiles first and prepare them. This means ensuring they are level, free from cracks or lumps, and thoroughly cleaned.
Install a barn door
Barn doors are great options for small spaces such as bathrooms because they don't open into the room, freeing up a lot of space. The compact bathroom in Season 1, Episode 1 of "Tough Love With Hilary Farr" benefited from this space-saving concept. This improved the usable space and created a quirky, rustic feel. The door opened along the outside wall of the room, meaning that it didn't eat into the bathroom's space at all.
Barn doors aren't reserved only for cramped areas. They also represent an excellent way to add a rustic vibe or an interesting design feature. Keep in mind, that barn doors tend to work best in master bathrooms and family bathrooms because they don't seal when closed like regular interior doors do. This usually means that the guest bathrooms are not the best places in your home for barn doors because privacy is paramount. That said, if you live alone or plan to use one of these features for an en-suite in a master bedroom, they can work as a good space-saving option.
Use black fixtures and fittings
Hilary is the master of combining classic design features with a contemporary style but this doesn't mean you have to stick to the usual chrome fixtures and fittings. In Season 1, Episode 2 of "Tough Love With Hilary Farr," Hilary makes a bold statement in the bathroom by installing black fixtures against the bold contrast of white tiles. Hilary also hangs a sleek black-framed mirror over the vanity with a matching metal towel holder and soap dispenser. This creates a stunning industrial-styled bathroom with a luxurious feel.
If you're looking to make a style statement while retaining a minimalist feel, black fixtures and fittings are a great choice. These are becoming increasingly more popular so they're widely available in a variety of styles. This faucet from Lowe's has a classic silhouette that would look right at home in a traditional space. And, this sleek black showerhead from Wayfair would work well with a contemporary vibe. You can even take the concept one step further by selecting a black basin, like this one from Amazon.
Use contrasting colors
Bathrooms are typically some of the smallest rooms in a home. As a result, it can be instinctual to decorate them in light or pale colors to make them feel bigger. However, as Hilary shows us in Season 2, Episode 10 of "Tough Love With Hilary Farr," bold contrasts can brighten a space too. Hilary decorates this bathroom in an intense shade of teal with mustard accents. The vivid shades make the room pop and ensure the homeowners can display their personalities and love of color even in compact areas.
Rebel against bland bathrooms by selecting contrasting colors for wall paint, tiles, and accessories. To ensure balance, stick to the timeless 60-30-10 color rule when it comes to decorating, including one neutral shade. Follow in Hilary's footsteps, with similar geometric tiles like these from Floor & Decor. Then, incorporate accents in a contrasting shade. Blue and yellow is a classic color combination in a bathroom because it creates a simultaneously calming and sunny space. But, orange and pink can also play well off cooler hues. And, if you are bound to neutrals, use contrasting shades like charcoal and ivory to implement the same concept.