Why Update Your Bathroom?
It seems that in North America at least, bathrooms and kitchens are the most important rooms in the home when it comes to buyers deciding on buying a home. We are focusing on bathrooms in this post and specifically on lighting which is a major part of how your bathroom looks to prospective buyers as well as being functional while you are living in your home. Everyone loves to have a bright and attractive bathroom, and lighting plays a huge part in how your bathroom looks.
Consumers spend thousands of dollars every year on remodeling their bathrooms, however if you can do some or all of the work yourself, it really does not have to cost that much. Add a new mirror, repaint the room, upgrade the toilet and the lights and you have a room that looks great as well as being modern. Of course you can go all out, replacing the cabinets, the counter top and the shower / tub, the floor, however these are big expense items. Labor is a huge part of the cost, while the cost of the materials is relatively small and this applies to bathroom lighting as well.
Cost of Bathroom Lighting
Of course the sky is the limit when it comes to purchasing lighting systems for the bathroom, however there can be really attractive bathroom style lighting that can be purchased at Lowe’s and Home Depot as well as other stores that specialize in lighting. You can often purchase lights for under $100 complete with all wiring and even the light bulbs which include either energy saving fluorescent bulbs or halogen lights. Personally we like the fluorescent lights since they are cooler and they save energy as well, which reduces your long term operating costs. With the recent increases in electricity rates in most areas, saving electricity is becoming more important.
Installation can be expensive unless you can do it your self or have a friend that can install the new lights safely. Note that if you are going to do this yourself, make sure you really know how to do this work so that there are no possible fire or shock hazards created. Always make sure that the power is turned off before you start to protect yourself from any possibility of electrocution. If in doubt talk to an expert or hire someone to do the work for you!
Selecting the Right Style and Color for your Lights!
This is probably the most difficult aspect of remodeling your bathroom. Most decorators will tell you that you have to have an overall plan for your home and specifically each room. The bathroom is no different of course. Coordinating your lighting selection with your choices for all of the other decor in the bathroom is very important. Decisions on color – black, copper, stainless steel etc is one aspect. Will you go traditional or modern and matching with the faucets and counter hardware is also important.
You may not be able to afford to do everything at once. Having a plan and completing some of the work as you can afford it will help you make sure that your completed work meets your overall objective.
Whatever you do, don’t chose your lights based on price alone. Make sure that your overall decorating plan works for you home and your bathroom. Otherwise you may be spending money for nothing, when it comes time for you to sell your home. Your bathroom could be perceived as a negative by potential buyers unless you have done a good job decorating.
Lots of Light
Some people really like to have a bright room with lots of light, while others may want something more subdued at times. Both can be accommodated by installing a dimmer switch in place of the on / off switch that is usually installed in most homes. Make sure that your fixture as well as the light bulbs you will use are compatible with dimmer switches.
Halogens are usually fine , however fluorescent lights do not work well with dimmer switches. Check the fixture and the lights before you make your decision. Most stores will have an electrician on staff who help you with any questions regarding installation as well as with the correct type of bulbs to use.
Hire Experts
You may not want to do the job yourself or are just uncomfortable with even being around bare electrical wires. A good friend of ours does not even want to be around when I am helping him. He is just that nervous about touching the wires and getting a shock. In situations like these, hire an expert to do the work for you. Although it will cost more, you will have peace of mind and the job will be done properly as well.
If you do the work yourself, always make sure that the power is turned off to all areas of the bathroom. Turn the lights on in the bathroom and then go to the breaker box, usually located in the basement, and switch off the appropriate breaker. When the lights go off you know that you have selected the correct breaker switch.
You may also want to hire a decorator to help design your bathroom, make sure that everything is coordinated and give you ideas about what to change and what not to. As we mentioned earlier in this post sometimes just updating the paint, the hardware on doors and drawers, the wall plates and the light fixtures can make a huge difference to your bathroom. These things do not cost much in comparison to completing a total remodel involving the toilet, the shower, the tub and the counters with new faucets and sinks. People have been known to send $25,000 on a total remodel of a bathroom. Not everyone can afford this, so doing cosmetic things can be a much better alternative.
Finally it is important to remember that everyone’s taste is different. If you are updating with the idea of selling your home, most real estate sales people will tell you that it is important to update tired bathrooms, however avoid spending too much money, since it is unlikely you will be able to increase the price sufficiently to cover the money you put into remodeling. Cosmetic updates vs. major updates is often the correct way to proceed.
