Interesting Border Design

Ceramic Tile with Stone Look

Basket weave tile pattern

Every home has at least one bathroom and for many people it’s the most important room in the house. Hey, not everyone cooks but everyone uses the porcelain facilities. That’s why homeowners contemplating selling need to look at their bathrooms with a critical eye. Sometimes a little paint and maybe a fixture or two can have a big impact on how buyers feel about their choice of a new home.

Homeowners planning to stay in their home might be inclined to invest more in their bathrooms creating luxurious spa-like escapes while others might just want to increase the value of their homes with more modest upgrades.

1. Select color with discretion. Stick with white for the fixtures but don’t be afraid to use bold colors in the rugs, towels and artwork. If you’re planning on moving soon, use light neutrals in paint colors especially if your bathroom doesn’t have any natural light.

2. Choose your contractors carefully. Ask for referrals from people who have used a contractor for a renovation or check out my resources directory in this website. Be sure to ask for references for those you might not know well. You’ll want someone who knows when permits are necessary and follows through on getting them.

3. If possible, keep the same footprint, replacing fixtures rather than moving waste and water lines. It will save a ton of money, time and reduce the amount of structural alteration needed.

4. Real stone is beautiful, it’s true but tile that looks like stone is less expensive and very durable. See the samples of each above.

5. Think Green: With water shortages cropping up more frequently over extensive areas of the country, conserving water has become a new frontier even here in the verdant northeast. Installing a high-efficiency toilet can save a family of four up to $90 per year. A new high efficiency shower head can reduce water consumption by more than 50%.