Should You Expand Your Bathroom? What to Consider First

Do you want to renovate one of your bathrooms? A good bathroom remodel can make this important room more enjoyable, more effective, and more relaxing. But should that renovation include expanding the bathroom? Why might you rethink this popular goal for many bathroom remodel projects? And when is it a great choice? Here's what you need to know.

The Pros and Cons of Expanding

Many homeowners feel that at least one of the bathrooms in their house is too small. Are you one of them? If so, your first instinct may be to expand it. And this can certainly be a good choice when the problem really is square footage. If you want a soaking tub but your bathroom can only support a square shower, for instance, you may have no good alternatives to physically expanding the room. 

Adding on to your bathroom, though, does present its own problems. It will cost more, as your bathroom renovation now includes moving walls, changing plumbing, moving electrical connections, and more. If you're remodeling on a budget, that's money you cannot put into other elements — like upgrading your shower system or adding heated floors.

In addition, any expansion in a home layout takes away space from something else. If you build outward, you'll eat into the exterior space of your yard. Those with lots of outside space may not even notice the difference. But small lots don't always have room to spare. Similarly, can you make the sacrifice inside the house if you need to steal space from other rooms? It's a personal call based on your home usage. 

Alternatives to Expanding the Bathroom

Even though adding on is the first solution many people think of for space issues, it's not the only way to solve problems. The best way to feel confident in your decision to move walls or make other structural changes is to first consider less-complex options. 

Could you gain as much from rethinking the bathroom layout? Inefficiency in design can easily make the entire room feel cramped. If you must move the door out of the way each time you use the toilet, for example, the bathroom will always feel cramped. However, the solution may simply be to move the toilet. This might create more physical space or just make it feel more open — while costing less time and money. 

Consider carefully, too, whether everything inside the room is still necessary. For example, the bathtub is often underutilized in modern bathrooms. So if you want a bigger shower, the tub may be taking up the valuable real estate you need. Or perhaps your kids have grown and left home, but the family bathroom still features a double sink. Can you recapture that space by downsizing the vanity?

Other changes — like lightening the color palette or increasing natural light — can also help. While these are limited to visual trickery, they are helpful in making things feel larger or fresher. Only when you've considered the potential boost from aesthetic and layout changes should you move on to actual expansion. This progression allows you to be sure you aren't leaving money on the table in achieving the right goals. 

Where to Start

Before you set your mind for or against expanding your bathroom, start by consulting with an experienced bathroom remodeling service in your area. All American Tile & Remodeling by Ry Brooks can help. We offer a wide range of renovation services to update your bathroom, make it more comfortable, or solve specific issues that have plagued your family. Call today to learn how we can help you.