Renovating a Bathroom When You’re Still Living in the House
Bathroom renovation looks exciting in pictures until you’re the one brushing your teeth in the kitchen sink. The first reality is inconvenience. If you have only one bathroom, prepare a backup plan early — neighbor, relative, temporary shower hose, anything. Don’t assume work will “only take a week”; it rarely does.
The next shock is hidden problems. Once tiles are removed, real issues show up: leaking pipes, rotten wood from years of moisture, mold behind walls, weak flooring around the toilet area. These items don’t show on the original quotation, so always keep a contingency of 15–25% aside.
Focus on plumbing layout first, not tiles or paint. Moving a toilet or shower drain is where the real money goes, not the beauty finishes. If the budget is tight, keep fixtures in the same positions and upgrade surfaces and fittings instead.
Ventilation is something people ignore until mirrors fog and the bathroom smells damp. If there’s no window, install an exhaust fan or moisture-resistant paint to avoid mold coming back after a few months.
Finally, choose materials that match your lifestyle, not Instagram photos. Polished white tiles show every stain. Matte tiles grip better in wet conditions. Wooden vanities need ventilation or they swell. Real renovation isn’t only about beauty — it’s about daily use without stress.