Contemporary Bathroom Greenovation: The Essentials

Times, they are a changing, and your home should be as well. Nowadays, having a beautiful bathroom is simply not enough. What you should be aiming for instead is a bathroom that is both eco-friendly and looks amazing. Just like with any renovation project, greenovation requires careful planning and budgeting.

If you like the idea of preserving resources, both yours and Mother Earth's, check out thefollowing tips that will help you put together a bathroom that boasts abeautiful design, impeccable style as well as eco-friendliness.

The general idea

When planning a bathroom remodel, it's never too early to start collecting ideas. The sooner you start, the easier it will be to find the items you want in your new bathroom when the time comes. Also, try to gather as many pictures of aspecific style or design element that you like as possible so that you can show them to the contractors. Trying to present something you liked verbally can beparticularly difficult, as you never know how the person got your message, andwhether the picture they've created in their head matches the picture fromyours. Finally, be ready to make some last-minute alterations and adjustments,because you won't always be able to find the exact same item you saw maybe evenmonths earlier.

Set the budget

The next step is, of course, setting the budget. By doing so in advance, you'll know exactly how much you can afford to spend on every single aspect of your new bathroom. This is very important because otherwise, you might find yourself running out of funds mid-way, and that is definitely something you need to avoid at all costs.

Go with eco-friendly and energy-efficient materials

A bathroom that can truly be called green is entirely made of green materials. However, it's important to notethat these materials do cost a bit more up front, but thanks to theirenergy-efficiency, they definitely pay off. Therefore, think in terms of bamboo(both for flooring and accessories), reclaimed lumber (flooring solution orwall panels), glass, as well as zero-VOC paint.

Energy-efficient fixtures are also a must

Your entire greenovation project will be in vain if you don't fill your bathroom with energy-efficient fixtures. That's why you should install a low-flow shower head and faucet that will reduce your water consumption by at least 50%. Also, go for an energy-efficient hot water system, but make sure you choose the right people to install it properly. For example, at Hot Water Nurse they offer not only high-quality installation but also 24-hour emergency services, as well as a lifetime warranty on all of their installations. Finally, dual-flush toilets and LED light bulbs should definitely be on your list of items as well.

Schedule everything

Aside from forming a budget, you should also try to figure out the perfect time to start your bathroom remodeling project. You should get all the necessary materials before you actually call in the contractors to avoid delays. Next, you need to be aware of the fact that a bathroom remodel can last anywhere from a long weekend (only cosmetic touch-ups) to several weeks (a complete overhaul) and that is if you manage to hire several teams to work simultaneously.

If you're planning on doing everything yourself, the entire project can last even up to several months. Therefore, try to find out how much time every specific part of the remodel will require, so you know how to schedule all the work that needs to be done.

Style it up

Once all the rough work is done, it's time to style up your new, green bathroom. Since everything in your new bathroom – from the materials used to the fixtures implemented – is eco-friendly, your bathroom accessories should be eco-friendly as well.

Here, you should think in terms of bamboo bath mats, cotton shower curtains, as well as towels and bathrobes made of 100% organic materials. Further, add a few potted plants here and there to bring some life into the room, and see the entire green movement through by going organic with your self-care products as well. Finally, you can make your organic soap bars serve multiple purposes by placing them in a mason jar and turning them in both a decor piece as well as an air freshener.

These were just the essentials of a green bathroom remodel. There are, of course, a lot more things you can do to green up your bathroom, but it all boils down to choosing the right materials, finding reliable contractors, setting a clear budget and organizing all the tasks to make sure everything runs smoothly.

This project will take some time, it does require a hefty investment up front, but the result you'll be left with is absolutely worth it.