Estimated Read Time: 5 Minutes 

A bathroom renovation not only improves its functionality but also provides a fresh canvas to express your personal style and creativity.

Whether it's updating the style or adding a feature you always wanted (hello, freestanding bathtub), it might be time for you to undergo a long overdue home improvement project! 

At Deslaurier, we have over 40 years of experience manufacturing custom cabinets and providing kitchen & bathroom design expertise. While we do not offer renovation services, we have spent decades partnering with Contractors and Renovators to give our clients the custom cabinets of their dreams. 

With that, let's take a look at 6 possible reasons that it might be time for you to transform your bathroom with a renovation! 

1. Don’t Like the Overall Style

One of the primary reasons to undergo a home improvement project is that you no longer like the look of your space.

Bathroom styles of past decades don’t tend to age as strongly as kitchen designs. Nowadays, homeowners typically want a more contemporary look in their bathrooms and will choose to renovate them purely for aesthetic reasons.

This is what’s referred to as a “cosmetic” renovation. Cosmetic renovations don’t require a building permit and are essentially done purely to freshen up the look of your bathroom. 

A renovation can be a rewarding experience, allowing you to create a space that reflects your current personal style and design preferences.

Refurbishing your bathroom can come in a variety of ways, such as new vanity cabinets, flooring, shower tiling, fixtures, or wall paint. Anything that doesn’t result in structural changes to the space.

2. Plumbing Alterations

Something that does require a building permit is moving or adding plumbing fixtures. If you have the intention of moving any plumbing, that is an immediate sign of a renovation. 

Adding or moving plumbing fixtures can come in a number of ways. 

For example, many homeowners are veering away from the space-saving shower/bathtub combination in lieu of separate units. While it is beneficial to bathrooms with enough room, it does result in a myriad of plumbing alterations and additions. 

Freestanding bathtubs have made a massive comeback in the world of bathroom design. Stand-alone bathtubs certainly aren’t a new trend; they reclaimed their place as a staple of bathroom designs in 2021 and have only gained popularity since. 

And it’s no wonder why.

Freestanding tubs are truly an eye-catching addition when it comes to the bathroom. Since they quite literally stand alone, they function as a focal point of the room – almost like the kitchen island of bathrooms.  

As are freestanding showers. They afford the opportunity to have elegant stone tiled walls and a custom shower base. When done well - and paired with a glass door - freestanding showers can be a central focal point of your bathroom design. 

Those are just two reasons to alter your existing plumbing. It could also come down to lesser projects like moving your sink or toilet locations. Regardless of your plans, if they involve modifying or adding any plumbing that will immediately result in not only a bathroom renovation, but acquiring the necessary permits as well. 

3. Updating the Vanity Cabinets

It’s probably safe to say a lot has changed in the world of bathroom vanities since yours were installed.  There are two primary reasons to change your vanity cabinets: to update their appearance, and to increase their height. 

For decades, the standard vanity cabinet height was typically set at 32 inches, with some even as low as 30 inches tall. Now, we’re seeing them increased, sometimes to kitchen counter-height (36 inches). With so much daily use, contemporary homeowners enjoy the comfort and practicality that comes with taller vanities; with most opting for an updated universal standard of 34 inches. 

If you're looking to update your vanity appearance, a popular way is by implementing floating vanity cabinets. Floating cabinets are suspended from the wall instead of resting on the floor, and exude a very spa-like appeal. 

With designers and homeowners emphasizing simplistic design sensibilities in recent years,  floating vanities are no longer reserved for only the ultra-modern bathroom aesthetic. 

Particularly when paired with a wood grain appearance, floating vanity cabinets are the perfect addition for contemporary, transitional bathrooms.

For more popular features in the world of contemporary bathroom design, read our Bathroom Trends for 2023 article! 

4. Add More Functionality

If your current bathroom isn’t designed efficiently enough for your liking, a remodel is a great way to make your existing space work better for your needs. 

A common issue homeowners have is their sink base cabinet is so big (and under-utilized) that it feels like it has gone to waste. Redoing your cabinets allows you the opportunity to add a second sink to your vanity wall. You can replace that bulky, inefficient sink base with a double-vanity unit equipped with drawer banks.

Another great way to increase storage and function in the bathroom is to include a tall pantry cabinet in your design. 

Tall pantry cabinets have long been a staple in custom laundry rooms thanks to their versatility and vertical storage capacity. Now, they’re becoming an essential feature to accompany vanity cabinets and take on the heavy lifting when it comes to your bathroom storage. 

They’re a great place to keep extra linens, toiletries, cleaning supplies, or any other bathroom items that aren’t necessary for vanity cabinets. Include a built-in cabinet accessory or two and your tall pantry cabinet will handle all of your storage needs. 

5. Damage or Deterioration 

Renovating your bathroom can take care of any pesky maintenance or repair issues your current bathroom may face.

Whether your bathroom countertops have been stained, the painted finish on your vanity cabinets is beginning to chip away, or you have incessantly creaky floorboards—it might be time to get rid of those headaches for good! 

Through bathroom updates, you can replace worn-out features with sturdier, longer-lasting materials.

Damage and maintenance issues can also present themselves in more urgent matters, such as plumbing or electrical concerns – think leaky sink pipes or electrical wiring that needs replacing – that might result in a more impromptu renovation. 

Before you know it, you’re undergoing a full-fledged bathroom renovation that you didn’t have time you weren’t prepared for. The sooner you catch these problems, the more time you’ll have to plan your new bathroom remodel! 

6. For Resale 

The best renovations for resale value include kitchens and bathrooms, as these rooms have a significant impact on increasing the overall value of your home.

If you plan on selling your home in the near future, updating your bathrooms is a good place to start. However, it’s important you focus on elements that carry a timeless quality, not niche features or personal preferences that you like. 

Potential homebuyers might not have the same taste as you, and a bathroom reno based around resale value should cater to the masses, rather than yourself.

Try to focus on neutral elements, like white, grey, or wood grain cabinets, tile flooring, and light quartz countertops, all of which will increase the universal appeal of your home, not just your bathroom.

Also, including some trendier features like standalone shower or bathtub is always a great way to elevate the room! 

Design with Deslaurier Custom Cabinets 

Whether it’s time for an updated facelift or you want the shower of your dreams, we hope these 6 reasons to renovate your bathroom help kickstart you on your home-improvement journey. 

If you have your eye on custom cabinetry for your upcoming renovation, Deslaurier Custom Cabinets has everything you need. With over 40 years of experience in our name, we provide our clients with a fully customized design process with our talented team of designers. 

Book a free consultation today with a Deslaurier design expert at our Ottawa showroom!

Live outside the area? Find a Dealer to connect with a Deslaurier partner near you! Interested in becoming an authorized Deslaurier dealer? Visit our Become a Dealer page to learn more!