Getting ready for holiday guests can take a lot of preparation. You might be thinking about hanging ornaments and Christmas tree decorations, but those fanciful parts of the season are just the tip of the iceberg. If your area for keeping guests is outdated or disorganized, you might wonder what you have to do to get it up to the 2020s. For most homeowners, that means you’ll need to revisit the guest bathroom. Here are a few things to help you get started.
Do You Need a Bathroom for Overnight Guests?
No one likes to share a bathroom when they travel, even if they’re willing to tolerate it for the sake of visiting loved ones. If your home in Charlotte, NC only has a primary suite–that is, a bathroom connected only to the master bedroom–you should know that there have been a lot of changes to home-building trends in the last decade or two. There’s a reason that so many new home builders are making most bedrooms into suites. Everyone deserves privacy, and for many of your guests, that includes an exclusive bathroom.
What to Look For in a Guest Bathroom Remodel?
While every guest bathroom is unique, there are a few common features that make your life run more smoothly and provide an enjoyable, relaxing space for your visitors. If you’re wondering where to start when remodeling a bathroom, we’ve got a few things that you might want to look for.
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Walk-In Shower
These days, most people want a shower more than they want a bath. If your guest bathtub has seen better days, you can easily swap it out for a spa-like walk-in shower. A full-body showerhead is wonderful for relaxing muscles and winding down after a long day with family or friends. If you have the space, imagine installing a freestanding soaker tub, as well. Separate options are a great choice for guests with young children so that everyone can get ready at the same time.
Room to Get Ready
Although guest bathrooms tend to be a little on the smaller side, they don’t have to be. If you have guests visiting for more than a day or two, you may need to give them a little extra space to get ready. A seating area and a spacious vanity with plenty of room for hygiene items and make-up can help to make up the difference.
Toilet With High-End Features
Every bathroom needs a toilet, and you can select one that solves problems. These days, bidets are more popular in American bathrooms, and your international guests might be expecting them. You can also choose other features to increase sanitation and comfort, like a toilet that flushes with a wave of the hand or a self-cleaning model.
Heated Floors
Installing bathroom tile is a popular choice, especially if you can put radiant heating underneath it. Heated flooring uses air or water-based system that sits below the floor, to radiate warmth into the room. The flooring surface stays warm but does not get hot for bare feet. It’s more efficient than most other types of heating and ensures that a midnight trip to the bathroom doesn’t freeze your guests.
Heated Towel Rails
If you have ever stayed at a hotel with a heated towel rack, you know what a delight it can be, especially in the winter. Guests from out of town may not bring all the comforts they use to get and stay warm. Ensuring that they have a warm towel after a bath or shower can help to keep them more comfortable all day long.
Extra Storage
Storage is one of the easiest things to add to a bathroom remodel, and you may want to make it a priority. Holiday guests often arrive with bags and suitcases that will need to be stowed away during their visit. A separate linen closet for the guest bathroom gives you a great place to keep spare shampoo, extra towels, and a spot for your guests to put their bags.
Can a Full Bathroom Be Converted to a Guest Bath?
If you have the space, you may find that it’s not so difficult to convert a full bathroom into a guest bath. Many homes have full bathrooms intended for guests that are adjacent but not directly connected to the guest bedroom. In this case, it’s a matter of reorganizing the bathroom and ensuring that you can put a door in the right place. If you’re thinking about converting a half bath into a full bathroom, it’s still a reasonable project to consider. We have the experience to help you envision the perfect space. Take a look at our work for more ideas.
How Long Does It Take to Remodel a Bathroom?
Remodeling a bathroom can take several weeks or a few months, including design time. The schedule depends on the type of project; if you’re planning to keep a similar layout but you want to give it a complete update, it may take less time than a bathroom addition, expansion, or suite conversion.
Offering your guests a wonderful place to stay, where they can enjoy time with you and relax in the comforts of your home, takes some advance planning. At Hopedale Builders, we work hard to turn our clients’ ideas into functional bathrooms that they will love. To get started on your bathroom remodeling project in North Carolina, contact us today.
