There are several points to consider when you are planning to redesign a bathroom. As with any project the first thing you should settle on is the budget. Renovating, redesigning, or updating a room can cost as much as you want to spend, and costs can skyrocket out of control if there is no solid budget to work from. Look at what you are willing to spend, and put that number down as your budget cap. Never place your budget maximum higher than what you can afford to spend, because in many cases whatever the cap is won’t be sufficient for what you want to do.

Sometimes people find it difficult to set that budget number before having an idea on costs associated with each aspect of the project. In order to do that you must measure the room before you go to get estimates. It is also nice to have a short list in mind of things you want to do to the space, what kind of traffic will be in the room, whether children will be using that bathroom, etc. The more prepared you are before you start pricing, the more accurate your estimates will be.

Painting can be a simple and cost effective way to update a room, or the first step in a larger bathroom remodel. If you are replacing flooring, bath fixtures, or cabinetry it is helpful to have the painting done first, to avoid extra taping or messy spills that can make the job much more difficult. Choose a color scheme that you like, or if you are considering selling your home, choose a neutral color scheme to make the home more appealing to a wider range of persons.

Armed with a color scheme, the next step is to look at flooring. Flooring can easily be the most expensive part of any bathroom project, and there are several factors to keep in mind. A high traffic area, especially one accessed by children, needs to be durable and easy to clean. In bathrooms, you always want to make sure that whatever flooring you choose will hold up to frequent water saturation. If cost is a big issue for you, consider doing the floors yourself, but keep in mind that flooring is a very difficult job that takes precision. A botched flooring job can ruin an otherwise well planned bathroom project.

If replacing cabinetry, a toilet, a sink, or a tub/shower, it’s a good idea to strip the old ones out before you put down the new floor. That way you have a level, even base to work with. Any of these products can be replaced by the homeowner with the right know-how, but if your budget permits, paying someone saves a lot of back and head aches later on. Finally you can consider what type of hardware and other accent pieces you want.

Creating cost estimates for each aspect of the project will give you a firm understanding of which projects will fit in your budget and which ones will have to be either simplified or eliminated. Keeping these factors in mind will make your bathroom redesign a much less daunting task, saving you time and money. » Read more: Important Things to Consider When Redesigning Your Bathroom