Many homeowners are opting for remodeling rather than bear the expense of moving. They enjoy their home, but many of the rooms could use an upgrade. If you are a do-it-your-selfer, you not only save money, you get the satisfaction of building part of your house yourself.

You can get ideas from Unique Vanities to add a touch of modernity and class to your bathroom. If you start small, with the bathroom or a bedroom, the mess is minimal and when you have completed the project, you will love your house even more.

Below is a step-by-step guide to remodeling your bathroom.

1. Choose Your Design

The first thing you need to do is decide what you want in your remodeled bathroom. You’ll want to sketch out a design and make sure you measure everything you are going to be replacing.

Things like how many sinks and mirrors will need to be figured out before you can take a hammer to the project. If you want to keep the project small, stay with the same window configuration. If you are daring and want more natural light, double the size of the window or make another one on the other side of the room.

Another thing to consider is the flooring. There are many advances in tile and wood flooring, you can even get a heated floor, which is nice after a shower or bath.

If you and your family don’t take baths, don’t put one in. A walk-in shower will save space and time.  A professional like B Able can advise on the cost. A tough decision is what type of shower head to invest in. There are ones that spray you like a car wash and others that boast a “rain forest” feel.

Lastly, pick a color or two, no more. You don’t have to have the entire room to match. One neutral color like gray or blue for the walls will go with just about any other color. When you get tired of the color scene, you only need to change the towels and a few accent pieces.

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2. Gather the Tools

Before you can begin, it is best to gather all the tools you may need. Read the instruction on each new item, like the vanity, mirrors and flooring. Each item requires a different set of tools and it is better to have them on hand than to stop and hunt for them.

You will also need safety gear, which is to be worn no matter what part of the project you are working on. Items like a construction vest or tool belt (such as an electrician tool belt), safety glasses, thick gloves with gripper strips on the hands and fingers, and a mask to keep the dirt and dust particles out of your mouth, nose and lungs.

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3. Demolish the Old, Make Room for the New

Before you begin tearing down the old bathroom, make sure you turn off the water and disconnect the electric to the room. Use lights that stand alone and can be plugged in another room with a long cord or battery-operated lights.

Drain the toilet before removing it. This will prevent flooding the bathroom. If you are going to put the same commode back, be careful when moving it. If you have chosen a new one, place the old one in a dumpster.

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4. Start at The Top

Always start at the top of the room and work your way down. This will keep everything on the floor for easy cleanup. Going the other way will mess up a new floor.

If you are going to change the main light fixture, or add an exhaust fan, this is the time to do it. You don’t want any of the debris to fall into a new tub or on a new floor.

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5. Install the New Shower and/or Tub

Since this is the largest part of the bathroom remodel, it should go in next. You will install the flooring around the tub or shower, not under it. This will save you time and money.

Be sure to follow all the manufacturer’s directions for installation and use the proper caulk to avoid any leaks in the future.

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6. Install Vanity and Toilet

The next largest items to install are the vanity with sink and the toilet. Again, these should go in before the flooring to save money.

Be sure to look at the sub-floor after you remove each item. Make sure there is no rotten wood or leaks that need to be repaired before adding new items.

7. Install Drywall and Then Paint

If you are taking everything down to the studs, this is the time where you will install the new drywall. Always be sure it is level and even with the floor and ceiling.

Once the drywall is in place and completely dry, you can paint it. You could also choose the wallpaper. No matter what you choose, make sure you are going to use materials that are specifically designed for a bathroom. Paint that can’t withstand the humidity of a hot shower or bubbles when it gets wet is not going to work. The paint should be durable, washable and long lasting.

Avoid wallpaper in the shower area as the heat and humidity will eventually loosen the glue and the paper will fall.

8. Installing the Floor

Once you have nearly everything done, it is time to install your new bathroom floor. If you only have a few fixtures let, like a towel rack or a shelf, you can wait on these as they will not make that much of a mess on a new floor.

You may have chosen a stone, tile or wood. No matter what you picked, the instructions should be straight forward and fairly simple. You will need to be patient and use a leveler to make sure you have each piece snug with the piece next to it.

Remember to work from the back of the room and out the door. You don’t want to “paint” yourself into a corner.

9. Add Accents and Enjoy

Depending on what theme you picked, like nautical or desert, use accent pieces sparingly. Don’t overwhelm the room with too many of one thing, like lighthouses.

Enjoy your new bathroom!