As the popularity of home renovations grows, many Australians are getting on board with embracing cutting-edge styles and technology. What better way to create the perfect space for you than by planning bathroom renovations? Unfortunately, many homeowners forget to pick new lighting, which is a key component of a high-quality bathroom renovation

Why The Right Bathroom Lighting Is So Important 

A ceiling light is fine, and many people will opt to combine it with a heater and call it a day. There is so much more when it comes to lighting. It is all about function and ambience. The bathroom is where you start and end your day. When the lighting is done right, you should feel good! You should be ready to start your day, and also ready to get to sleep. Pendants and wall lamps can help you achieve both. The brighter lights for getting ready and the warm ones for winding down in the evening. 

Lighting is key to task effectiveness, whether it’s washing, shaving or putting on makeup. You can’t execute a task effectively without the right light. You need enough light and it needs to be at the right angles as well. Vanity lights around the mirror are a great way to make sure you don’t end up with uneven brows or cuts from shaving. 

The final reason is safety – bathrooms can be a dangerous spot and with the right light, it will keep everyone in your home safe. 

Lighting Options Available 

There are a wide variety of styles, sizes, shapes, and types of lighting options available. If you can imagine it, it is probably available. These quick tips should help you while renovating a bathroom. 

What you don’t want is a fluorescent light or bulb because that creates a warehouse ambience. What you do want is dimmers so you can adjust the brightness based on the time of day and what you are doing. It’s important to balance practicality with creating a mood. Depending on your overall aesthetic, you can mix materials to create a quirky style. Antique styles are ideal for a glamorous finish, and bold fittings create drama.

How Crystal Bathrooms Can Help You Choose The Right Lighting For Your Needs 

If you are thinking about a bathroom renovation in Sydney, look no further than the expert design team at Crystal Bathrooms. We can help you with your Sydney bathroom, whether you are looking to create the ultimate classic relaxation spot or a modern style with a bright focal point. We can help you select the ideal options for task, accent, and ambient lighting. No matter how big or small your space is, our team can help you make the right decisions when it comes to lighting, tiling, flooring, and beyond. 

What bathroom is complete without a bath? It’s right there in the name. If you are renovating your master suite, you might not need to include a bath in your plans. But if you are renovating your family bathroom, it isn’t complete without a beautiful bath. There are plenty of pros and cons, but here are five reasons to include a bath when renovating a bathroom. 

5 Reasons To Include A Bath In Your New Renovation 

  1.     An Oasis

Everyone needs an oasis in their home, a place to escape the stress of life. For many, that place is the bathroom. Lighting candles and slipping into a hot bubble bath is an act of self-care that many people view as a must. Whether it’s for you or you’re planning to sell your home soon, a bath is a must-have. 

  1.     Family Life

If you have small children, you know how challenging bath time can be, especially if you don’t have one. It’s a much easier process when you can give them playtime in the bath and make the process fun. It’s a break for everyone, but giving your small child a “bath” in a shower isn’t quite as straightforward. So, if you’re renovating a bathroom that everyone uses, a bath is an attractive must-have for prospective buyers. 

  1.     Pain Relief

If you struggle with physical aches and pains, a bath can help relieve some of those symptoms. A hot bath is a great way to loosen tight muscles. 

  1.     Mood Booster

Just as a hot bath can ease aching muscles, it can also give you a mood boost. Not only can it help ease you into sleep, but it’s also a great place to meditate and beat stress. 

  1.     Aesthetics

One of the biggest reasons homeowners renovate is to modernise and make the space more functional. There is also an aesthetic aspect of renovations. It’s a good way to inject style into your bathroom in Sydney. Many people choose to use a bath as a focal point or centrepiece. You can achieve this with a pop of colour or a particular style that stands out.

Types of Baths Available 

A clawfoot is a bath with four clawed feet. It is often heavier than standard baths, so you may need to reinforce your floors. However, it is a stylish centrepiece for any bathroom. 

A recessed bath is what most people are familiar with – it’s generally installed against the bathroom wall and has two or three sides. It’s the most common variety and there are different styles within that category, but they are usually a shower and bath combination. You could also opt for a corner bath if you’re looking to save space. 

A drop-in was designed to drop in, whether it’s into a raised platform or a floor cavity. The result is a flush finish and a sleek modern look. It isn’t a wise choice for family life because it can be a challenge to get in and out of. Another style within this category is the overflow, which looks like an infinity pool but has a guttering system that recycles overflow to create the effect. 

A freestanding bath is simply a bath that isn’t connected to anything. This is a category of its own, though clawfoot baths do fall within it. Freestanding baths have seen the most innovation in the tub game, with bold colours and styles being a popular option to create a stunning focal point.

How Crystal Bathrooms Can Help You Plan Your Perfect Bathroom 

There is a lot to think about before you start your bathroom renovation, and the aesthetics are important, but so is function. If you are thinking about bathroom renovations, get in touch with Crystal Bathrooms. Our design team can work alongside you to design your perfect bathroom renovation. Before you plan your bathroom renovation in Sydney, reach out to the experts to guide the process to ensure your renovation goes off without a hitch and meets all of your needs.

Redecorating, or perhaps decorating a space for the first time is great fun! No matter what, you’re dealing with your own blank canvas that you can do whatever you want with! As such, bathroom renovations go from being daunting tasks to something you relish doing! Most people don’t use wood when they’re doing bathroom renovations, because it typically is not waterproof and as such, tile or linoleum is preferred when renovating a bathroom

However, wood is becoming more popular around the house – coffee tables, live-edge countertops in the kitchen and so on – so, why not expand your use of wood to the bathroom and cover it in a waterproof finish? 

Here are four different ways to use wood in your next bathroom renovation.

1.   Wooden Beams in the Ceilings

If you’re going for an old cottage-type look, then the addition of wooden beams on the ceiling is a fantastic way to reuse wooden beams that would otherwise have become sawdust. Make sure that they’re heartily screwed or nailed into place on load-bearing beams and finished with the colouring of your choice before you put them into place. 

The addition of wooden provides an old-style look, no matter the finish and can really add character to a modernised bathroom.

2.   Pallet Wood for Shower Walls 

Perhaps looking to brighten up a space or add a ‘feature’ wall to the shower? Then you can use reclaimed pallet wood and brighten it up with some waterproof varnish! Make sure you sand it first before installing it – it screws and/or nails right over your drywall. Even if you only use this on a single wall in your shower, it adds character to what would otherwise be (likely) white tile.

3.   Use Wood for Countertops or Vanities 

One of the most common uses for wood in a bathroom is as a countertop or vanity. If you’re using wood as a vanity around your bathroom sink, then make sure you keep it clean and treat it for waterproofing as well. You can use many different types of wood for this application, with red oak and mahogany being among the most popular. The goal is to make your countertops stand out. We would not recommend using live-edge finishing, however, as bathroom floors can become slippery, making the live-edge finish a safety hazard.

4.   Wooden Accessories 

Sometimes, in a bright white space like a bathroom, you don’t have to use wood in a major way. Wood accessories can really add a lot to a space. For example, you can use wooden toothbrush holders, or a wooden bowl for soap. Wood cookies – round wood cuts from a tree base – can be used fashionably in your next bathroom renovation, as a sink-side lazy Susan.

How To Treat Wood To Use in the Bathroom 

For obvious reasons, when using wood in your bathroom, you’ll want to make sure that it’s as waterproof as possible. For this, you’ll need to use one of three different waterproofing methods. 

1)     Treat with Linseed or Tung Oil 

An au-naturel way to waterproof your wood is to treat it with linseed or Tung oil. The oil will act as a natural water-repellent. This is great if you don’t want to introduce foreign chemicals in your bathroom. 

2)     Combine Stain & Sealant Varnish 

There is such a thing as stain-sealant varnish, that simultaneously stains your wood of choice and then seals it against water. Use this sparingly, as it’s fairly powerful stuff. 

3)     Use Polyurethane 

One of the most common sealants for wood is polyurethane. This should be applied prior to installation in your bathroom. Polyurethane is a more cost-effective sealant method if applying it in large quantities. 

How Can Crystal Bathrooms Help? 

Aside from being the physical labour behind your bathroom renovation, Crystal Bathrooms has the design knowledge and background to help you formulate a plan of action and execute a flawless bathroom renovation, including as much wood as you want in your space. We’ve been helping conduct bathroom renovations in Sydney for the past several years and have earned our reputation for being the go-to bathroom renovators in the city. 

Contact us today to help you with bringing your wood-laden bathroom to life.

Trends and styles change all the time in the world of interior design, and one of those is VJ panelling in the bathroom. VJ panelling, sometimes called ‘vertical tongue-and-groove’ is panelling that can be placed on a bathroom wall and is sometimes used instead of tile on a ‘feature’ wall. These are often found in larger bathrooms, where one has the space to design a ‘feature’ wall. They are used to break up the monotony of the bathroom space and really add a sense of ‘pop’.

Where Can I Buy VJ Panelling?

VJ panelling can be found in almost any home-improvement or hardware store in various thicknesses and lengths. Simply choose the right thickness and length for your bathroom and away you go.

What Can I Use VJ Panelling For In My Bathroom?

VJ panelling is a fantastic way to use wood in a bathroom and still maintain a sleek, modern look. VJ panelling can be used for feature walls, as mentioned above. They’re great to put behind a vanity cabinet – providing that the colour schemes match. Alternatively, they could be used all-the-way-around, leaving only tile for the shower space. It could also be used around a mirror to make it stand out. 

When renovating your bathroom, make sure that you’ve got a plan for your VJ panelling, because it can be a pain to uninstall once it’s up. 

How Do I Prepare VJ Panelling For My Bathroom? 

Given that you’re dealing with wood in a humid, wet space, it’s very important that you treat your wood before you install it in your bathroom renovation, to ensure that it remains protected from the elements. This can be done in a few ways. 

1)     Polyurethane – it’s an easy and effective way to seal your panelling. Polyurethane also maintains a colourlessness, which allows you to apply paint to the wood – which you should do before coating it in polyurethane – to match whatever colour scheme you’re going for.

2)     Linseed or Tung Oil – if you’re trying to steer clear of chemical components for whatever reason, then linseed and/or Tung oil is a great way to seal your VJ panelling against water, as the oils are naturally water-repellent. This offers an au-naturel option, and the smell is fantastic.

3)     Seal/Stain Combination – If you’re looking to save time in your bathroom renovation, then using a stain/seal combination lacquer is a great way to make your VJ panelling waterproof – it’s helpful if you plan a natural wood look to use this method.

Why Should I Use VJ Panelling? 

There are a few reasons why you might choose VJ panelling over tiling when you’re renovating your bathroom. 

How Can Crystal Bathrooms Help Me? 

We at Crystal Bathrooms specialise in bathroom renovations in Sydney, so no matter what your ideas are, we’ll help you get them from concept to actuality in no time. We’re great to bounce ideas off, we also employ skilled tradespeople to help bring your VJ panelling dreams to reality in any bathroom renovation.

Contact us today for a quote, to speak with one of our design experts, or for material acquisition options.

There’s nothing worse than starting the winter mornings with cold feet on even colder bathroom tiles. And luckily, you don’t need to live that life when can enjoy underfloor bathroom heating in your next bathroom renovation.

What Is Under Floor Heating 

First things first, what is under-floor heating? Underfloor heating is exactly what it sounds like – heating installed beneath your flooring, whether it’s hydronic or electric. It provides you with an effective heating solution for bathrooms of all sizes. 

Hydronic heating uses the hot water system and is a more challenging and expensive installation process. The process relies on your hot water boiler dispersing hot water to the underfloor piping coils that heat up to create lovely warm flooring. It’s a more cost-effective option if you’re launching a full home renovation and plan to install it throughout your home. 

When electric underfloor heating is installed, electric cables are installed by embedding them in thin mats beneath the floor. It is the easier of the two options to install, which is why the majority of homeowners choose it. You can set your ideal floor temperature and it will reach your desired temperature in around half an hour. Done? Just switch it off. If you’re planning bathroom renovations, then this is a great time for electric underfloor heating. It is best used in open-plan bathrooms.

Benefits of Underfloor Heating 

If you’re thinking about renovating your bathroom in Sydney, you need to take a look at this long list of potential benefits of underfloor heating. 

A traditional radiator has to work hard to produce the amount of heat needed to heat an entire room. Underfloor heating can do it in half the time and at a lower temperature, meaning it uses far less energy than your traditional heating solution. 

Once the system is installed, it requires very little maintenance moving forward. It’s essentially a set it and forget it system unless you opt for the hydronic system which requires more regular servicing to ensure optimal performance. 

With the heating installed beneath the floor, you never need to worry about the cold spots so common in traditional heating systems. 

Without the need for a radiator, you don’t have to worry about working a bulky wall-affixed heating system. You can style your bathroom exactly as you always dreamed. 

Of course, it’s important to mention that with underfloor heating your bathroom will be less likely to develop a mould problem.

Why A Bathroom Renovation Is The Best Time To Install 

The best time to lay underfloor heating is during bathroom renovations because you’re already ripping the floor out to replace it. Underfloor heating is just that – it is installed beneath the floor so it’s impossible to do without first lifting the floor. So it’s a more cost-effective way to get the heating system you want without tearing up the floor without completing the rest of the bathroom. 

How Crystal Bathrooms Can Help 

Underfloor heating is an excellent, cost and energy-efficient heating solution to heat your bathroom and beyond. If you’re thinking about launching a home renovation, you should explore all of your options before you make a decision. And if you are planning a bathroom renovation in Sydney, there’s only one thing to do – reach out to Crystal Bathrooms to discuss your renovating bathroom ideas. You can get in touch for a free no-obligation quote, whether you know exactly what you’d like or you’re looking for a bit of guidance. 

The bathroom is the most likely culprit for mould in the home because it’s a moist area that generally lacks proper ventilation. The problem with mould is it is unhygienic and ugly, whether it’s a patch on the ceiling or growth on your grout. 

What Is Mould? Why Does It Form In Bathrooms? 

All mould requires is moisture and poor ventilation – two things that are common in bathrooms. And once it appears, it can be a challenge to remove it permanently. Beyond its unsightly appearance, it is harmful to your health, especially if you have respiratory issues or allergies. 

So, what is mould? It’s a toxic fungus that thrives in damp and dark areas. You often find it in shower recesses, tiled wet areas, bathroom walls, and ceilings. The key to distinguishing between mildew and mould is texture and colour. While mildew is powdery looking and grey, mould is fuzzy and black. 

If you spot mould in your bathroom, you need to act fast before it has a chance to spiral out of control. The presence of mildew is a sign that you have a growing problem that could escalate to mould. Mould is much harder to get rid of and if allowed to build up, can be dangerous. Though the reaction varies, mould can produce cold-like symptoms or exacerbate existing allergies or respiratory symptoms.

Ways To Avoid Mould Forming In Your Bathroom 

The key to preventing mould from forming in your bathroom is great ventilation – so open the windows and door after showering and give it time to breathe. You should also have a ventilation fan in use whenever the bath or shower is in use. A dehumidifier will also help. 

After bathing, take steps to deal with excess moisture. You can clean down and dry all of the wet surfaces, and hang used towels and rugs out to dry. Be sure to regularly clean your shower curtain or glass regularly to prevent mildew or mould from building up. 

You may want to consider resealing your grout to prevent moisture from seeping through slight cracks. This is the gateway for mould so you need to stop it in its tracks. 

One of the biggest sneaky mould spots is a leaky toilet or tap. If you notice a damp or musty odour, you need to launch an inspection to locate the source so it can be dealt with immediately before it escalates.

What You Can Do About Mould In The Bathroom 

Be sure to check your bathroom regularly for mould, behind the toilet, under your units, and in adjoining cupboards just to be sure. Take action as soon as you find mould. Bleach and white vinegar are fine for stopping a small patch from spreading. But if you have a major outbreak, purchase a commercial solution designed specifically for mould removal. Regular cleaning should also help keep mould at bay. 

A Bathroom Renovation Can Help 

Diving into bathroom renovations may seem like a big decision, but if you have a persistent mould problem then it could be an underlying issue. Unless you address the root of the problem, you will have to live with a damp, mouldy bathroom. When renovating a bathroom, be sure to speak to the professionals about the steps they plan to take to combat dampness and mould in your Sydney bathroom. 

How Crystal Bathrooms Can Assist

Before you jump to renovating bathrooms or looking at new suites, seek professional advice. If it’s time for a bathroom renovation in Sydney, then the friendly experts at Crystal Bathrooms are more than happy to help. No matter the size of your bathroom, Crystal Bathrooms can provide you with expert advice on where to go next. Reach out for your free no-obligation quote. 

When building or completing renovations, “waterproofing” and “bathroom” should go hand-in-hand and it’s important to waterproof a bathroom to Australian Standards. A bathroom without quality waterproofing is almost guaranteed to lead to disaster.

When waterproofing doesn’t exist or isn’t working, water can damage the building, not to mention the wet provides the perfect environment for mould and termites to thrive. That’s why it’s crucial that when renovating, or doing a general check of the home, you should check your water proofing status. Here’s what you need to know.

What Needs to be Waterproofed in a Bathroom? 

This may go without saying, but if you’re just conducting your very first bathroom build and are renovating a bathroom that may be from an older home, or even installing a whole new bathroom yourself, you need to know what needs to be waterproofed in a bathroom in Sydney. 

Signs You’ve Got Waterproofing Issues 

There are a few key signs to look for when figuring out if you need to re-waterproof your bathroom during a bathroom renovation

Funny smells – if you’re noticing a funny smell in your bathroom, it might be time to look for mould and mildew build up. This can be caused by poor waterproofing of sink and bathtub areas. This can also be caused by poor plumbing when installing your toilet.

Apparent mould and mildew growth – Sometimes mould and mildew growth is readily visible. If you see any mould and mildew, you should wipe it clean with a bleach cleaning solution, and then if it reappears, be sure to contact a mould and mildew removal specialist.

Floor bulging – If you notice that your floor is starting to bulge in certain areas, such as near the toilet, sink or bathtub, you may have an incomplete water barrier in these areas, and may have made a mistake (or your contractor did) when installing your flooring. This has caused water to seep in under the flooring and caused the flooring to expand. Please note that this is less common with vinyl and tile flooring, so if you’re looking for waterproof options for flooring, those are two of your most reliable.

When is a Bathroom Renovation Necessary? 

While it may not be your first choice due to the expense involved, there may come a time when your bathroom’s lack of waterproofing simply cannot be patched up any more. This will demand you spend some money and perform a bathroom renovation to ensure that waterproofing is installed correctly and up to the standards of various national and local building codes. 

Is My Bathroom Waterproofing Renovation Up to Code? 

One of the key things when conducting any bathroom renovations in Sydney is to ensure that your bathroom renovation will meet the building code guidelines. You may not be able to DIY your bathroom’s waterproofing – that will depend on your locality’s regulations. In New South Wales, waterproofing materials must be installed by a licensed waterproofing technician.

If you’re not sure how to waterproof your bathroom, it is imperative that you spend the money and get a licensed professional to perform the task for you. Keep in mind that in Australia, it’s the law that your waterproofing complies with Australian Standards AS3740 and AS4654.

How Can Crystal Bathrooms Help? 

As professionals in bathroom renovations, we ensure that all of our waterproofing is done in accordance with national and local standards. If you’re looking to renovate your bathroom to ensure it is watertight – let us know and we’ll send in our professionals to assess, quote and then perform the renovations.

This will come as no shock to homeowners, but your bathroom probably isn’t the cleanest place in the world, no matter how much you regularly clean it. If improving bathroom hygiene is high on your list of house priorities (and it should be), here are some ideas on how to go about it – and how smart technology may just hold the key to a cleaner bathroom space. 

Why You Should Improve Your Home Bathroom’s Hygiene 

We imagine that you do your best to keep your bathroom as clean as possible. However, there are all sorts of microscopic bacteria that you don’t see – and perhaps, therefore, don’t clean – that is growing and spreading harmful bacteria around that may cause illness. 

Sometimes it’s easy to forget all of the places that bacteria can lurk, like under the toilet seat, inside drawers and cupboards where hairbrushes are often thrown unthinkingly – even taps sometimes get missed. Light switches, the toilet bowl, and other high-bacterial areas are missed by cleaning crews, or by you. But that’s OK. Luckily, smart technology may be the answer you’ve been looking for to help you gain a cleaner bathroom space.

How Smart Technology Can Help 

There are numerous examples of smart technology making lives easier inside the home and out. The bathroom is also one of these areas! By making small bathroom renovations, you can cut down on the number of bacteria in your bathroom.

Here are a few ways in which smart technology can help. 

Motion-Sensor/Smart Light Switches 

There is an estimated 217 bacteria per square inch of any light switch! In your bathroom, this might not be the thing you think about when cleaning, but making a switch to motion-sensor lighting, or even voice-activated ones, like using a Google Home system can cut down on the propagation of bacteria as you won’t be touching the light switch anymore.

Smart Toilets 

Another great option for a smart-tech bathroom renovation is installing a smart toilet! Functioning like a normal toilet, these smart toilets have a whole pile of features including motion detection (which raises the lid and flushes when no motion is detected for about 30 seconds), and a self-cleaning sequence that sprays water and soap in the bowl when closed to clean the interior of the toilet at a time you set. Smart toilets are a revolution in bathroom technology. 

Use a Toothbrush Sanitiser 

For those who often don’t perhaps put a cap on their toothbrush after use, you’re more likely to attract unwanted bacteria! You can utilise a toothbrush sanitiser, which delivers LED light and heat to the brush to eliminate 99% of germs. You certainly don’t have to break the bank on this bathroom renovation to make sure your mouth stays clean. 

Smart Showers 

We all love having a shower, don’t we? Well, smart showers are the future of showering. These devices offer a plethora of options to the lucky person who gets to shower in them every day. These include temperature set controls, hydrotherapy spray functionality, and (because it uses digital temperature controls), is more energy efficient and doesn’t waste as much water as you flip between hot and cold, trying to find the right temperature. While this bathroom renovation isn’t cheap, you’ll save money in the long run and get a perfectly temperate shower, day-in, day-out! 

How Crystal Bathrooms Can Help 

There are a whole bunch of home improvements you can make to your bathroom space to increase its hygiene. No matter if you decide to undertake a small or big bathroom renovation in Sydney, Crystal Bathrooms can help you make that renovation. Whether you’re taking out the old manual shower to replace it with a new one or retrofitting your toilet, we can help you make your bathroom fancier and cleaner at the same time.

Ensuites are a little slice of luxury that many of us enjoy, and as with any part of the home we use often, it becomes a popular space for renovation. Whether you simply want a change, you are keen to make more space for a wardrobe or a bigger bathroom space, or you need to replace old and mouldy tiles and grout, an ensuite renovation is a great idea. They’re generally more affordable than you’d spend on a full bathroom reno, and you’ll likely get a few extra grey hairs while you’re doing the planning, but they’re well worth it in the end. 

Before we visit why you need to renovate, let’s start with the basics: what is an ensuite?

What is an ensuite?

An ensuite is a bathroom that is directly attached to a bedroom. There is usually a doorway and wall separating the two rooms, but an ensuite bathroom makes for easier access to a bathroom and is usually a fantastic selling point of luxury in a home. 

Ensuite bathrooms are among the most desirable types of bathrooms in homes, as they provide ease of access and privacy. Most new homes, or homes that are being renovated will have an ensuite as part of their bathroom renovation planning.

5 Reasons Your Ensuite Needs a Refresh

So, why does your ensuite need a refresh? Let’s take a look at some of the most common reasons people are upgrading their ensuites.

Modernisation

Maybe you’ve moved into an older home and while an ensuite bathroom came with the home, it’s an older style and needs to be updated. This might mean renovating the bathroom by replacing the old bathtub/shower combination with a walk-in shower. Otherwise, it might mean replacing the old sink with a new one with new fittings. You may opt for a larger mirror to replace the recessed medicine cabinet with a mirror front.

When you’re modernising an ensuite, there are plenty of options for bathroom renovations, as you’re essentially starting with a blank canvas.

Fix Any Ongoing Problems

One of the main reasons to conduct bathroom renovations is to fix any ongoing problems. If your sink is constantly running, or the showerhead just won’t turn off, despite being turned off, one option is to have a plumber come out and try and fix it – however, if the problem persists, the repetitive plumber’s visits may be more expensive than replacing the thing to begin with. Lots of older houses have persistent problems that aren’t necessarily divulged at sale, or become apparent once the move-in is complete. While a complete bathroom renovation might not be necessary, a smaller project would fix whatever persistent problems you’re facing.

Update the Look

Moving into an older home also comes with the old-style look. For the bathroom, this usually means coloured wall tiling all the way around, that awful pink or light orange tiling. It can mean a low bathtub with a single showerhead that’s fixed to the wall. Conducting a large-scale bathroom renovation means tearing all of that older style out and replacing it with a removable magnetic showerhead, or a walk-in shower, stainless steel fittings and a vanity cabinet. Updating the look of your bathroom is always a good reason to renovate.

Add Functionality & Storage

One of the main reasons why people renovate anything is because they no longer like it – or it no longer offers the functionality that it once did. Bathrooms are no different. Doing a smaller bathroom renovation like adding a vanity cabinet along one wall is a great way to add both functionality and storage space with a single, smaller renovation.

Update Colours & Tiles

Some older bathrooms have outdated colour and tile schemes. This can be a good enough reason alone to renovate a bathroom. You might swap the dated colour tiles for something like wood or stone, if you’re going for a natural feel in your bathroom renovation. Porcelain tiles are great for wetter areas – so if you’re going for a large, complete walk-in shower, then porcelain might be a good option for the flooring. Colouring updates don’t just have to be tiling, they can be an addition of some brightly-coloured water-resistant art, or even just a vase of flowers. Brightening up a room with white is a great choice in a bathroom, so maybe choose white granite for your new vanity or sink.

If you’re looking for ideas and help with your bathroom renovations, then Crystal Bathrooms can help. Our bathroom renovations in Sydney are famous for breathing new-life into an older ensuite, or helping you stop that persistent problem by replacement. There’s nothing quite the look of a new ensuite bathroom that you can enjoy from the comfort of your own bedroom. Get in touch with our friendly team today to find out more or to make a booking.

Sometimes your bathroom needs a particularly special update: to make it more accessible for family members with a physical disability. These updates can mean wider doorways, a new walk-in shower, or a roll-in shower that requires that the ground be completely flat. It can mean lower bathroom sinks to accommodate a wheelchair user, and a higher toilet seat to accommodate easier transfer for the wheelchair-bound individual. 

These upgrades to your home can be particularly expensive and you’ll likely need professional help to make the changes. However, thanks to the Australian government’s initiative, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) allows you as the homeowner to claim certain expenses back through the NDIS program, such as NDIS bathroom renovations.

What Are Some Easier Additions to Make to a Bathroom?

While you might be tempted to go the whole hog on an NDIS bathroom renovation, you don’t have to do so to make a difference to someone with a disability. There are plenty of NDIS bathroom modifications that don’t require a huge remodel. Here are some easier-to-make NDIS bathroom modifications. 

What If I Need Bigger Renovations? 

If you’re in need of a more complete bathroom remodel to accommodate an individual in your household with mobility challenges, then Crystal Bathrooms can help with an extensive NDIS bathroom renovation. We provide assistance throughout every step of the renovation process: helping you to design the bathroom, offer material suggestions and research, and then finally offering physical assistance in doing the renovation for you.

Our goal is to help make your bathroom more accessible for you – and as accessibility actually makes life easier for everyone, your bathroom becomes more accessible for everyone, too! Usually, when you’re making large-scale accessibility-related renovations, you need to consult an NDIS specialist before making the changes, to make sure you’re covered under the insurance. 

What is NDIS & Why Is It Important? 

NDIS, or the National Disability Insurance Scheme provides homeowners who are themselves living with a disability or will be making renovations to provide for those in the household that are living with a disability, with specialised insurance funds to make those renovations possible, as they can be very extensive and expensive. 

Having an NDIS-approved renovation plan will make sure that you’re covered in the event of an accident in your home, in the space that was covered with the NDIS. NDIS-approved modifications to a bathroom are things like installing wider doorways, replacing a sink and counter, so that it can be lowered to accommodate a wheelchair user. Or the replacing of a bathtub-shower, with either a full walk-in shower, or a roll-in shower for those with wheelchair users in the home.

Crystal Bathrooms can help navigate the Insurance Scheme, making sure everything checks all of the boxes, at every stage of the renovation.

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