Renovating your home is a big decision, especially when it involves two of the most used spaces: the kitchen and the bathroom. With limited time and budget, homeowners often need help deciding which room to remodel first. The kitchen and bathroom serve essential functions, so it’s important to consider several factors before deciding.
This guide will help you weigh the pros and cons of each renovation option and identify which space deserves your attention first.
Let’s get straight to the point.
Deciding between a kitchen or bathroom remodel depends on several factors. Assess your home’s needs, the urgency of the renovation, where you spend the most time, and your budget. Kitchens offer a higher return on investment and are central to daily life, but they are costlier and take longer to renovate. Bathrooms are quicker and more affordable to upgrade, offering comfort and convenience, especially if it’s the only one in your home. Prioritise based on where improvements will benefit your lifestyle the most and what you can live without during renovations.
1. What Does Your Home Need The Most?
The first step in deciding whether to remodel your kitchen or bathroom is to assess the current state of your home. Which room feels the most outdated or causes the most inconvenience? Identifying the areas of improvement is crucial in determining which space will provide the most value once upgraded.
Questions To Consider
- Does your kitchen have an old-fashioned layout that makes cooking difficult or inefficient?
- Does your bathroom lack modern amenities or essential features like storage or accessibility?
- Which room do you avoid using because of its condition?
Once you’ve identified where your home falls short, it will be easier to determine which renovation project should be prioritised.
Kitchen Example:
If your kitchen has limited counter space and old appliances that make meal prep a hassle, it may be time for a remodel. An open-plan layout and updated fixtures could significantly improve your daily routine.
Bathroom Example:
On the other hand, if your bathroom feels cramped or the fixtures are outdated, a bathroom renovation might bring the most value to your home. Simple changes, like adding storage or upgrading to a walk-in shower, could transform your bathroom into a more functional and enjoyable space.
2. Where Do You Spend Most Of Your Time?
When deciding between a kitchen or bathroom renovation, it’s essential to consider where you and your family spend the most time. If your kitchen is the hub of the home where meals are prepared and family gatherings take place, a kitchen remodel could enhance your lifestyle. However, if your bathroom is your retreat for relaxation, a bathroom renovation might offer more immediate benefits.
Key Points:
- Kitchen: A modern kitchen can significantly impact your daily life if you love cooking and hosting guests.
- Bathroom: If your bathroom is where you unwind at the end of the day, enhancing its comfort and functionality might be more rewarding.
Understanding where you spend the most time and what upgrades would improve your daily routine will better equip you to make the right decision.
3. How Urgent Are The Renovations?
Another factor to consider is the urgency of the renovation. In some cases, the need for an upgrade may be more pressing in one room than the other. For instance, if your bathroom has leaking pipes, poor water pressure, or other plumbing issues, you may need to prioritise its renovation for safety and functionality. Similarly, a kitchen with broken cabinets or appliances may require immediate attention.
Urgency Scenarios:
- Bathroom: If your bathroom lacks accessibility features, such as grab bars or a walk-in shower, it may be an urgent concern, particularly for elderly family members or those with mobility issues.
- Kitchen: If you’re struggling with limited storage or malfunctioning appliances, a kitchen renovation might be necessary to improve your home’s overall usability.
Prioritising urgent fixes ensures that your home continues to meet your needs while preventing potential damage from worsening problems.
4. How Much Can You Spend?
Budget plays a huge role in deciding which space to remodel first. Kitchen renovations are more expensive than bathroom upgrades due to the costs of appliances, countertops, cabinetry, and other materials. However, while kitchen remodels may require a higher initial investment, they often offer a higher return on investment (ROI), particularly when selling your home.
Cost Considerations
- Kitchen Remodel: A mid-range kitchen renovation typically costs between $15,000 and AUD 30,000, depending on the project’s scope.
- Bathroom Remodel: A standard bathroom renovation costs around $10,000 to $25,000, depending on the fixtures and materials selected, making it more affordable for many homeowners.
If you’re working within a tight budget, the bathroom might be the best room to tackle first. However, upgrading your kitchen could provide more value over time if you can invest in a larger project.
5. The Impact On Home Value
One of the main reasons homeowners choose to renovate is to increase their home’s value. Choosing a renovation that offers the greatest return on investment is important if you plan to sell your home.
ROI Considerations
- Kitchen: Real estate experts agree that a kitchen remodel often provides a higher return on investment than a bathroom renovation. Potential buyers tend to focus on the kitchen, which is the home’s heart.
- Bathroom: While renovations can add value, they typically offer a lower ROI than kitchen upgrades.
If your primary goal is to maximise the value of your home for resale, a kitchen renovation might be the better choice.
6. How Will The Renovation Affect Your Daily Life?
When planning a renovation, it’s crucial to consider how the project will affect your day-to-day routine; losing access to your kitchen or bathroom during the renovation process can be highly disruptive, so planning is important.
Consider The Impact
- Kitchen: During a kitchen remodel, you may need to rely on takeout, microwave meals, or a temporary cooking setup. This can be inconvenient but manageable if you have alternatives for meal preparation.
- Bathroom: If you only have one bathroom, renovating it could pose more significant challenges. You may need to make alternative arrangements for showering and using the facilities, which can disrupt your routine.
By considering how much you rely on each space, you can better plan for the renovation process and minimise inconvenience.
7. Time Considerations
Another factor to consider is the time required to complete a renovation. Kitchen renovations take longer than bathroom remodels, especially if they involve significant changes like moving walls, installing new appliances, or updating plumbing and electrical systems.
Estimated Timelines
- Kitchen Renovation: Depending on the project’s complexity, a kitchen remodel can take two to six months.
- Bathroom Renovation: A typical bathroom renovation takes about 18 to 30 days, making it a quicker project.
If you’re looking for a faster renovation with less disruption, a bathroom upgrade may be the way to go. However, if you’re for a longer timeline, the results of a kitchen renovation can substantially impact your home.
8. Which Renovation Adds More Long-Term Value?
Both kitchen and bathroom renovations can add significant long-term value to your home. A modern kitchen can improve your home’s value for years, making preparing meals and entertaining guests easier. Meanwhile, an updated bathroom can enhance comfort and provide a relaxing space to unwind.
Long-Term Benefits
- Kitchen: A kitchen remodel often offers more long-term value because it improves the overall functionality of your home. A well-designed kitchen makes daily tasks easier and increases your enjoyment of the space.
- Bathroom: A bathroom renovation can enhance your quality of life by providing a comfortable and stylish relaxing space, especially if you add luxury features like a walk-in shower or spa tub.
Consider your plans for the home when deciding which room to renovate first. If you plan to stay in the house for many years, a kitchen upgrade may offer the most long-term value.
9. What’s The Challenge: Living Without A Kitchen Or A Bathroom?
Another way to approach the decision is to consider which room you can live without during the renovation. Going without a kitchen for a month or two might be inconvenient but manageable with takeout or makeshift meals. However, losing access to your bathroom can be far more disruptive, especially if it’s the only one in your home.
Living Without Each Room
- Kitchen: While your kitchen is being renovated, you can make temporary arrangements using a microwave, hot plate, or dining out.
- Bathroom: If you only have one bathroom, losing access to it at any time could pose significant challenges, requiring you to make alternative living arrangements.
By considering which room you can live without more easily, you can decide which renovation to prioritise.
Conclusion
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when deciding whether there’s there’s in your kitchen or bathroom. Each renovation offers its benefits and challenges, and the decision will ultimately depend on your unique needs, budget, and lifestyle.
Consider factors such as where you spend the most time, how urgent the upgrades are, and how much money you can invest. The kitchen and bathroom are essential spaces that can significantly improve your home’s home’s functionality. Whichever room you tackle first will create a more comfortable, stylish, and valuable home.
FAQs About Bathroom Renovation
What Is The Order Of A Bathroom Renovation?
In an ideal scenario, you should start by draining the toilet and only then remove it; this will help you avoid any unwanted water spills or problems with the plumbing. After that, if necessary, remove the bathtub tile before removing the bathtub itself. Cabinets, vanities, mirrors, and tiles on the walls and floors are the last fixtures to be removed.
What Comes First Kitchen Cabinets Or Flooring?
Because of the typical heights of different types of flooring, the cabinets will almost always be installed before the floor covering. Not the subfloor (located under the underlayment) or the underlayment itself, the floor covering, also known as finish flooring, is the surface that people see and walk on (between the subfloor and finished layer).
Do You Put Flooring Under The Bathroom Vanity?
Most flooring contractors recommend that the cabinets be installed first. This reduces the likelihood that the floor will become scratched during installation. Cabinet installers prefer it when the floor is already in place, ensuring that the cutting and dust generated during installation won’t damage the vanity.
What Is The Average Time For A Kitchen Remodel?
Even though many factors go into a kitchen remodel, most experts agree that an average can take anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks to complete. Large-scale renovations that involve altering the kitchen’s footprint, requiring electrical or plumbing work, or both can take even longer, typically three to five months to complete.
Should I Install Flooring Before The Toilet?
If installing a new floor, pedestal sink, and toilet, you should install the laminate flooring first. When you are finished, it will be under the sink and toilet. Because it is installed directly on the underlayment and floats above the subfloor, laminate flooring is subject to the same temperature and humidity fluctuations as the surrounding environment.
