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Bathroom Renovation Checklist & Key Details to Remember
- admin255411
- Aug 19, 2025
- 6 min read
Bathroom renovation is one of the most rewarding upgrades for your home. It’s the space where you begin and end your day. So, it needs to balance comfort, function, and style.
Homeowners begin the process full of ideas. But there are countless details to juggle, budget limits, design choices, layouts, trades, and timelines. Without a structured bathroom renovation checklist, you can get stuck or make costly mistakes.
Because every decision big or small affects how well the space works day-to-day and how much value it adds to your home. In such moments, all you need is quality materials and expert guidance from industry experts. Lucky for you, Master Tops can provide both.
We’ve spent over two decades helping families, resorts, and commercial clients bring their dream interiors to life. Our team doesn’t just install products, but help you plan your bathroom seamlessly.
Let’s go through the checklist required for a successful bathroom renovation.
Pre-Bathroom Renovation Checklist
Keep these details in kind before you start your bathroom renovation. They’ll ease out the process and help in a thoughtful
Start by Clarifying Your Needs
Pinpoint your must-haves. Do you need a double vanity, open-plan shower, or more storage? Think about your lifestyle & daily habits. Even a small bathroom renovation can feel spacious with smart layout choices.
Write down your priorities to give the project a clear direction from the outset.
Measure Your Space
You can’t design the renovation plan without knowing your space thoroughly.
Take precise measurements. Measure ceiling height, wall lengths, and fixture sizes. If you're upgrading your vanity top, know marble or granite slab dimensions to prevent ordering errors. Proper sizing keeps installation smoother.
Shape Your Design and Layout
A well-planned layout sets the tone. Floating vanities create a sense of room in compact spaces. Freestanding tubs or separate wash zones suit larger bathrooms. But design every detail by keeping your space in mind.
Align fixtures for ease of plumbing, and let natural or overhead lighting guide the placement.
Look Into Permits Early
In some areas, changing plumbing or electric work require council approval. Find out the list of approvals you’ll need and get them at hand before starting out the process.
Sorting it early will avoid delays and penalties, and bring you peace of mind down the lane.
Cement Your Colour Theme
Now, it’s time to start the designing and that’ll obviously begin with theme selection.
Colours influence mood and perceived space. Clean neutrals calm the eye, while deeper shades bring drama. Natural stone fits beautifully within both and give varied veining and individual tones. So, you can get a natural feel and look.
Free bathroom design consult from experts can help you out in colour scheme selection,
Set a Realistic Budget
Bathroom renovations in Australia span wide, from simple refreshes to luxury overhauls. You can spend from around $8,000 to well over $35,000 depending on scope & finishes. Add the components you can afford and know where to save & where to splurge.
Allow a 10-20% buffer in your budget for unexpected costs.
What Is the Cost Required for a Bathroom Renovation?
Well, it depends on a lot of factors, but we can give you a rough estimate.
Mid-range projects hover near $26,000 on average. But a small bathroom renovation can also be done in $13,000 to $25,000. Premium designs range significantly higher, up to $45,000 or more. Cost increase when high-end materials and custom features are involved.
Renovation Type | Cost Range (AUD) |
Budget Facelift | $8,000 – $15,000 |
Standard Upgrade | $15,000 – $35,000 |
Premium/Luxury | Over $35,000 |
Budget Makeovers involve new tiles or paint. Standard ones replace fixtures and features like stone vanity tops. High-end or luxury projects add cabinetry, feature tiles, or advanced functions like underfloor heating or smart toilets.
You’ll also need to keep labour fees in mind for an effective budget. Plumbing professionals charge around $100–$150 an hour plus call-out fees. Tiling costs can range $35–$120 per square metre. Electrical work varies as call-outs between $60–$150, and hourly costs can reach $200. Waterproofing alone can cost $500–$900 for an average bathroom.
Essentials of Bathroom Renovation Checklist
So, now let’s count the components you can’t ignore.
Ventilation: Protect Your Bathroom & Home
Proper ventilation does more than clear steam. It preserves your surfaces and protects your health. Get a correctly sized roof or wall-mounted exhaust fan, with humidity sensors or timers. It’ll remove moisture efficiently, reducing mould, warped paint, and peeling finishes.
Clean them regularly and make sure the ductwork is rigid, direct, and vents outside, not into the attic or crawlspace. Quiet models rated under 1.5 sones can deliver top performance without disturbing the calm.
If your layout allows, pair fan use with opening a window for natural airflow. Following building-code ventilation standards will keep air fresh and prevent long-term damage.
Lighting: Create a Functional, Inviting Space
Lighting is also important for a functional bathroom setup. You can combine:
General overhead LEDs for bright, energy-saving illumination
Task lighting around mirrors for grooming
Accent or mood lighting for spa-like ambience
Use durable fittings designed for damp zones & maximise natural light wherever possible. Adding elements like skylights or larger windows lifts the mood and supports ventilation. It’ll improve functionality and safety without driving up energy use.
Water Flow: Get Efficiency Without Compromise
Efficient water systems are also a major component of washrooms.
Choose low-flow tapware and showerheads that meet performance standards. Install drip-free fixtures to eliminate waste. Check every pipe while installing, so, nothing that might leak or block remains hidden beneath new finishes.
Incorporate technology and consider modern plumbing upgrades, like pipe relining. So, your bathroom can perform silently and reliably for years.
Countertops: Stylish Anchor of Your Design
A natural stone benchtop can add beauty and resilience to your bathroom. You can select any material like granite, marble, or quartz, for longevity & efficiency.
Seal the slabs properly to resist heat, moisture, and daily wear, and choose quality material.
At Master Tops, we can provide stone benchtops to complement your design and lasts with minimal upkeep. Our each piece brings unique patterns and long-term durability, and act as a standout feature of your bathroom.
Storage: Clarity Through Clever Design
Learn to declutter your bathroom without sacrificing its style.
Combine vanities with built-in drawers, wall cabinets, and recessed niches in showers or above the toilet. Open shelving showcases design elements, while concealed storage hides essentials. Mix the both to keep the space calm and organised.
2025 Trends for Bathroom Renovation
In 2025, bathroom design is evolving with thoughtful trends of wellness, sustainability, and personal expression. Rather than just functional rooms, bathrooms are becoming tranquil retreats that reflect individual lifestyle choices.
Let’s see which latest trends you can follow.
Spa-Inspired Wellness at Home
Bathrooms are shifting toward a spa-like experience. E.g.
Steam showers with aromatherapy features
Deep soaking vats for comfortable baths
Chromotherapy lighting to evoke calm from the first moment
These features take relaxation beyond luxury.
Textured Natural Materials & Warm Tones
Cold & stark minimalism is being replaced by spaces rich in texture and warmth. Natural stone like granite, marble, quartzite and handcrafted tiles are being preferred. Consider earthy palettes like terracotta, soft beige, sage green to build a grounded & organic vibe.
Smart Features
Imagine walking in bathroom with automatically heated floors, lights adjust to your mood, and mirrors that defog and display your schedule. These are details which are being added in 2025 bathrooms. Not to forget bidet functions, heated seats, and self-cleaning modes.
Smart showers customise temperature and flow, & deliver comfort with just a tap or voice command.
Curbless and Wet-Room Style Layouts
Fresh, seamless layouts like curbless showers and wet rooms are rising in popularity.
They feature flush transitions from tile to shower, as part of a design trend focused on flow and accessibility. While visually striking, they require careful planning of floor slope and drainage to prevent overspill, especially in smaller spaces.
Sustainable & Authentic Design
Eco-conscious design is the main focus of everyone now.
Consider your bathroom renovation with reclaimed wood vanities, recycled glass tiles, and water-saving fixtures. Natural stones remain a top pick, not only for their beauty and durability. But because they fit well into sustainable design narratives and transform your bathroom from ordinary to eco-friendly.
Want to Refresh Your Bathroom with a New Look?
Partner with Master Tops for Your Bathroom Renovation
At Master Tops, we’re your trusted renovation partner. With 20 years of experience, we specialise in natural stone and tailored quartz solutions for bathrooms and kitchens. Every benchtop is can enhance your bathroom in looks and function.
Let us help you transform your bathroom and bring lasting beauty into your home.
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