This Is The FIRST Thing You Should Fix In A Bathroom Renovation, According To Designers

TL;DR

Prime Big Deal Days · Oct 6–7Offer from Amazon

Get tools and workshop supplies delivered free — and shop member deals

• Fast, free delivery on millions of items
• Access to Prime Big Deal Days deals on October 6–7
• Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included

Start your free Prime trial →Free trial for eligible customers · Cancel anytime

As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.Hide

A House Beautiful report says designers recommend addressing a bathroom’s layout and everyday function before choosing finishes or luxury features. Their advice is to plan the shower, toilet, vanity and storage around how people use the room, while noting that a shower upgrade may be the first major renovation item if the budget allows.

Bathroom renovations should start with the layout, not tile or countertop selections, according to designers interviewed by House Beautiful. They say planning how the shower, toilet, vanity and storage will work in the room can help homeowners address daily frustrations before committing to finishes.

Janelle Patton, principal designer and owner of Lark Interiors, said her team begins with the floor plan when a bathroom’s layout is not working. That can mean rethinking how space is used to accommodate a larger shower, more storage or a functional vanity, and, in some cases, creating room elsewhere, such as in a closet. Patton said design choices such as tile and countertops come later, once the room’s needs are clear.

Nureed Saeed, founder and creative director of Nu Interiors, also stressed functionality and flow. She said the plan should account for the positions of the toilet, shower and sink, including whether the toilet can be made more private or the shower enlarged. The supplied report does not provide measurements or a universal layout prescription; the recommendations are designers’ professional advice, not a technical standard.

The vanity is another key consideration because it supports routine activities such as washing hands, skin care and applying makeup, Kelly Collier-Clark, founder and principal designer of House of Clark Interiors, told House Beautiful. She said a small bathroom may benefit from a refresh to the vanity area’s mirror and lighting, while a larger vanity or a shower renovation may be considered if the project can accommodate it. Collier-Clark called the shower a possible first renovation priority if the budget permits, citing its effect on both appearance and function.

Planning Around Daily Bathroom Use

The advice matters because layout decisions shape how a bathroom works every day and can constrain later design choices. If storage, counter space or circulation is inadequate, attractive finishes alone may not resolve those problems. Planning the floor plan first gives homeowners a chance to identify which changes address their routines before choosing materials.

It can also help focus a renovation budget. The designers’ recommendations point to a sequence: identify functional problems, decide whether the room’s layout or fixtures need changes, and then select finishes and optional upgrades. This is guidance rather than a guarantee of lower costs or higher resale value. The report does not quantify financial returns, project timelines or the cost of particular changes.

For readers weighing a major renovation against a smaller refresh, the article distinguishes between broad planning and individual priorities. The overall starting point is layout and function; within that plan, a shower may be a priority for some households, while a vanity-area update may suit a smaller room or a more limited scope.

From Floor Plan to Finishes

The House Beautiful report asks designers what they recommend addressing first in a bathroom renovation. Its central answer is to settle the floor plan before making decorative decisions. Patton said decisions about shower placement, vanity size, storage and possible closet space should come before choosing tile or countertops.

The source also presents a distinction between fixing everyday function and adding optional comforts. Once the layout and basics are addressed, Saeed said clients may consider additions such as steam showers, jetted tubs, cosmetic refrigeration, Bluetooth-enabled showerheads or heated bidet seats. The report frames these as preferences that can combine comfort with function, rather than necessary elements of every renovation.

“Function first—always.”

— Janelle Patton, principal designer and owner of Lark Interiors

Costs and Project Needs Vary

The report does not specify renovation costs, construction timelines, return on investment or how much a given floor-plan change might improve a particular bathroom. It also does not establish that every homeowner should replace a shower first: Collier-Clark’s recommendation is conditional on the budget, while the broader advice from the designers is to prioritize function and layout.

Which changes are practical depends on the existing room, the household’s needs and the scope of work. The source does not discuss building codes, permits, plumbing constraints or contractor requirements, so readers should not treat the design recommendations as project-specific technical guidance.

Set Priorities Before Selecting Finishes

For homeowners planning a renovation, the next step suggested by the designers is to list the bathroom’s recurring problems and resolve the layout questions first: where fixtures should go, whether storage and counter space are adequate, and whether the shower or vanity needs to change. Once those choices are established, they can move on to tile, countertops, lighting and other finishes.

Optional upgrades, including wellness and comfort features, come after the functional basics in the sequence described by Saeed. The report does not announce a policy, product launch or future milestone; it offers design guidance. The right scope and order of work for an individual home remain dependent on its conditions and the homeowner’s budget.

Key Questions

What should be fixed first in a bathroom renovation?

The designers interviewed by House Beautiful recommend starting with the floor plan and everyday function, including fixture placement, storage and available counter space.

Should homeowners renovate the shower first?

Kelly Collier-Clark said she would recommend the shower first if the budget permits. The report’s broader recommendation is to address layout and function before finishes, rather than requiring every project to begin with a shower replacement.

When should tile and countertop choices be made?

Patton said her team settles the floor plan before discussing decorative selections. That means deciding how the bathroom needs to work before choosing tile or countertops.

What if the bathroom is too small for a new vanity?

Collier-Clark said a smaller bathroom may benefit from a refresh to the vanity area’s mirror and lighting, instead of replacing it with a larger unit.

Are luxury bathroom features part of the first renovation step?

No. Saeed described features such as steam showers, jetted tubs and heated bidet seats as options to consider after the layout and functional basics have been addressed.

Source: rss