When modeling your bathroom keep in mind that it doesn’t have to be a massive renovation process. You can create an entirely new look for your bathroom by simply using creative painting and a little bit of new hardware. Of course you can go the extreme home make over route as well and go to the foundation and completely rebuild. Regardless of which plan you’ll be following you need to have a plan for the desired result before you begin.

Ask the following questions when determining your bathroom modeling needs:

1) What is the current condition of the bathroom? Sometimes a thorough cleaning (and by that I mean heavy duty muscle cleaning—perhaps resurfacing) is all that is really needed to add new life to a bathroom. Other times call for a more extensive renovation of the bathroom, which requires both more time and more money.

2) Who will be using this bathroom? Knowing who and how many has a huge impact on what you will be doing with the space. If you have several family members sharing one bathroom, consider enclosing the toilet or shower so that more than one person can use the space with some degree of privacy. Built in shelves and an extra vanity are also good for spaces that will be shared by more than one person.

3) How much money are you willing/able to spend on the renovation? This question is important, as it will set the tone for every other aspect of your home renovation. You should never begin a bathroom modeling project without having a realistic budget in place and a very good idea of where every penny will be going.

4) Will you need a contractor or can you do the work yourself? For this you will probably need to know about local laws, particularly if you are doing major renovations. Not only are there laws concerning this but safety and quality issues as well. If you aren’t certain you can do it, your best bet is to hire someone who is—you will probably save time and money by doing that the first time.

5) Can you make your bathroom larger? When it comes to bathrooms, size is vitally important. Of course it is also important to consult a professional before knocking out any walls, as there are other issues that might make the walls surrounding a bathroom necessary.

6) How long can the job take? If time is an issue, keep it simple. If you have all the time in the world, go as elaborate as you would like and can afford. This is your retreat from the world after all.

7) How long will the new bathroom be useful to you? If you are planning to sell your home in the near future and only updating, then keep it as simple as possible. You’ll want to avoid projects that will require contracted labor whenever possible in order to maximize your recovery of this particular investment. If you’re going to enjoy your bathroom for years to come, then by all means create the bathroom of your dreams.

Asking these questions before you begin your remodeling project can help you define your goals and your budget, which will save you time and money during the process.