HGTV and DIY star Matthew Muenster has renovated hundreds of bathrooms in his career 鈥� from petite powder rooms to spacious, spa-like retreats. And over the years, he鈥檚 picked up on a few tricks and trends. Here are his best.
You don’t need a bathtub聽
One thing HGTV and DIY host聽 gets asked all the time is whether a bathroom renovation needs a bathtub.聽Muenster has a “hard-and-fast rule” on this question: If you don’t take baths, there’s no need to include a tub in the project.聽鈥淚t takes up such a huge chunk of real estate in a really small room, and if it鈥檚 preventing you from having the shower of your dreams, 86-it,” he said.聽
As far as he is concerned, there are more important amenities.
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Songs and a steamed latte with your shower聽
In fact, a bath tub doesn’t even make it on聽Muenster’s list of top four amenities in a bathroom. After a shower, sink and toilet,聽Muenster wants聽music.聽鈥淭hink about music in the shower, music to start your day. Think about your routine,” he said聽鈥�聽and what better way to wake up than with some of your favorite tunes (or news headlines) in the morning.聽
And there’s no need to stop there. All kidding aside,聽Muenster says installing a coffee machine in the bathroom further completes a dream renovation.聽
鈥淵our bathroom is your bookend room. It鈥檚 where you start and finish every day. And if you can change something about that, for the better, your day might get better,” he said.
鈥淔or me, it鈥檚 music and coffee.”
The first time聽Muenster added a built-in coffee machine in the bathroom on TV, he says social media gave him a hard time. But he defends his decision.聽鈥淚鈥檓 not putting it above your toilet; I鈥檓 not masking nor am I blending aromas; there鈥檚 not contaminants flying in the air 鈥� If you have those kinds of issues, you鈥檝e got bigger issues, anyway. I鈥檓 just saying, I want the smell and taste of coffee before I want my first gulp of oxygen in the morning, and if that now becomes part of my morning routine 鈥� that鈥檚 awesome.鈥澛�
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Wine not a fireplace?聽
While on the subject of making the bathroom an ideal place to start and end your day,聽Muenster says if wine and crackling logs make you happy (and if you have the budget and square footage), building in a wine fridge and fireplace in your bathroom is a great way to make the space go from聽standard to sanctuary.聽鈥淵ou want to just close the door, turn up some music, pour a glass of wine, draw a bath,” he said. 聽
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Think small when it comes to amenities聽
Don’t have it in your budget to add espresso machines and wine bars in the bathroom? There are some smaller upgrades that will make the space feel five-star.
Heated floors and towel warmers are just a few of聽Muenster’s favorites.聽鈥淭hose things rock. You get out of the shower and you鈥檝e got a towel that just came out of the dryer-warm,” he said. 聽
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Quality craftsmanship will carry you through聽the years
Bathroom renovations are not cheap.聽Muenster says these days, renovations on his show “Bath Crashers” run between $50,000 and $70,000. At the very least, overhauling the sink, tub, shower and toilet can creep close to $17,000.聽
Rather than rushing the job,聽Muenster says he’s seen a lot of homeowners wait another year or two to save up enough money for a quality overhaul.聽鈥淲hat I鈥檓 finding is that people are doing a higher quality renovation, they鈥檙e adding more amenities than they ever have before, and they鈥檙e doing it because they鈥檙e waiting an extra year,” he said.聽鈥淨uality of craftsmanship matters so much in a bathroom.”聽
The return of investment on a renovated bathroom is incredibly high鈥�聽especially if it’s done right,聽Muenster added. 聽
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Clean, modern and you
When it comes to trends,聽Muenster says think beyond the magazine.鈥淒o what you do, do what you love. Don鈥檛 paint the walls beige, don鈥檛 do travertine tile, don鈥檛 do something boring just to be safe, because it is an expensive room to renovate,” he said.聽
If you’re worried your style is too different from what other homebuyers might want,聽Muenster says just make sure it’s done to quality.聽鈥淚f you do it well, no one鈥檚 going to question what you鈥檝e done.鈥� 聽
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Thinkstock
聽Expect time and a mess聽鈥淭he expectations that we set with these shows, we know it鈥檚 irresponsible,”聽Muenster said about the time it takes for a full renovation.聽On TV, all home projects happen quickly, but in the real world, Muenster says renovations take a lot more time聽鈥�聽typically four weeks. 鈥淚n a normal world, plumbers and electricians aren鈥檛 working in your bathroom at the same time. They鈥檙e phased in; they鈥檙e slotted into a schedule. When TV interjects, things get weird.鈥�If you cut to the studs, you鈥檙e looking at a total of six weeks.聽
鈥淚f it鈥檚 your only bathroom, you鈥檙e going to spend a little more time at the gym. The Porta Potty outside is a little brisk in the morning,” he joked.
And living through a renovation isn鈥檛 too much fun. The dirt and the dust don鈥檛 stay contained to the bathroom. It will be in the living room, the dining room and every hall in between. 聽
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Thinkstock
Making a small space appear bigger聽
If you have a small space,聽Muenster says聽don’t expect a renovation to聽solve a square footage problem, unless you cut into other rooms.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no David Copperfield magic that鈥檚 going to make that thing feel big,” he said. 聽
However, there are a few tricks that can help make the space feel more open.
鈥淚 think the key with small bathrooms is efficiency and clutter. If something is sitting on your counter and you haven鈥檛 used it in two or three days, it doesn鈥檛 belong on your counter. Find a home for it,”聽Muenster said.聽
And look for added storage opportunities in spaces you never imagined.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 realize that there are areas between the studs behind your sheetrock. You can sleeve storage into that area and kind of recess it,” he said. 聽聽
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WASHINGTON 鈥� HGTV and DIY star Matthew Muenster has renovated hundreds of bathrooms in his career 鈥� from petite powder rooms to spacious, spa-like retreats. And over the years, he’s picked up on a few tricks and trends.
Muenster was in town Sept. 23-25 for the Capital Home Show, and he stopped 蜜桃视频app to talk about everything from the latest and greatest home amenities to managing your renovation expectations.
