Just about anyone can design / DIY their own bathroom.
You can shop for tile, order cabinets, go select faucets, etc. It’s a big job, but you can DIY it yourself.
So then, what does a designer offer?
They offer the nuances and details that make a job special, answer a specific need, or go beyond what you would typically do.
And guess what... That kind of stuff costs more money.
I’m talking about the cool stuff:
The unique lighting and where it is installed; the way the finishes transition smoothly from one to the other; the focus given to the main wow factor of the bathroom, with all other parts and pieces playing a supporting role. I can go on — and I will, down below. ;-)
So here are some of my tips that, although they add money to the job, they also add value, style, and raise the bar in terms of a thoughtfully designed project:
1. Design a beautiful and functional shampoo niche. Don’t stick one of those little pre-made corner shelves in your shower. Inset it into the wall. Build it out large, with some unique tiles. Make it a design feature.
2. Use the countertop material in other places around the room, like as a shelf in the shampoo niche, on the shower seat, on the shower curb top. It brings quality and a more custom look to the space.
3. Design a unique ledge somewhere, by the tub or by the sink. Use the countertop material to add just another unique touch.

MORE INSIGHT: A Home Full of Treasures
4. Do some built-in storage above the countertop. Specially designed medicine type cabinets are always appreciated.

MORE INSIGHT: A Dark Bathroom Gets a Makeover
5. Bullnose the outside edges and exposed corners of the tile. Especially with natural stone or through-body product. This creates a more finished look to the tile job.
6. Do a square, beautiful drain in the shower. It typically fits with the tile layout better, and then you can select the finish to match the plumbing fixtures. There are even beautifully custom designed drains that make a personal statement.
MORE INSIGHT: BEFORE & AFTER: This Upstairs Bathroom Gets A Fresh Update
7. Consider a zero entry shower with a linear drain. They look modern and create a seamless look to the floor, thereby visually expanding the space.
8. Rolling glass barn door type enclosures are particularly luxurious — that is if you have the length in the shower.
9. New technology, such as steam showers, heated towel bars, heated floors, televisions mounted behind the mirrors, etc. are all extras that people are beginning to install in their bathrooms.

Steam Shower - (End of construction pic, hence the glass being a bit spotted!)
10. Planning for universal design features, such as wider door openings, grab bars, and other accessible features are smart to design into the job, no matter what age you are.
Oh, and by the way...
If you’d like a custom designed bathroom, located in The Woodlands, one where we design all these beautiful details and deliver the end result you’ve always dreamed of, contact me HERE. :-)
If you only need a little bit of steering to help nudge you in the right direction or answer some perplexing question, this may be the service just for you: Designed In a Click!
If you’d like general ideas and concepts only, read this.