| If you are remodeling your bathroom then you need | | | | For instance if your bathroom is 8 foot by 10 foot |
| some graph paper square | | | | and you have some squared paper with 16 squares |
| Before starting work on your bathroom-remodeling | | | | by 25 squares then you can simply use the scale 1 |
| project you will need to draw a plan showing where | | | | foot = 2 squares. Your scale drawing would then use |
| everything is going to go. If you draw your plan to | | | | 16 squares across the top by 20 squares down and |
| scale and you've taken care over getting your | | | | leave 5 unused squares at the bottom. |
| measurements right then you will be able to see | | | | How did I arrive at that scale? I divided the number |
| from it whether or not your new bathroom design is | | | | of squares across the paper by the length of the |
| going to work or not. Believe me if your bathroom | | | | shortest side of the bathroom. Then I divided the |
| design isn't going to work then it is much better to | | | | number of squares down the page by the length of |
| find out before you start ripping out the existing | | | | the longest side of the bathroom. This gave me 2 |
| bathroom than afterwards when you have bought | | | | squares to the foot (16/8) across and 2.5 (25/10) |
| the new stuff and you find that it doesn't fit in the | | | | squares to the foot down. Now both scales need to |
| room. | | | | be the same for a true scale drawing so I chose the |
| Drawing a scale diagram of your bathroom isn't | | | | lower of the 2 scales, which was 2 squares to the |
| difficult; you might remember doing something similar | | | | foot. This ensured that my drawing would actually fit |
| at school. The trick to making life easy for yourself is | | | | on the paper. |
| to draw your plan on graph paper square or squared | | | | Cut out all the bathroom fixtures and shuffle them |
| paper. This is nothing more than a sheet of paper | | | | about |
| with horizontal and vertical lines drawn at regular | | | | I think that the fun part of using squared paper to |
| intervals but it makes things so much easier. | | | | design a bathroom is drawing the new fixtures to |
| Yes there is software you could use to design your | | | | scale on graph paper and cutting them out so that |
| bathroom | | | | they can be pushed into position on top of another |
| Why does everyone want software to do | | | | sheet of graph paper with a drawing of the room on |
| everything for them today? People expect that all | | | | it. You can spend many happy hours experimenting |
| they have to do is buy a remodeling or design | | | | with different arrangements like this. |
| program for their PC and it will do the job for them. | | | | Spend time getting your bathroom design right |
| Well this just isn't the case. Is there software | | | | Make sure you spend plenty of time on the design |
| available? Yes there is and some very good | | | | phase of your project because whatever you come |
| programs there are too. Will it make my life easier | | | | up with will be what you have live with for some |
| when I remodel my bathroom at home? Unlikely. | | | | time to come so it pays to get it right from the |
| Now if you are a property developer or a | | | | beginning. |
| professional designer of kitchens and bathrooms then | | | | Don't forget the bathroom accessories |
| remodeling software is an essential part of your life | | | | When you are having fun rearranging the fixtures |
| because it enables you to reuse your work over and | | | | using your graph paper square design paper, bear in |
| over again. However if you are just redesigning your | | | | mind what accessories you will want to put in the |
| bathroom at home then I would advise against it. | | | | bathroom. While accessories aren't fixed they still |
| Here is a list of arguments against using software: | | | | require room so if you are planning to put a large |
| - Bathroom remodeling software is expensive (More | | | | potted plant in the bathroom make sure that you |
| than a sheet of paper) | | | | leave enough space for it. |
| - You will need to learn how to use the software, | | | | Draw plans of the floor and walls |
| which takes time. | | | | You will need plans of the floor space looking down. |
| - Producing a design could take longer than using | | | | You will also need plans of the walls, especially if you |
| graph paper square | | | | are planning vanity units, mirrors or cupboards. |
| - It isn't easy to change the design while you are in | | | | Discuss the bathroom remodel plan with your |
| the showroom | | | | contractors |
| - The software may not do everything you expect it | | | | Before you finalise your design make sure that you |
| to do. The scale drawing method is very simple | | | | have discussed it with your contractors to avoid any |
| If you are worried about the scary words "scale | | | | disappointments later. They will point out any |
| drawing" then don't be. All it means is that you are | | | | problems with the arrangement and any difficulties |
| going to make a smaller than life drawing of your | | | | that you might face with regulatory requirements |
| bathroom while keeping all the distances in proportion. | | | | that you must adhere to. |