Update a bath with a shower
system like this one from
Grohe Amera.

Tips 11-15: Design Ideas

When it comes to remodeling, there's no shortage of good advice. Here, several remodelers weigh in on how to make the most of your space.

11. Skip the whirlpool tub unless you're a fan of luxuriating in a bath on a regular basis. If you have no time for a bath, then bypass the tub and spend your remodeling dollars on something you'll notice every day: a luxury shower with dual heads.

12. Maximize storage. Install an organizational system in the space beneath the stairs so you can utilize the otherwise wasted space.

13. Leave out the planning desk. "In a kitchen, people insist on putting planning desks in, but no one ever sits there and plans anything," says Michael Cordonnier of Remodeling Designs in Dayton, Ohio. Consider whether you'd benefit more from additional cabinets or a pantry.

14. Connect spaces. Looking for a project with big impact? Opening up walls and hallways is one way to get the most from your remodeling project and create more livable spaces.

15. Don't share the mudroom. Everyone wants a main-floor laundry room. If it's squeezed into a tiny area near the garage, though, homeowners often are unhappy in the long run, says Bob Near of Lake Country Builders in Excelsior, Minnesota. He advises owners to create separate mudroom and laundry room areas, even if that means moving the laundry room down to the basement.

Buy Remodel magazine

Kristan's Remodeling Journal