"Ended up getting a small space heater—budget-friendly and warms things up quick. Not exactly luxurious, but hey, no more ice skating at 6am..."
You know, I've thought about the space heater route myself, but I always hesitate because of the whole moisture-electronics combo. Maybe I'm just overly cautious? How's yours holding up in terms of safety and durability?
Personally, we went with heated flooring during our remodel—definitely not budget-friendly upfront, but honestly worth every penny in the long run. Stepping onto warm tiles in January is a game changer. Our remodel ran us about $8k total, but that included some plumbing updates and nicer fixtures. It hurt the wallet initially, but now I can't imagine going back.
Still, I do wonder if a simple heater could've done the trick without the big spend. Did you notice any significant bump on your electric bill? I'm curious if it's actually cost-effective over time or if heated floors might balance out eventually...
We ended up doing heated floors too, and I agree it's a total luxury once you get used to it. But honestly, I don't think a simple space heater is a bad way to go either, especially if you're cautious about placement and moisture. A few things I'd suggest if you're worried about safety and durability:
- Look for heaters specifically rated for bathroom use—usually they'll mention something like "moisture-resistant" or "bathroom-safe." Those models are built to handle humidity better.
- Keep it away from direct water sources (obviously), but also make sure your bathroom has decent ventilation. Good airflow helps reduce moisture buildup overall, which is good for electronics and your bathroom in general.
- Check periodically for any signs of wear or corrosion on the heater itself—just a quick glance every now and then goes a long way.
As far as electric bills go, I had a client who used a small heater in their bathroom regularly, and they didn't notice a huge spike. Maybe a slight bump during colder months, but nothing crazy. Heated floors can be surprisingly efficient too, especially if you program them to run only during peak usage times (like mornings and evenings). Over time, the energy use might balance out somewhat between the two options, though heated floors definitely have a bigger upfront cost.
One thing I will say though—heated floors add value to your home in a way that portable heaters can't. If you're planning on staying put for a while or eventually selling down the road, that investment could pay off. But if you're just looking for immediate comfort without the hassle and expense of a remodel, a decent bathroom-safe heater is perfectly fine.
Either way, no more ice skating at 6am sounds like a win to me...
I get the appeal of heated floors, but honestly, I've found a heated towel rack hits that sweet spot between luxury and practicality. Easier install, lower upfront cost, and warm towels are pretty hard to beat on chilly mornings...
Heated towel racks are definitely underrated. I installed one last year during my bathroom remodel, and honestly, it's turned out to be one of the best decisions we made. A few quick points from my experience:
- Installation was straightforward—just needed a nearby outlet and reinforced wall mounts; nothing complicated.
- Cost-wise, ours ran about $300 for a decent-quality model, significantly cheaper than heated flooring quotes we got (those were in the thousands).
- Practicality factor is high: warm towels every morning without cranking up the heat in the whole bathroom.
That said, heated floors do have their place—especially if you're renovating fully and can budget for it. But for a quick, cost-effective upgrade that genuinely feels luxurious? Towel rack all the way.
We did a full remodel about two years ago and ended up around $9k total, but we saved a ton by doing most of the labor ourselves. Heated floors were tempting, but honestly, we went with the towel rack too—zero regrets there. Curious though, did you notice any significant bump in your electric bill after installing it? Ours was minimal, but I've heard mixed things from others...
