Sticking with our month-long theme—supporting you through your bathroom renovation from New Year’s resolution to reality—here are a few small upgrades that will have a big impact on your new bathroom.

Lighting, for mood and functionality

Yes, we harped on the importance of lighting in our last post, and we’re doing it again here. Stay with us. Bathrooms, for the most part, don’t get much natural light. Which means that so much of their functionality and mood comes down to … yup, lighting.

For starters, make sure you install a dimmer. It’s a little thing, but it’s perhaps the single-most valuable component in transitioning the space from well-lit, high-traffic bathroom in the morning to private, tranquil retreat later on.

From there, prioritize recessed fixtures around the mirror. They’ll ensure you’ll have the best-possible lighting while you’re brushing your teeth, washing your face, shaving—all the daily rituals that require a certain amount of detailed scrutiny.

Finally, think about putting lighting in the shower, not just around it. It will make your showers safer (and more thorough), and it’ll have the added benefit of helping the shower feel more spacious than it would if it was relegated to the shadows.

A strategically placed window

Following up on an earlier thought, bathrooms tend to have little natural light. If you have the ability to rectify that situation, do so. We’re big fans of windows in showers, not only because they flood a typically dark nook with warm, bright sunshine, but also because they make a big difference when it comes time to clean the bathroom.

Humidity is one of the biggest culprits of a grimy bathroom. It gets trapped in the space because of insufficient ventilation. A fan helps, but the best solution is natural ventilation. Installing a window will help keep your bathroom mold- and mildew-free. Not to mention, it’s going to seriously boost your enjoyment of showers.

A thoughtful shower floor

Finally, you’re probably going to invest a lot of time and consideration in finding just the right flooring for your new bathroom. So don’t make the shower floor an afterthought. A small, textured tile that complements, or even contrasts, the main flooring and shower-wall tile represents the kind of attention to detail that’s unique to professionally-designed homes.

Even more, it’s a great safety measure. The texture combined with the extra grouting will prevent slipping once the floor gets wet and soapy. If cleaning it is a concern, it shouldn’t be. The tile will be easy to maintain, and the right grout will resist mold and stains.