Master Suite Remodeling in Minnesota: What You’ll Want to Consider

Master suites, or primary suites as they are more commonly known now, feature an attached bathroom and sometimes a walk-in closet. But a master suite can be so much more than a main bedroom with an attached bathroom. With thoughtful renovations, a primary bedroom can become an oasis in your home that feels like a relaxing escape.

Whether you are looking to update your floor plan to accommodate an ensuite bathroom or a larger closet, or if you would like to rework your existing footprint to make better use of the space you have, we’ve put together some important design recommendations that you will want to consider before getting started.

Want to explore ideas for a master suite remodel in Minneapolis or surrounding suburbs? Reach out to our team at JBDB! Our designers are here to help you envision what your space could become and make those dreams a reality.

What Does Master Suite Remodeling Cover?

When you think of primary suite remodeling, bathroom renovations are probably the first thing that comes to mind. While a master bath remodel is often a major part of updating primary suites, it’s not the only space to consider renovating. Primary suite renovations can include:

• Custom walk-in closets that give you ample storage for clothes, shoes, accessories, and getting ready without feeling cramped.
• Laundry upgrades, such as built-in cabinetry for washers and dryers or hidden laundry chutes for homes with appliances on a lower level.
• Heated floors and towel racks for extra warmth and coziness during Minnesota’s colder months.
• Shower remodels, which can include expanding a shower, replacing an unused jet tub, making a more accessible walk-in shower, or
• Built-in storage that takes advantage of unused space and makes your room feel more organized without constant tidying.
• Custom-built headboard storage to replace clunky nightstands and elevate your room’s design.
• Adding or upgrading a balcony for your own private outdoor escape.
• Building a reading nook or sitting area so you can unwind in your own space without interruption.
• Installing a fireplace to keep the room cozy in the winter or add ambient light the rest of the year.

Planning a Master Bath Remodel

Most homeowners are inspired to update their primary suite because they want to upgrade their ensuite bathroom. Here’s what to consider when updating a master bathroom in Minnesota:

Tubs & Showers

Many homes in the Twin Cities were built in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, when it was popular to have a large, fixed bathtub or jacuzzi tub in the master bathroom. While a large tub seems like a luxurious feature, homeowners often ask to remove it during renovations. In reality, master bathroom tubs are rarely used often enough to justify the space that they take up, as many master suite floor plans don’t have a large bathroom to begin with.

In this 1980s bathroom remodel in Burnsville, one of our main design goals was to remove the large jacuzzi tub. Not only did it dominate the floor space, but it also restricted how large the shower could be. By removing it and adjusting the supporting walls and plumbing, we were able to create a more functional shower and achieve the updated look the homeowners were going for.

Although many master bath floor plans work best without a large tub, other ensuites are laid out with enough space that having a tub actually makes the room feel complete. In this Inver Grove Heights bathroom renovation, the updated bathtub and custom river stone tile work is the focal point that ties the whole room together.

Whether to add a tub or remove one all comes down to your individual space. Some layouts feel cramped with a tub, while others are completed by having one. Keep in mind that master baths aren’t necessarily limited to their existing square footage either. Expanding a primary bathroom by reworking your home’s layout is a great way to make a cramped space feel open and inviting.

Everyone’s needs are different, but JBDB designer Morgan Longhenry advises homeowners to all start the process in the same place: “Think through your ‘day-to-day showering’ routine and what you need for daily use,” she said. “Maybe you need a showerhead with a lot of pressure for rinsing off, or want a bench or lower shelf for shaving.”

She also advises thinking about the practical, less glamorous aspect of cleaning a shower. “With large showers, I often recommend installing a hand-held showerhead as they are beneficial for rinsing the tile down.” And if you’re planning on aging in place in your home, designing a zero-point entry shower is also a good idea.

Hardware, Finishes, and Lighting

The layout and main features of your bathroom might be the most visible, but details and finishes can have just as much of an impact on your room’s look and feel. When designing your bathroom, consider whether you want it to simply feel updated and practical or go a step farther to feel like a spa.

“Increasingly, we are seeing homeowners craving that same pampered feeling in their master bathroom that they experience when they are away,” says Morgan. These luxurious bathroom trends include large, walk-in showers, heated tile flooring, and spa-like, free-standing bathtubs. “All of these updates can be made to reflect our clients’ own personal taste, whether it’s more vintage, contemporary, simplistic, or luxurious,” Morgan explains.

One way to mimic a spa in your home is to incorporate different lighting options throughout the bathroom. “Consider lighting from multiple sources and on dimmer switches — mixing recessed can lights with sconces and hanging fixtures — to create ambiance,” says Morgan. Natural light, a frameless glass shower enclosure, and strategic lighting can all help transform your shower space from dark and dull to bright and relaxing.

While you might have clear ideas about your next bathroom’s shower, tile, and cabinetry, you might be feeling stuck when it comes to fixtures. After all, these details usually come later in the planning process. However, if they’re thoughtfully chosen, the right bathroom hardware can bring your newly remodeled bathroom to life.

When choosing hardware, the size, shape, and texture can all affect your overall design. But make sure you don’t choose based on aesthetics alone. Bathroom hardware has to withstand humidity and constant use without the finish wearing off. Looking at pictures of bathroom remodels from real Minnesota homes can give you a much better idea of how different options might look in your space.

Planning Other Master Suite Renovations

While bathroom updates are often the main goal for master suite upgrades, you don’t have to stop there. In fact, some of the best primary suite renovations focus on the bedroom and closet.

Walk-In Closets

Walk-in closet renovations are an opportunity to improve the way your master suite works as a whole. A successful design goes beyond adding shelves or increasing storage capacity. To create the ideal design, be sure to consider not just aesthetics, but your habits, organization needs, and the overall flow of the suite. This ensures the closet feels intentional, easy to use, and built around the way you live.

An Area to Relax & Unwind

Creating a dedicated sitting area or relaxation space is another way to enhance your master suite renovation. These additions require thoughtful planning to ensure they blend seamlessly with the rest of the room while providing a comfortable place for reading, enjoying a morning coffee, or spending quiet time at home. Design elements like built-in seating, custom millwork, fireplaces, and integrated lighting can help create a space that feels intentional and complete.

Depending on your home’s layout, your current bedroom footprint may not have enough room to accommodate these upgrades without feeling cramped. However, we can adjust your primary suite layout and expand the room to create the space you’re looking for. Whether this involves building an addition or reconfiguring the layout of an entire level of your home, the JBDB team’s creative approach makes it possible.

Project Timing and Changes to Routines

Whether you want to renovate just your master bath or the entire suite, you’ll want to plan the project carefully.

Updating the primary bathroom usually takes 8 weeks for the construction phase. With other master suite renovations happening at the same time, you’ll want to add a few extra weeks to your timeline.

While a master suite update is generally shorter than a main floor renovation or kitchen remodeling project, it can still disrupt your routines. Bathroom and bedroom renovations can happen at any time of the year in Minnesota, but you will want to think about school schedules, vacations, and other plans to make sure

Keep in mind that master bathrooms are almost always connected only to the master bedroom, which means more foot traffic, noise, and construction dust in the bedroom as well as the bathroom. Even if you’re just updating your bathroom, you may want to plan other sleeping arrangements during the renovation for more privacy and comfort.

Let’s Plan Your Dream Master Suite

The primary bedroom is one of the areas of your home where you spend the most time, so it’s important that the space feels comfortable and relaxing. If your master suite feels cramped, outdated, or simply doesn’t match your style, you aren’t stuck working with what you have.

Contact our team at JBDB for a free consultation or view our past projects for inspiration. As a JBDB client, you can also visit our showroom to see finishes and materials in person to start visualizing your new space.