| When decorating your bathroom, it is important to | | | | appropriately chosen for durability and water |
| choose practical and beautiful bathroom accessories | | | | resistance. A water-base paint is acceptable |
| that also enhance the style of the room. It is this | | | | throughout most of the interior of your home; |
| kind of attention to detail that separates a bathroom | | | | however, interior painting of the bathroom requires |
| with charm and character from one that is strictly | | | | an oil-base - enamel - paint. In general, materials that |
| ho-hum. Bathrooms have come a long way from the | | | | stand up well to excess moisture are: |
| days of strictly utilitarian design and use, and are now | | | | * Plastic laminate |
| viewed as sanctuaries to which people escape and | | | | * Vinyl-coated wallpaper |
| indulge in personal pampering. | | | | * Semi-gloss enamel paint |
| The Powder Room - Go Wild | | | | * Masonry block |
| A powder room will be located where it is convenient | | | | * Cast marble |
| for the use of guests, and is usually a small room. | | | | When choosing colors, remember that light cool |
| This means you can opt for such expensive | | | | colors will make a room appear larger, as will painting |
| decorating touches as crown molding and high-priced | | | | walls and ceilings the same color. If you have a large |
| wallpaper which may not be affordable for the larger | | | | room with a high ceiling, a dark color on the ceiling will |
| bathrooms in your home. As well, no bathtub or | | | | lower it. |
| shower means there are no moisture concerns when | | | | The Quick Fix |
| selecting materials and decorating touches. You can | | | | * Paint or wallpaper the walls. |
| hang a nice piece of framed artwork without | | | | * Paint the trim and the bathroom cabinets and |
| worrying that dampness will destroy it. This is the | | | | shelves. |
| bathroom in which you can use vibrant colors, and | | | | * Replace bathroom faucets. |
| display luxury collections on a counter or shelf. | | | | * Color coordinate bathroom accessories: towels and |
| The Family Bathroom - Make Sharing Easier | | | | face cloths, the shower curtain, scales, hamper, and |
| Even if the family bathroom is of average size or | | | | storage bins, rugs, and bathmats. |
| larger, it may seem small because of the number of | | | | * Replace the mirror or paint the frame. |
| people using it. If this is the case, incorporate some | | | | * Replace lighting fixtures. |
| creative storage ideas and pull out all the stops in | | | | * Add decorative, color coordinated items to hold |
| creating the illusion of spaciousness. If there are | | | | cotton balls, swabs, bathsalts, hand lotions, etc. |
| young children in the family, you need to pay special | | | | The Complete Overhaul |
| attention to safety features as well. | | | | As well as the quick fix: |
| * To make the room appear larger, choose light, cool | | | | * Install new fixtures: bathtub, shower stall, toilet, and |
| colors for walls and trim, such as buttery or cream | | | | sink. |
| colored walls with white or beige trim, and make sure | | | | * Replace bathroom cabinets, and bathroom |
| your bathroom accessories are also color coordinated: | | | | countertops |
| towels, shower curtains, bath mats, rugs, the clothes | | | | * Choose new flooring. |
| hamper, scales, and storage bins. Oversized mirrors | | | | * Install new bathroom faucets and showerheads. |
| can also enlarge the appearance of the room. | | | | Select Your Favorite Style |
| * Make sure there is at least one drawer or | | | | When you have settled on a decorating style that |
| cupboard that can be locked so that medicines and | | | | reflects your taste and your lifestyle, choose your |
| other poisonous items can be safely stored. | | | | bathroom accessories so that they will reinforce the |
| * Attach a grab bar to wall studs located by the | | | | look you want to achieve. There are three main |
| bathtub or in the shower stall as another good | | | | styles, and, of course, you can develop one that is |
| safety feature. | | | | very personal. |
| * In this day of pedestal sinks, storage has been | | | | 1) Contemporary |
| sacrificed for style but do not accept defeat. If there | | | | The contemporary style demands clean straight lines |
| is a closet of any kind, buy a closet organizer to hold | | | | and solid colors. Choose plain fixtures, natural wood |
| towels and facecloths, and bins for personal items, | | | | for cabinets, stainless steel faucets, and decorative |
| one for each family member. If there is no space for | | | | materials of wood, stone or tile. The room should |
| a closet, add open shelves over the toilet, or any | | | | look sleek and clutter-free, which means a minimum |
| place they will fit, and use decorative bins to hold | | | | number of items on display and on the counter. |
| various personal items. | | | | Select streamlined bathroom accessories. |
| * If you can add a second wash basin, it will help | | | | 2) Country |
| relieve some of the bathroom traffic problems. | | | | The warm, cozy, country style calls for pastel earth |
| The Master Bathroom - You Deserve All the Luxury | | | | colors and vintage-looking fixtures. |
| You Can Afford | | | | You can go wild with floral patterns and fabrics, and |
| The master bathroom, depending on its size and your | | | | use wicker for towel and toilet tissue baskets, and |
| pocketbook, can incorporate decorative ideas from | | | | for the clothes hamper. Collections of bottles, framed |
| both powder rooms and family bathrooms, and can | | | | botanicals, stencils on the wall, and other such |
| include more luxurious bathroom accessories since it is | | | | decorative items are appropriate. |
| generally an adult-only room. | | | | 3) Traditional |
| If it is large enough, you can turn the master | | | | Glamour and elegance are hallmarks of the traditional |
| bathroom into a personal spa, with an oversized, | | | | style and you should select porcelain fixtures with |
| jetted bathtub and an in-line water heater. Steam | | | | gold, silver, or brass faucets and fittings. Think floral |
| showers and rain bars are other elegant amenities, as | | | | fabrics and groupings of treasured collections, and |
| is radiant heating and towel warmers. | | | | use gold accents and gilded finishes wherever you |
| Make A Plan | | | | can. |
| There are bathroom furnishings and bathroom | | | | 4) A Personal Theme |
| accessories available to fit any budget. Before you | | | | A collection of seashells, or your fondness for cactus |
| begin to decorate or remodel, list what you need to | | | | plants or birds might dictate a particular motif that |
| do, what you would like to do and what you would | | | | delights you and other family members. Bathroom |
| do if you could find the money. Estimate the cost of | | | | decorating and bathroom accessories can revolve |
| materials and tools for the do-it-yourselfer - if you | | | | around this theme and inspire particular color choices |
| are one - and the cost of a plumber, an electrician, a | | | | and the inclusion of elements from the sea, the |
| carpenter, and a painter, if you are not. Decide what | | | | desert, favorite animals or birds, a fantasy world, or |
| you can afford to do and whether you should go for | | | | anything that has captured your imagination. |
| an economical quick fix, or a more expensive major | | | | There are countless products and materials designed |
| overhaul. | | | | to enhance the beauty, comfort and convenience of |
| Paint, wall coverings, and flooring materials for all | | | | bathrooms. When it's time to decorate, you can really |
| bathrooms except the powder room must be | | | | have fun! |