Well yes and no. If you want a tiled bedroom floor, there’s nothing to stop you from having one. If you want a carpet in the bathroom, then why not? You just need to be sure that whichever material you choose meets your own personal needs and wants

By the same token it is certainly true that many, if not most people prefer carpeted bedroom floors and bathroom floors that are tiled.

While the pros and cons of installing carpet in the bathroom are fairly varied, the main question you need to ask yourself is, “Why would you want a carpet in your bathroom?” And then, “Why would you NOT want a carpet in your bathroom?”  If you decide you do like the idea of a bathroom carpet, what options are there, and how do you make the right choice for your home?

Some Pros of Bathroom Carpets (along with Some Cons)

Warmth must rate as number one in terms of obvious pros for a bathroom carpet. After all it’s bad enough to get out of bed and have to trundle through to the bathroom over a cold floor (although you could give slippers a try); but to have a lovely hot, steamy bath and THEN get out onto a cold floor is another story. Just be aware that some bathroom carpets are warmer than others, particularly shaggy rags and those with a nice thick pile.

Another pro is that a carpet specially made for the bathroom will prevent you from slipping on what can quickly become a slippery floor underfoot – provided, of course it has a non-slip backing.

Other pros are that a carpet intended for a bathroom will also stay odorless even if wet, and it will therefore protect you against bad smalls that might emanate from a carpet not intended for use in a damp environment. It should also protect you against bacteria (which can easily make you sick) that forms so easily in a damp, warm environment.

Of course if you don’t have a bathroom carpet, all you need to do is mop the tiles and keep them clean. Carpets or no carpets, if you don’t mop up and maintain a certain dryness, you’re likely to get the same smells and mold (which often couples up with bacteria) forming in corners and in any crevices.

A soft fluffy carpet underfoot in a bathroom usually looks good – well, as long as it isn’t wet and straggly. And it can add a touch of style to a bathroom too, but mostly when the bathroom is larger than average. In smaller bathrooms it is usually best to stick to bath mats, the type made specifically for bathrooms. While not particularly stylish, they do, at least, fulfill a function.

The Cons of Bathroom Carpets

The wet factor probably ranks number one on this side, especially since damp promotes mold and then leads to a fairly rapid deterioration of any “soft” furnishings. Humidity and steam are other no-nos.  If, for instance, you were to fit a regular wall-to-wall carpet in your bathroom, you’d be in for a bit of a shock. It would probably be wet and rotting within months, maybe even within weeks.

Types of Bathroom Carpets

Contemporary bathroom carpets are no longer limited to small bathroom mats that are often sold in sets together with a toilet-seat cover and shaped mat intended for use at the base of the loo (although these are still available). They are also (well usually) a far cry from tacky 1970s-style carpets that were so often used in the bathroom.

Carpets manufactured specifically for use in the bathroom are usually washable, and they may be water-resistant, even “waterproof” (usually meaning that they have a waterproof backing, latex for example). Types include:

• waterproof waffle-backed carpets,
• twist pile carpets that are manufactured on a roll so that they may be cut to size, to fit any length bathroom,
• easy-to-wash nylon and plush-pile carpeting that can be cut to size and laid so that it looks as if it is fitted wall-to-wall,
• cotton candlewick rugs,
• exotic Indian rugs made using cotton, silk and other yarns, some of which are reversible – specifically manufactured and marketed for bathroom use.

What to Look For in a Bathroom Carpet

First step is to decide how much carpet you want in your bathroom. For example you might be able to use a rug on top of a tiled surface without it becoming damp or smelly. Alternatively you may prefer the idea of a bathroom carpet that is laid loose, but wall-to-wall.

Then you need to make sure that the carpet won’t slip. Nothing you say or do will make this room any less damp than it is; and anything that comes into contact with water is potentially slippery… and therefore potentially dangerous.

Thirdly, make sure you can keep the carpet clean and healthy. This generally means you need to be able to stick it in the washing machine whenever necessary. If it isn’t easy to keep clean, there’s a 100% chance it’s going to pick up moldy odors pretty quickly.

Generally the most suitable bathroom carpets are those made from natural materials, including cotton and wool. However some synthetics, including nylon, dry a little quicker.

Some More Specific Bathroom Carpets

Flor (www.flor.com) is just one company that is making carpets suitable for use in bathrooms. Currently they boast eight types that they recommend. All are rugs and runners which can be lifted so you can air them when they get damp (or worse still wet!).

Then there’s the Home Decorators Collection (www.homedecorators.com) that boasts plain and patterned bathroom rugs, some of which have a wonderfully Oriental appeal, and others that contemporary and even some that boast abstract patterns and gorgeous colors. Materials range from natural jute to wool.

Sure the choice is not as vast as it is for other rooms in the house, but if you really want a bathroom carpet, you are very likely to find something suitable.

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Recessive Colors

There are specific colors that are known to be recessive because the human eye perceives these colors as indicative of great distance. A good example of this would be dull lavender-gray–the color of mountains as they disappear on the horizon. Recessive colors, when painted on walls, are known to push the walls of a room back and open up space, creating feelings of airiness. In basic color theory, the cool colors (blue, green and purple) are said to be recessive. This is basically true–cool colors are more recessive than warm colors–but there’s a little more to it than just that. Desaturated cool colors (lavender-gray, blue-gray, sage green) are more recessive than saturated, brighter cool colors (like turquoise, violet and grass green).

By painting the walls of your bathroom with desaturated cool colors, you’ll ensure that the space is as open and airy as it can be expected to appear. Light gray-blues are very peaceful, while sage greens are fresh and lively, and muted lavenders are soothing. For a sensible and attractive bathroom interior, choose one recessive color to paint the walls. Couple that color with a warm cream or a bright white, which you should use for the furnishings, floor tiles and ceiling.

Neutrals

Colors like beige, tan, gray and cream are all considered to be neutral colors. Neutrals are unassuming, unobtrusive and sophisticated. These low-profile colors are tasteful and pleasing to the eye. Neutral color paints are perfect for small bathrooms, where it is beneficial to draw as little attention to the walls as possible. Neutrals also link back to a very common theme frequently used in bathroom decor: the beach. If you’re thinking about painting the walls a light beige or sand color, a sea shell theme will fit nicely with the decor. If you’re thinking about painting the walls a light gray, gray-blue ocean waters will be an appropriate theme. Although you’ll want to avoid over-accessorizing the bathroom, a single painting of a ship at sea on the wall or a few token seashells left laying on a shelf will go a long way toward making the design of the bathroom seem intentional and lovingly planned.

Pastels

Pastels are a very popular choice for small bathrooms. These light-hearted hues make bathroom environments pleasant and cheerful. Soft yellow, baby blue and mint green are all good choices for bathroom walls.

Be wary of intense pink or peach pastels–look for versions of these colors that are as light and muted as possible. Bright pink and peach, while pleasant in small quantities, can be overwhelming and even aggravating when painted on a wall in a small space. If it is important to you to dress up your bathroom with brighter, louder shades of pink or peach, do so in very small quantities. Tiny hand towels, colored bars of soap and a small colored vase of flowers are all items that will get your message of color across, without creating a dizzying and overwhelming environment in the room.

Accents

Like dark colors? Hoping to incorporate red into the room but worried it will become overwhelming? You can incorporate nearly any dark, saturated color into the bathroom by pairing it with white. White is a popular bathroom color because it gleams when it’s clean and creates a sanitary, bright environment. Sadly, white is also boring and when used alone can leave a room feeling undecorated, impersonal and sterile. To solve this problem, use accents of darker colors like black, red, navy or chocolate brown to make the room look carefully planned and smartly decorated. For example, if your love is bright red, paint the walls white with a red horizontal stripe across the top of the room, install some carefully chosen floor tiles (maroon and white, hexogonal) and buy some white towels with red monograms. This scheme uses just enough red, and not too much white, making a smart, sophisticated color palette just right for you.

Choosing a Color for the Bathroom

Once you’ve narrowed down your choices to a few colors you like, you’ll need to make the final decision. Purchase samples of each color and paint a large box of each paint on your walls. Wait until the paint dries to make your final choice. Since sometimes the actual paint color is very different from the swatches they provide at the store, it’s important to see the paint on the walls.

What Else Helps A Small Bathroom?

The most critical part of painting and decorating a small bathroom is to keep it simple and reduce visual clutter. Visual clutter can take many forms. By introducing too many colors, by painting too many colors that are too bright, and by introducing extra designs into the room, you make the room smaller and more claustrophobic. Limit your color palette to two colors. Keep decorations to a minimum. Avoid busy, distracting patterns. Hang a large mirror to make the space look larger and more complex.

Choosing the right color to paint a small bathroom is difficult. Many paint stores provide catalogs that you can look through, if you’re having a hard time making a decision. Remember to take your time before making a commitment, since you’ll have to live with these choices for quite some time.

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Consider Your Options

• Framed Mirror: A framed mirror is a bathroom mirror which comes with a frame already attached. These are typical as most homeowners would rather spend less time shopping for both pieces separately. These are also preferred for the ease of hanging.
• Frameless Mirror: A frameless mirror comes without a frame, and only the mirrored glass. Using a frameless mirror in a modern space has become popular due to its “floating” effect. These are also easy to install or hang but are usually glued to eliminate bulky hardware which is visible.
• Custom Mirror: A custom mirror is created when the mirrored glass and frame are picked separately for a custom look. The options for this are endless, but time is a factor and attention to measurements and detail is key. Installation and hanging is a bit extensive as it now becomes a two-step process.

Determine the Size

Length
The size of your bathroom mirror will typically be dictated by the size (length) of your vanity countertop. A good rule followed by designers is at least 2 inches small in length than the vanity, and in most bathrooms could be more like 4 inches. This provides 1 to 2 inches on each side of the bathroom mirror and eliminates “the box” look that automatically cheapens the design of your entire space.

Height
After determining the measurement that specifies how long your mirror is you must consider the height. A bathroom mirror should be no taller than your vanity and placed at least 4 to 6 inches from the ceiling. If lighting is located directly above the mirror space then this must also be factored into the height of your mirror.

Test the Shape and Style

Bathroom mirrors come in literally hundreds of shapes, sizes, and colors. Determining the best style for your bathroom can be tedious and frustrating as you view these hundreds of ideas and have no possibility of actually viewing your space completed to get the best result. Before getting too stressed there are options to test your design pre-sight without making too many mistakes on style before hitting the ideal look.

Create a template out of paper or poster board in the shape that you feel would look best in your bathroom. Now, attach the template to the wall using tape. This is the lower quality version of what your bathroom will look like with this shape. If you love it, then get this style and you will be thrilled to see it in higher quality. If you hate it, you just saved yourself time and money, keep trying until you find the perfect fit.

Taking the time to really think about and research the shapes and styles of mirrors can reduce the stress of selecting a bathroom mirror. Get creative in testing shapes, sizes, colors, and styles to make sure your minds eye is given a reality check and what you think will look great really will look amazing.

Think About Function

Mirrors are no longer just for reflections anymore, they are also very functional. Taking a look through the mirror gallery of your home décor store will quickly reinforce this as there are so many great features in bathroom mirrors.

Storage: Vanity cabinets with mirrored fronts can be found in both traditional and modern styles. A mounted box vanity cabinet is typically traditional in style, but modern designs are often created with sunken cabinets that are completely invisible when closed. Both are wonderful options if needing to add a little more storage space for grooming products.

Lighting: Mirrors with built-in lighting are great for cosmetic reasons. The lights provide that extra glow to see what you will really look like when out and about in town. These must be hardwired into the bathroom and may require a licensed electrician to install.

Research Mounting Styles

Permanent Installation (Essentially Forever): If you are hanging your mirror in the bathroom and do not plan on changing it for years, and by years I mean decades, then glue is certainly the best option. This can be done with liquid nails or other glues which are created to hold a heavy weight firmly in place for an extended period of time.

Semi-Permanent Installation (A good long while): If you are hanging your mirror in the bathroom and would like to lessen the amount of work when you do your next update, say five to ten years, the best option would be a less permanent glue which be loosened with certain chemicals. These glues are created to react to the glue remover and loosen when triggering this reaction. Check reviews to ensure the quality is great and the risk of a broken bathroom mirror before intentionally removing it is a risk.

Temporary Installation (Just for now): Wire or Mirror Brackets are simply screwed in and attached to the wall therefore never actually being bonded in any way. This can be the least expensive, and easiest to install, as well as remove. This is ideal for those leasing a home, apartment, or condo.

Tip: If installing your mirror with glue it is crucial that the strength of your chosen glue is checked and researched. Before applying your mirror to the wall you must know the mirrors weight (located on the box), and match this to the strength (amount of weight) the glue can support (located on the bottle). If in doubt, go up one step to a higher strength to ensure that your mirror survives for years to come.

Quick Tips on Selecting a Bathroom Mirror

• Try not to purchase a bathroom mirror on clearance or at a store which offers no refunds, returns, or exchanges. All too often a home decorating piece is selected in a store and once put in the home does not have similar effects or the desired impact. It is always best to have the option to return the mirror if needed.
• Measure your space before leaving to pick your mirror. A mirror in a store will look much smaller than once placed in your smaller and more closed in bathroom. This is a common mistake made by people considering eliminating a step by “eyeballing it”.
• Determine the safety needs of your bathroom before purchasing your mirror. Will this be a mirror for a rambunctious child’s bathroom? Perhaps a safety glass mirror is the best option to prevent an unsafe situation. Or maybe this is a purchase for a busy restroom in your place of business? Again, safety first, quality a must.
• Remember when selecting a bathroom mirror that this is a fantastic opportunity to add value, style, and function to your bathroom and take your time in researching the best choice for your space.

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Where to Start

Choosing home renovation elements can at first be an exciting task, but slowly grows more aggravating as all the practicalities of dimensions and functionality begin to overwhelm homeowners. Bathroom renovations are some of the most difficult to complete because each decision tends to touch on electricity or plumbing or something that is difficult or nearly impossible to change. Not to mention that all of this is done in a relatively small space compared to other rooms in a home.

The actual selection process involved with a sink should always start with the cabinet and whether you will be keeping the one you have, renovating it in a way that may alter the space for the sink bowl such as changing the counter top, or you are completely ripping the whole thing out and starting over. The cabinet will really determine how much room you have to make a style or size decision about your sink. If you are unsure about any of the measuring or design aspects of your sink, you should consider involving a design professional who can help to guide you through the process.

Knowing the Product

Just as with most products, there is high end, middle range and low end sinks for homeowners to select from. Lower end, more cost efficient sinks can be bought new at most home improvement stores but when selecting your specific sink, inspect the product for chips, cracks or dings that could impact the overall look or even function of your sink. These products tend to be fairly standard in size and shape but you can make them appear more custom depending on your cabinet and faucet selections.

Mid-range sink products are middle of the road price wise but have a little bit more to them than the standard home improvement store fare. These sinks can have a bit deeper well than a standard sink or be made of an alternate material that makes them seem more custom. Mid-range sinks can also have some special features found in more trendy bathroom renovations, such as counter top mounting rather than under counter top mounting. Similar to the way you would see a deep bowl sitting on top of a table, a sink can be designed to sit on top of a counter top. While this trend does not necessarily appeal to everyone, it can be the right fit for the right bathroom.

High end sinks can be anything from a personalized art piece to a custom job that is built out of recycled glass to appear more like a narrow trough than a standard bathroom sink. The use of color and unique options are almost endless. Homeowners always want to be a little careful in this department because it can deduct big dollars from the overall re-sale value of a home if buyers believe the bathroom is too over the top and will need to be re-done in order to better reflect their taste.

Where to Shop

Most people do not typically have an extensive amount of experience in shopping for bathroom sinks. Consequently, there is sometimes a lack of understanding on the places to shop for sinks, the different options and the actual differences in functionality. Depending on the quality of sink you are looking for, standard options are typically available at home improvement stores while more custom versions can be purchased from interior decorating studios or custom home designers. There are also some creative ways to find your sink such as visiting antique shops for originals or replicas that will work with your design scheme. Some outlets also sell used or refurbished products that can be a great savings as well as good for the environment.

Just as with most things, it is a good idea to keep an open mind and evaluate your options when you are shopping before making a firm decision. You should have your sink dimensions in hand and anything to help you with color selection if needed while you shop around. A sales professional may also be able to help you find the most cost effective solution for your budget or point you in the direction where you can find the right product for your style.

Things to Consider

Once you know the size and color and shape of the sink you need, there are still a number of other things to consider in order to complete your bathroom renovation project. The faucet component of your sink is almost as important as the bowl. The style and color of our faucet should compliment your sink bowl while having the necessary functionality you are expecting. You need to think about whether the knobs can be moved easily based on the way you are planning to have the sink installed or whether you would like a moveable faucet head. The cost of the faucet component can also be far more than the sink itself so be sure to understand if the faucet you have selected will adequately fit the sink bowl you would like to have installed.

Other things to consider when you are selecting a bathroom sink include cost savings opportunities. You can sometimes find a sink that is bundled with a cabinet or a faucet which can save you money overall. There are also some sinks that come as one unit with the countertop which can be a great option for saving both money and installation time. You can also save money by hiring a professional to install your sink. If it is improperly installed, you can inadvertently do extensive damage to your cabinet, the contents of the cabinet and the walls and flooring of your bathroom.

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As needs arise in North America new or improved products also appear and cater to those very needs and wants! The most trivial advances make headlines, a la Snuggie’s or flexible hoses, but the important ones are there, too. For example, Life Alert seemed a very natural, sensible, important service for anyone getting up in years or anyone who cares about anyone getting long in the tooth.

Perils

As most of us become aware, falling down becomes one of the most serious perils a senior person can experience. Broken bones loom with potentially every stair or bump, depending on the person’s age and mobility. The problem for seniors is, unlike the amazing ability of young bodies to quickly heal and repair themselves, any injury can more easily lead to other complications with seniors.

So we become deathly afraid and protective of our elder loved ones encountering any threat, and often dote on them or try to regulate their activity, which efforts may naturally be returned with resentment. The number of preventable injuries to people 65 years and older is increasing, however, so our fears are warranted.

• Falling is the leading cause of unintentional injury to people over 65.

In fact, in 2003 the National Safety Council (NSC) in the US embarked upon a project to reduce the number of these injuries.

• What’s more, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported in 2006 that unintentional falls were the number one reason people over 45 went to emergency rooms!

They explained that over 600,000 adults between 55 and 64 visited emergency rooms for falling while the number of visits for people over 65 was over 1.8 million – the number tripled! (1) That’s over 30,000 such injuries each week, and over 250 deaths among them, not to mention permanently debilitating injuries.

Resistance

Because of intrusive, albeit necessary, regulation of a senior or disabled person’s bathing, they may become resistive to the very act of it. They won’t like it anymore and this can introduce a list of new problems. It is fairly common for the elderly to resist bathing.

Solutions

The big picture then, of prevention includes attention to

• exercise,
• quality of vision,
• proper medication, and
• home safety.

Of these, if falling down is a problem, falling down in the bathroom is a larger part of the problem with home safety. According to ComfortKeepers.com,

“The first place to evaluate is the bathroom.”

The obstacles of high steps, slippery floors, hard surfaces, and confined spaces have made the bathroom an intimidating, threatening space, until now.

Thanks to good old ingenuity, the solution does not have to involve more regulation and less freedom for the person.

In fact low-threshold showers and walk-in bathtubs provide not only more safety but more enjoyment, and can nicely add to the quality of life with a love of bathing.

Not only is ingress and egress, getting in and out easier, but the addition of soothing massage jets and rain-styled shower heads is something to be looked forward to. In fact these tubs and showers add

• Independence
• Beauty
• Accessibility and
• Amenities.

Bathroom design has become an important issue for both safety and enjoyment among

• Senior living facilities,
• Hospitals,
• Clinics
• Private Residences, and
• Spas and health clubs.

The Difference

Walk-in tubs and showers remove common obstacles and other safety hazards so seniors and disabled persons can enjoy bathing in relative safety again. Grab bars, non-skid mats, rounded edges, and removal of common obstacles make a big difference. So does making shampoos and soaps easy to reach.

Although a retro-fit is an option, new installation is recommended. Either way, also make sure a preset thermostatic valve is present to avoid scalding. This is a relatively common feature with most new bath and shower valves.

Included shower benches make bathing a safer, more relaxing, and in fact a more thorough bathing experience as well. The most prominent safety feature is being able to walk right in to your shower or tub with nothing more than a low threshold to step easily over, closing a door behind you.

Benefits of Safety Tubs and Showers

In addition to the safety factors discussed, and in addition to making bathing a more enjoyable activity, a walk-in shower and/or tub may be just the treat anyone would want in their bathroom.

• Benches,
• Whirlpool jets,
• Portable, multiple-setting shower heads,
• Softer materials and shaping,

These all make bathing more fun – in fact whirlpool jets applied at a comfortable pressure assist with

• Circulation
• Stress relief
• Sore muscle and joint relief and
• Flexibility. (2)

Things you don’t have to be over 65 or disabled to enjoy! But if you or someone you love is over 65 or disabled the benefits are all the more important to your safety and quality of life.

Cost

You can have an all-new product installed or purchase a conversion kit for many existing tubs and showers.

The investment to have a walk-in shower or bath seems to range between $2,000 and $5,000 in general. The cost can be less of course for a retro-fit kit or conversion, if you nail down a special, or if you “know someone in the business!” They can always run higher of course, depending on installation costs in your area and the amenities you buy.

But the real question with an item like this is not to measure the cost against a standard porcelain tub, but rather against the quality of life and peace of mind it provides. Tap water is nice and cheap until you discover you’re ill from it. Fast food is famously cheap and gaining fame as a killer, too!

If you bought such a bath for mom or dad at $2,000 and they enjoyed it for ten years, your cost is just $200 per year or under $17 per month, all for priceless peace of mind and quality of life. But then again – you might even recoup some of that cost if and when the house is sold!

So weigh the peace of mind your investment buys, and the quality of life it provides. When the time comes, such a purchase will be high on my own list for mom and dad, under the “quality of life,” “peace of mind,” and “thanks for all you did” columns.

(1) http://seniorliving.about.com/od/healthnutrition/a/fallstudy.htm

(2) http://www.livestrong.com/article/176048-what-are-the-benefits-of-using-the-whirlpool/

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So, you are heading into the paint department and finally reach the overwhelming station filled with literally hundreds of colors in far too many different shades. On the lookout for something peaceful, yet energizing, you simply have no idea where to start in choosing the color much less the shade.

Forget the Rules of “Flow”

The bathroom is the one room in your home that you will rarely be forced to share with others. That said, should you still create “flow” between your bathroom and the rest of your home? Absolutely, not! So, your home is decorated in traditional modern design including straight symmetrical lines and black, silver, and white finishes. But, you dream of being on a luxurious soft sandy beach with the colors of the ocean, seashells scattered about, and a subtle calming breeze blowing in the smell of fresh clean salt water. Let your big dreams of the ocean become a small peaceful reality in your bathroom by forgetting the rules and making it what you want.

What better place to step outside of pleasing others and take a piece of what is yours then the one room in your home that far few travel in, and far fewer care about anyhow. This is your chance to do whatever you want, and that is quite exciting in the world of watching eyes and judging minds. Use your imagination in your bathroom and with a little work, some very strategically choosing of a color, you will be relaxing at the beach while laying in your own tub in no time.

Find Your Inspiration

Okay, its vacation time and you get the opportunity to go any place in the world. Where are you going and why? The answer to this question is the primary, and most important, step to choosing the color scheme of a bathroom. This is your escape so the inspiration behind it should be your little piece of heaven. Once you know where you are going and why you are going there, you will know just what colors to be looking at for your bathroom.

To get your creative juices flowing take a look at these common relaxation places:

• A Sandy Beach
• A Mountain Cabin Retreat
• A Private Prairie
• An Exotic Spa
• Back to the Past
• Into the Future

If the place of relaxation is not listed above, have no worry. Finding the colors for your inspiration can be done by simply locating a picture of your favorite spot. Perhaps you have visited there in the past and brought home pictures, flyers, or postcards, or if not, can find pictures on the internet, have resorts send out flyers, or locate postcards from friends living in the state of your destination.

Setting the Mood with Color

The general rule of color is choosing a soft and subtle color for the larger areas (walls), and putting in random splashes of accent colors with accessories, wall décor, and final finishes. This should be your basic idea in a bathroom as well. Here are some popular choices when choosing a color scheme for a bathroom.

Sandy Beach

Walls: Light to Medium Shades of Blue – Representing the ocean.
Window and Shower Curtains: Beige or Off White – Representing Sand.
Accessories (towels, etc.): Crisp White, Dark Blue, Aqua Green, Muted Browns.
Fixtures & Finishes: Silver or White.

Mountain Cabin Retreat

Walls: Light to Medium Shades of Green – Representing Forestry Scenery.
Window and Shower Curtains: Shades of Brown and Autumn Reds. – Representing Fall Forests.
Accessories (towels, etc.): Browns, Greens, Blues, Pine Yellows, and Autumn Reds or Oranges.
Fixtures & Finishes: Natural Wood or Brown Colors.

Tip: To do this there is a formula which is often used by real interior designers. Try it out!

1. Look at your inspiration picture and identify the color which you see the most of – this will be your wall color or base color.
2. Find the color that you see the second most of – this will be your primary accent color.
3. Look very close and identify the colors which you may have almost missed – these will be your secondary accent colors.

Keep it Professional

To keep your bathroom looking professionally designed keep away from over-the-top inspiration such as going overboard with images or specific theme decorations, buying generic or overbearing curtains with dated patterns (sailboats, lighthouses, etc.), and putting too much emphasis on any one color element. Adding these items to your bathroom is encouraged, however keep it clean and keep it simple when pulling themed items into the room.

Choosing the Proper Finish in Paint

To properly paint a bathroom, much of the work in choosing the finish is already done for you. It is recommended that all places with high humidity or running water be painted with a semi-gloss or high-gloss paint. Painting with a semi-gloss or high-gloss paint will provide a bit of protection for your walls because the gloss works as a minor moisture barrier. Choosing a satin, flat, or eggshell finish will not provide this protection and could quickly deteriorate in quality making your paint look dated, washed out, and faded.

Unlike the many other rooms of your home, the bathroom can certainly be tailored to your own style without worry of other opinions. Feel free to make it your own knowing that this room is specially designed to help you unwind with in a little peaceful retreat, something so necessary in your busy life. Choosing a color scheme for a bathroom is the first step to setting the mood for relaxation, thus providing you with an energizing boost each and everyday. Take advantage of this chance to improve your own person well-being!

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The Importance of Well Designed Bathrooms

Next to the kitchen, the bathroom is the main room that will draw potential buyers to purchase a home. This is why it is absolutely critical that your bathroom appear as functional and appealing as possible. Investing in adequate storage solutions is a great investment as most buyers are typically seeking a well organized bathroom. In order to get the most for your renovation money, it may help to call in a professional bathroom designer or an organization specialist. These professionals will have ideas on the latest products for your storage solution as well as having tools to help you view various options.

Whether you are considering a major reconfiguration of your bathroom or just some additional shelving, professional software can take the dimensions of your current bathroom space and translate them in to your improvement ideas. This visualization can often change the direction of a project as homeowners realize what they thought would work might not be the best option. A professional would be able to help you make the right decisions about your project, materials, dimensions and style.

Getting to the Root of the Issue

For many homeowners that start out thinking they don’t have enough storage space in their bathrooms, finding the source of the storage issue should be the first stop in the design phase. Having difficulty finding storage for towels is a lot different than lacking storage for dozens of cosmetics and hair products. Deciding whether you want concealed storage or open storage will be another big decision and will depend on the type of items you struggle to find a home for in your bathroom.

There are custom drawer inserts available for existing bathroom cabinets that can be a great option for small cosmetics that you find yourself stacking on top of each other only to have them topple over every time the drawer opens or closes. Under sink space may also be underutilized if the cabinet is too deep. This provides an opportunity to use roll-out shelving or removable storage containers. There also may be under used space right above a toilet which can be great for shallow shelves or a cupboard for storing extra toilet paper, tissue or cleaning suppliers.

Tricks of the Trade

When it comes to bathroom storage design, one of the key facets is utilizing every square inch of a bathroom without making it look as if you have used every square inch. Creating shelving that is vertical is one of the tricks bathroom designers will utilize which actually provides a feeling that the room is taller and therefore larger than it really is. There are other options which can help to ‘steal’ space you didn’t know you had. An experienced contractor may be able to find space between wall studs that is not impacted by plumbing or electrical where you can add custom, built in shelving. You can use this space openly or attach a cupboard door to conceal the contents, similar to a medicine cabinet.

Many small bathrooms will only have a pedestal sink which offers no storage. There are some simple storage options that people may not have considered, such as utilizing decorative baskets that can sit on the floor to hold towels. There is a wide assortment of decorative storage boxes and baskets available that may be perfect for your space and can hide the extra supplies you don’t necessarily use every day such as cleaning products, extra hair products and cosmetics. Just be sure when selecting your container that it can hold up to the humidity of a bathroom environment.

For larger bathrooms that simply do not have the right flow, there are a number of design tricks that can be used to maximize your space. If you are planning to replace your sink cabinet, you might select one that is actually 4-6 inches higher than the current cabinet. Many cabinets were built to standard specifications, but most custom and higher end bathrooms have elevated sink cabinets. This serves two purposes, one being that the sink is more ergonomically situated for its general purpose of hand and face washing and then secondly, the added height will provide for more storage.

The Size of Your Project

Before heading in to the home improvement store, take a look at your bathroom cabinet and see if you are fully utilizing all the storage beneath the sink, or if you mostly have extra soap and shampoo bottles that don’t stack well. Rather than replacing the whole cabinet, an added shelving layer might make a huge difference in your space usage. Another common storage issue is wet towels and where to hang them. If they aren’t slung over the top of the shower door then they are piled on the floor. If you have a glass door shower, check to see if you can add a towel bar across the door which is a great way to make up for a lack of wall space.

Some homeowners have waited so long to deal with their bathroom storage issue that they really just want to rip the whole thing out and start over. If you have the time and money to invest in this project, it almost always brings a return on your investment when it comes to re-sale. If you want to see how much you can do on a small budget to solve your need for a medicine cabinet, cosmetic counter and linen closet, a consultation with a professional would still be strongly advised due to the sheer complexities of space, plumbing and electricity that are involved with bathroom renovations or project installations. Some simple storage fixes may be all that you need rather than an entire overhaul.

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But when you are faced with water problems in your home, you do need to know what to do, and how to deal with them.

Apart from flooding caused by excessive rain, the most likely source of water problems in the home is the bathroom and any area where there are taps and appliances that rely on water to operate (dish washers, washing machines and so on).

Common Causes of Water Problems in the Bathroom

While burst hot water heaters and leaking pipes do create quite nasty water problems in any bathroom (or kitchen), human error or stupidity probably rates Number 1!

People often say of boredom, “it’s like watching paint dry”. But it would be just as appropriate to say “it’s like watching a bath tub fill up”. Stop watching and the paint WILL dry. Stop watching and the tub WILL overflow. It seems to happen in seconds.

Do any of these scenarios ring true with you?

• Just after you turned on the water to the bath tub your phone rings. You answer the phone and spend the next 40 minutes chatting. Bathing is the furthest idea from your mind … until you see water is everywhere. It is even trickling through a light fitting in the ceiling of the room beneath your bathroom. Worse still, in the basement, water is pouring in a steady stream onto your newly fitted woolen carpet.
• Because you don’t have a separate laundry room, you have opted for a twin tub machine to wash your clothes in the main en suite bathroom. But the machine tub must be filled manually. The dogs start barking and you run downstairs to investigate. You don’t see anything at first, so you walk around the garden to make sure there isn’t an intruder attempting to gain access. As you re-enter the house, water is streaming down the passage.
• You are a fishy kind of person and have a right-royal, 240 gallon aquarium in your living room. It takes a while to fill, but you’ve perfected the procedure with a hose that is attached to a bathroom sink in your basement. You’ve been watching the tank fill for quite a while (like wet paint) when you decide to quickly check some work documents in your home office. When you realize there is still work to be done, you forget about your fishes, and get stuck in. The down-side is that within an hour your office is a potential paddling pool. If you’re lucky your fish have dived to the bottom of the “pond” and they have survived, in spite of the temperature being a little cooler than usual.

Or maybe your hot water cylinder burst! That is a specially messy, watery one… But in all these instances you’re going to have to take action, clean up, and make sure that nothing has been badly damaged.

How to Cope with Water Problems

In all instances, Step Number One is to turn off the water – at the mains if necessary – and do an immediate mop up. Your method of “mopping” will depend largely on the depth of the “flood”. If there’s not that much water, old towels are a good option, since they will soak up water quicker than an old-fashioned spaghetti-mop or even a more modern version with a squeegee-sponge. If it’s really deep (the water that is), you will need buckets or scoops of some kind to get rid of it as quickly as possible. Depending on the location of the flooded space, and the circumstances relating to the flooding, you might be able to siphon the water out of your house using a length of hose.

That will get rid of the water (or at least most of it), but your home will not be dry – by any means. Not immediately anyway. If you have fitted carpets, you can try drying these with fans (even if it means you have to hire industrial units), but you might needs to lift the carpeting. Worse still, water damage is such that you might have to scrap them altogether. Heaters can also be used to dry the wet, but you do need air movement as well.

When the mass of water is eventually sorted, you need to check where else it (the water) has gone. Remember that water has a natty way of spreading into cracks and crevices that you probably don’t even know exist. Check under and behind everything possible, and dry all surfaces as best as you can. If the water has made its way into electrical conduits you MUST switch off the power. In fact if the flood is major, it is wise to switch of the electricity as a precaution.

Water and electricity are a potentially lethal combination. In most cases the water will dry out, and there won’t be any damage to the electrical system, but this is not always the case. Rather be safe than sorry, and call in an electrician to check the system before you start using it again.

Let it Dry Out

Whatever the cause – or effect – at the end of the day, if you’ve had a flood in your home (irrespective of whether YOU are guilty or not) there is one thing that you do need to do: LET THE WATER DRY OUT. If you don’t do this, there are all kinds of problems you might be faced with, ranging from wet electrics to tiles that lift because the cement and grouting have begun to expand.

Another major factor to bear in mind is that wet areas will attract mold, and mold can be a serious health hazard.

So if you have flooded your home, or been the victim of some sort of flood, take every possible step to dry out and stay dry until every fiber of your home is dry too.

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But bathrooms don’t have to be dull and boring. If you enjoy soaking in a hot bath, the bathroom can become a haven of peace and solitude. It can also become a place where you can pamper yourself and unwind and relax.

When it comes to bathroom color schemes, the starting point will usually be the bath and sanitary ware. For this reason, white or a low key champagne-color, are probably the safest options. The problem with installing colored baths and sanitary ware is that they tend to date the room. The same applies to fancy or colored tiles. But when you introduce color in other ways, you can change the color scheme relatively easily without incurring huge costs.

So how can you introduce color into your bathroom?

Probably the easiest way is to paint the walls, but you can also introduce color with blinds or curtains that pick up the same accent as towels, facecloths and so on.

If you have a carefully thought out color scheme for the rest of your home, you may want to follow this through to bathrooms, toilets and shower rooms. This is a safe approach and one that works particularly well for en suite bathrooms that lead off bedrooms. But you don’t have to take this approach. You may decide that the bathroom should be in complete contrast to the rest of the house. Just be sure you can live with it.

Remember that colors have different effects, and presuming you want a haven of peace and tranquility, you should choose a color that will help you achieve this effect. Color is an enormously powerful medium and it will help if you know something about color theory, and how colors work together and on their own.

First of all, it’s important to realize that color has a definite effect on our emotions, even though we might react differently to other people. Sensitivity to color may also differ according to the culture in which we have been raised, as well as our general upbringing. It is also often affected by age and our physical well being. For example, a sick person will feel more comfortable in a neutral room rather than a room that features bright colors.

The psychological impulses that most of us have to color are linked to primitive associations with nature. Even though strong, vibrant colors like purple, red and dark royal blue may suggest splendor and joy, red can imply danger. Like fire, it stimulates the brain and is exciting, but too much of it can make us feel restless. Blue is like ice, and it is said to reduce excitability. But it is also mysterious and if we use too much of it, it can induce melancholia. Blue can also be a difficult color to work with because there are so many different tones. A pure cyan (which is more like a sky blue) will be a lot more soothing than a violet-hued blue that has lots of red in it. Yellow is the sunshine color and it is cheerful and commands attention. Green is associated with leaves and grass and growing plants. It is peaceful and cooling, and can be beautifully calming. If a mellow shade of green is used, it can also have a nostalgic effect. Ochre, mustard and various browns are quite literally of the earth, and so they are warm, invigorating, cheerful and strong.

Before you tackle bathroom color schemes, it is also helpful to know the difference between warm and cold colors, as well as the so-called ‘non-colors’, black, white and grey.

The famous scientist Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727) developed what we now refer to as the color wheel, which is a great educational tool. He was studying the effects of a beam of light shining through a glass prism when he realized there were 12 basic colors from which every possible hue comes from.

The color wheel is a spectrum, like the rainbow, only it is joined at both ends (making the wheel). There are three primary colors – red, yellow and blue – and three secondary colors that are produced when each of the primary colors is mixed with one other primary color, in equal amounts. Red and yellow make orange, yellow and blue make green, and red and blue make purple. Then there are six tertiary colors, produced when a primary color is mixed with its closest secondary color: yellow-orange, red-orange, red-violet, blue-violet, blue-green and yellow-green. The primary colors are the most intense of all. Secondary colors are more intense than tertiary colors but less intense than primary colors.

When white is placed next to or between two colors you will see the true value of these colors. But white is also a balanced mixture of each color of the spectrum, and so it can be used successfully as an accent. This is why one color plus white works so well in interiors, and bathrooms are no exception – for example white sanitary ware plus a color works every time. Black, another of the three non-colors, can be somber and overpowering on its own, but it can be successful as an accent. Black tiles combined with white sanitary ware in the bathroom will create a dramatic effect. Grey is neutral and colorless, although blue-grey can be very effective and soothing. If you’ve experimented with paint, you will probably know that equal amounts of complementary colors will always produce grey!

When you start working on bathroom color schemes, remember that warm colors like red and yellow will have the effect of making the room feel warmer. Cool colors like green and some blues, will have the effect of reducing temperature.

Lastly, you need to remember that colors will change according to the way they are used with other colors. For example if two colors are used next to one another, the initial intensity and effect of that color might change. Different textures of the same color will also have different effects. The rougher the surface, the more color it will absorb. So if you have a shiny tile on the walls or floor, and match the color to a textured fabric that is exactly the same color, they will appear different. Even a shiny tile and a matt tile of the color will appear different. This isn’t a bad thing because it will have the effect of creating interest.

Also, colors get their true value from clear, bright natural light. Dim light will tend to neutralize colors while artificial light will change the color. Incandescent light will tend to produce a yellow cast while fluorescent lights might make colors bluer than they would otherwise appear. This is important especially when bathrooms don’t have a lot of natural light, which is often the case.

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