Bathroom remodeling ranks number one among America’s most commonly performed home improvements. This is because today, many individuals consider their bathroom to be some kind of personal retreat, a separated space from the noise outside, where they could relax with complete privacy.
The bathroom is no longer just a space for one’s personal hygiene. Today’s design possibilities for bathrooms are limitless.
The standard rules do not apply anymore. Function, openness, performance as well as easy to clean and maintain materials usually top bathroom requirements. When designing your bathroom, take into consideration layout of bath pieces, cabinet placement and your choice of finishes.
Bathroom remodeling cost depends on how much or how little you opt to put in it. A simple improvement that includes a new bath vanity top, accessories and light fixture will cost under 1000 dollars, while a major bath remodeling, taking everything out then begin from scratch can cost 10,000 dollars or more.
With all available new materials, innovative products and design styles of today, your dream bathroom can actually turn into much more than a toilet, shower and sink combo.
Bathroom design Ideas
1. Set a realistic remodeling or makeover budget. When establishing a budget, take into account your bathroom design ideas that you want and if you can afford them.
Also, take note that it is less expensive when you do not anymore relocate the plumbing fixtures like the sinks or toilets; if you have a small budget, consider incorporating the present layout of your bathroom into your new design.
2. Think of function first. Always take into account functionally in mind as your bathroom is your workstation for getting ready for your day ahead as well as your place for recovering and resting after a hectic day. So keep these in mind when selecting your shower, tub, toilet, sink and other bath pieces.
Furthermore, think about what other needs you have that you can include into your bath, with some clever and careful planning; maybe you want to put a seat into your shower or a linen storage space or a “steam room”. Think what you really want, but give prime importance to your needs first, then second, your wants.
3. Collect bathroom models and design ideas. These will be a big help on your project as you can visualize your finished project as well as your remodeling professionals can have an idea on what your requirements are.
Here are some ideas:
– If your bathroom is large enough, you can either a wicker chair or display case.
– Mix and match colors for your bathroom. This is fun alternative to a white or gray bathroom. Have fun cool and relaxing colors such as you can turn your bathroom into a beach-like retreat investing in cool shades of blue towels, rugged or distressed antique shelf, a series of colorful picture frames, etc.
– Introduce fresh flowers, potted plants or cut tree branches and arrange them in vase. These can liven up your bathroom.
– Bring the outside into your bathroom. Put some sea shells, candles, instead of tiles, you can choose to have lime stones in one wall as your focal point with an iron vanity, large plants and wind metal chimes.
– Get inspiration from your friend’s house, from an expensive restaurant, a spa or a hotel room.
4. Look into popular design trends in bathrooms.
– Second sinks now are getting to be very popular and trendy in bathroom remodeling because they permit two individuals to use their bathroom together.
– Separating your toilet from all other bathroom needs is another trend nowadays.
– If you include a shower only in your bathroom, think of replacing it with a “bathtub” that can serve as both a shower also. Whirlpool tubs are becoming popular in bathroom designs today.
– A spa-like bathroom is the most popular trend today. So aside from whirlpool baths, natural stone walls and wood flooring, try to open up your bathroom with large windows so you can see nature’s beauty outside as you relax.
Designing your bathroom space must not be just another remodeling project. The focus today has to do with your overall pampering needs and self rejuvenation in your bathroom.
Posts Tagged ‘Bathroom Design Ideas’
Your Guide to Bathroom Planning and Design
December 19th, 2009This bathroom planning guide aims at providing you with bathroom design ideas useful in planning a bath space, dressing area or cloakroom. You may be planning a revamp of your old bathroom or doing it from scratch, these are some basic points you may like to ponder upon. Let’s start with the basic questions,i) What is the area of the bathroom?ii) Who will use it? Children, guests, you, two people or the whole family?iii) What are the fixtures you would like to install? (Shower cubicle, jets, tub, vanity etc)iv) Which parts of the bathroom you plan to revamp?v) Is the lighting appropriate?vi) What bathroom furniture you would like to buy?vii) Does it require plumbing work? Start with first things first. Measure up the bathroom area and make a rough sketch with the fixtures you have, you wish to change, and even fix in case it’s a new bathroom. This will help you estimate the exact area you have around to play with. Next thing should fall in place with a realistic budget. Even if you are thinking of redoing the plumbing job, estimate the costs, for it can be expensive. With the budgets and fixtures you want in hand, it would be easy to dwell on ideas and new fittings. It could be a vanity, shower enclosure or a new tub; make sure you think of the space. It’s important to move around too, and you don’t want to clutter your bathroom. Modular bathrooms done in little space are in vogue. There are more people looking for smaller bathrooms fitted with modern amenities. With meticulous and creative thinking, you should be able to fit in the things you desire, say a shower cubicle, for instance. You get corner shower cubicles that save space and if there is space constraint, you could always use a separate overhead shower cubicle and use curtains to keep away the water splashing. Tubs come in different shapes too and save your bathroom precious space. Get a deeper bathtub that saves space around the foot-end or baths where you sit straight, saving on the length. For bigger bathrooms, when you have good space on hand, you can play with the space with fewer constraints. Estimate the space, the gadgets and fixtures you plan to add. The saunas, shower cubicles and tubs are all possible, just work on it in a way that helps the space look open. Just let your creativity speak in your planning and design!Bathroom fittingsTo avoid any ghastly sites in the bathroom, you may need to pay attention to bathroom fittings. Detailed work and fittings like faucets and sinks can matter in fashioning your desired space,• FaucetsModern bathroom Faucet may sound like the simplest thing to choose, but pay attention to details like mounting (wall/sink) and material. If you already have a faucet, maybe you plan to change the mounting, which can cost much more as it may also requires plumbing work. • Toilet SeatsToilet seats come in different shapes and sizes. Depending on the available space, you can round up from a choice of elongated, rounded or corner seats. The elongated seat is great for comfort, but pay attention to details and dimensions. You don’t want your hands touching the ground when seated. Also, for smaller bathrooms, you can get one of those corner seats that save space. • Sinks & TapsSinks come in sundry shapes, colors and sizes too. The designer variety includes wall-mounted, counter sinks in steel, glass, ceramic and a combination of accessories and colors to match. Taps are functional things and you would like to consider the water flow and temperature control system before you buy. There are designer taps you get that is the perfect combination of style and function. • Contemporary bathroom furniture Be it a bathroom or cloakroom, contemporary bathroom vanities deserve great scores on utility and function. Work on the storage room and sink shape and size very closely. You get sinks in all shapes and sizes for both big and small bathrooms and in materials from fancy wood to steel and glass, so find something that goes with your bathroom theme.
Bathroom Ideas – Consider These 6 Bathroom Design Ideas
December 9th, 2009Looking for bathroom ideas? You may be researching bathroom design ideas for remodeling an existing bathroom or you may be looking for bathroom ideas for building a new one.
The bathroom design ideas that you use can have a dramatic impact on the appearance and functionality of your bathroom. The bathroom is a room that will be visited often every day and you want this space to be comfortable, usable, appealing and safe to be in while fitting into the overall style and decor of your home.
Here are bathroom ideas to consider as you are planning this important room:
1 – Add a Mirror – mirrors on the bathroom walls will give the appearance of windows being there, will reflect light and extend the room. Mirrors can create a sense of openness, making any bathroom appear larger than it really is. Add a medicine cabinet with mirror to your bathroom to store grooming supplies, medicine or toiletries. Traditionally, the medicine cabinet was located above the vanity or sink, however, you can place it elsewhere in the bathroom if you want.
2 – Create Ample Bathroom Storage – you cannot have too much storage space in a bathroom. Use wall space wisely with shelves or built-in cabinets, vanities or cabinets over the commode. Corner shelves are good bathroom ideas choices if you have limited space. Install corner shelves to display ceramics, shampoos, soaps, bath oils and candles. Display corner shelves can be found that are decorative and allow you to use otherwise wasted space.
3 – Use Wicker Baskets – fill wicker baskets with soaps, candles, sponges, bubble baths, and loofahs. You can roll some of your colorful towels and place them in inexpensive wicker baskets around the bathroom. Keep some of the large wicker storage baskets with towels near the tub and shower within easy reach.
4 – Carefully Select the Floor Material – besides the appearance, the bathroom floor should be safe to walk on and water resistant. Rubber flooring, ceramic tile, vinyl and linoleum floors are good choices since these floor materials can be easy to clean, water resistant and safe to walk on.
If you will use natural stone or terra-cotta ceramic tile on your floor, use the kind that has a non-slip finish. Be careful using rugs that can slide on a tiled floor or natural stone floor. Use rugs that have a rubber backing or add rubber backing strips to the rugs.
5 – Plan the Lighting Carefully – bathroom ideas and general lighting can be ceiling lights, wall fixtures or track lighting. Having adequate general lighting means there is enough light for someone to walk safely through the bathroom. This overall light will distribute itself throughout the entire space, however, general lighting is not sufficient for grooming functions.
Task lighting provides light to a specific area where shaving, putting on makeup or other types of grooming take place. Task lighting should be adjustable by using dimmers or controls, and it is best to aim this type of lighting at an angle to avoid hot spots or shadows.
The use of natural light can be included in your bathroom ideas by having a window, a wall skylight or a roof skylight to bring in natural light. Having a skylight that can be opened is great because it reduces moisture buildup. Remember that using a combination of different types of bathroom light fixtures carefully placed may give your bathroom the best results.
6 – Plan for Moisture Control – bathroom ideas should plan for humidity and odors in the room. Use a power ventilator large enough to do the job. Lingering moisture could become a problem if you do not have a properly-sized ventilating fan to get rid of moisture and odors. Ventilating fans are sized by the cubic feet of air they move in one minute (cfm).
A good ventilation system that can move the air from the bathroom to the outdoors about eight times per hour means that the bathroom will have the moist air removed in 7 or 8 minutes. If you take the length, width and ceiling height of your bathroom and multiply these three numbers, you will have the cubic feet of space for your bathroom.
For example, a bathroom that is 5 feet by 8 feet with an 8 foot high ceiling will have 320 cubic feet of space (5 times 8 times 8 equals 320). A 40 cfm (cubic feet per minute) fan will move the air from inside this bathroom to the outdoors in about 8 minutes (320 divided by 40).
Enjoy gathering bathroom ideas and the planning process, learn as much as you can and use your imagination as you collect and implement your bathroom ideas. Having a comfortable, attractive and functional bathroom that reflects your personal style means you will have a special place to enjoy for many years to come.
Copyright 2007 InfoSearch Publishing
