Decorate your bathroom for comfort and relaxation

In the past few weeks, I have focused my attention on writing about some rooms which are readily accessible to visitors. Today, I am going to write about decorating a different kind of room- the bathroom. Bathrooms are a necessity in any house; and once you have your bathroom basics such as the toilet, shower and or bath and sink installed, you shouldn’t hesitate to have fun decorating the rest of the space to make it look complete.

Thursday, March 18, 2010
L-R : The floor and walls should have a sense of continuity in colour and choice of materials ; Use hooks as an effective way of hanging towel ; Complete the bathroom by hanging a mirror to bring in more light into the room

In the past few weeks, I have focused my attention on writing about some rooms which are readily accessible to visitors. Today, I am going to write about decorating a different kind of room- the bathroom.

Bathrooms are a necessity in any house; and once you have your bathroom basics such as the toilet, shower and or bath and sink installed, you shouldn’t hesitate to have fun decorating the rest of the space to make it look complete.

Unfortunately, many people don’t go this extra mile for various reasons. However, rather than having a dull uninspiring bathroom if you can, invest some time and money to transform your bathroom it into a cozy retreat.

"What can one possibly do to decorate a bathroom? A bathroom is a very special space in a home, and should be treated like any other room. Each day, we all use bathrooms and for this reason we should ensure that they are well designed and decorated.

As far as bathroom décor goes, the options vary but see best that you decide on something that not only looks good but is also functional to the size and style of the bathroom. So how does one decorate a bathroom, while keeping it as functional?  Let us look at a few ways.
Give freshness and tidiness priority

First things first. Decide on what you want, and then find a place for it. Knowing what goes where will help keep the bathroom organized. Bathrooms should be kept clean and tidy and the design and décor should reflect this.

A neat bathroom will always look larger, more spacious and inviting than a dirty and untidy one. Make this possible by investing in cupboards for storage space.

Not only will this add warmth and style to the bathroom, but it will also have a high functionality quality by providing a place to keep items. Only display a few essential items and put away everything else.

A Mounted shelf under the mirror is ideal to place items in use on, however, keep it minimal and find decorative vases or a stylish toothbrush holder to keep appropriate items in them to maintain order.

Towel bars are wonderful in a bathroom because they provide an ideal place to hang towels, and discourage people from placing used towels on the floor. So, consider hanging a bar behind the door or over the toilet, or next to the sink.  If you are limited with space, use hooks for hanging a robe or towel.

They are very practical and best installed next to the shower or, like the towel bar, behind the bathroom door or next to the sink.

A mirror completes a bathroom

A bathroom without a mirror is incomplete. Bathroom mirrors typically hung over the sink and range from square, oval or round shapes. Ultimately, the size of the mirror will depend on the size of the bathroom.

If your space is big, use a large mirror, the mirror will reflect all the light in the room, and pick up the color and pattern from the surrounding walls. 

If you want a unique look, consider having a large mirror fitted into a wooden frame with unique patterns carved into it. Also, collection of different mirrors arranged creatively instead of one large mirror can have a stunning effect!

Bring in continuity with the walls and flooring
Are you creative or know somebody who is? Rather than painting a wall a plain colour or fitting tiles into it, consider painting or stenciling a decorative pattern on the largest open wall.

You can also use tiles of different sizes and colour to create patterns or images. Alternatively, if you are not in a position to re-do an entire wall, hang a framed picture of a nature scene or a beautiful horizon.

If your bathroom is small, you can create the illusion of a raised ceiling by painting a molding design around the edge of the ceiling. Be sure to paint it the same color as the ceiling, because using another colour will create the opposite effect by making the bathroom appear smaller.

The bathroom floor and walls do not have to be identical in appearance. As long as they are synchronized, with a sense of continuity in colour and choice of materials, the eye will flow naturally throughout the room.

Whatever you decide on, be sure to coordinate the finishing throughout the bathroom for a cohesive look.

A bathroom should not be dull; on the contrary, it should be an exciting part of the house where your style is reflected. 

ms.efuahagan@gmail.com

The author specializes in Interiors and Fashion