Lighting
Layering
Good bathroom lighting is all about layering. Light should be strongest where it’s most needed – so where you shave, apply make-up, shower, and maybe where you need to see into cupboards. Otherwise the function of your lighting is to create the right mood for your bathroom.

Mirror image

The mirror should be a main concern. Ideally, to avoid shadows falling on your face you should have light coming from either side of the mirror as well as from the ceiling. Flanking the mirror with lighting can look good whatever style you’re going for. Think vintage, sconces add classic elegance or, if you’re making it modern, a pair of contemporary wall lights can turn even a minimalist mirror into an eye-catching feature. If you don’t have the wall space, high wattage lighting from above the mirror will do the job almost as well.

Illumination from above

Recessed lights are a popular choice for the modern bathroom. These look crisp and clean as well as often having the flexibility to be angled to highlight key areas and avoid too much glare from a single bulb. If you’re keeping it traditional though, your options are endless – frosted lights give a lovely diffused effect, or you could even fit shades. However, do make sure your lighting is designed for the bathroom for the safety reasons mentioned (see right).

Heating

Why heat the bathroom?
There’s nothing worse than starting your day standing naked, goose-bumped and shivering, waiting for the shower to warm up… Except maybe the excruciating sensation of your bare feet first touching the cold tiled floor! But aside from the obvious, bathroom heating reduces humidity in the room by evaporating the moisture, which helps prevent mould and mildew as well as enabling you to reuse towels.

Radiators

The days of one-design-fits-all central heating are over, with the bathroom spoilt rotten with different styles of radiators, whether you want to make a bold statement or have your heating melt into the background.

Many people are moving away from bathroom heating attached to the central heating system. Stand-alone fast-warming electrical heaters can be a good option for power saving as there’s usually no need for the bathroom to be heated for as many hours as the rest of the home.

Heated towel rails

Available in a wide variety of sizes, finishes, and shapes, heated towel rails add a touch of luxury, as well as keeping your towels toasty and tidy. They can be either used in conjunction with a conventional radiator as an extra heat source or higher powered models can provide the sole heating source for the room.

Underfloor heating

If the idea of stepping onto a lovely warm bathroom floor tickles your tootsies, underfloor heating could be for you. This also has the added benefit of providing constant heat throughout the room. The heat comes either from warm water flowing through pipes, or from electrical heating cables, or mats, beneath the floor and radiates upwards. Although room temperature doesn’t have to be as high to feel comfortable with this type of heating, heated floors can take a long time to warm up, especially if under thick tiles. So it’s worth looking into this first if you’re at all concerned about fuel usage or heating costs. They can however, be set up to work from cheaper off-peak electricity.

Courtesy of: uktv

via: sicis

1 Think furniture. Vanities that look like dressers, ornate wood-frame mirrors and upholstered chairs can give an intimate charm to the bathroom. Are you an avid DIYer? Retrofit a salvaged desk or farm table with a sink fixture.

2 Skip sleek. Pass on brushed metal or clear glass storage accessories and opt instead for woven baskets or painted antiqued boxes to stash extra towels and toiletries.

3 Be artful. Grace the walls with groupings of art in delicate frames. (Although we don’t recommend putting treasured photos or pricey items in a bath due to the potential for water damage.)

4 Warm your toes. Radiant-heat flooring not only keeps your tootsies cozy on cold days, it can also help lower heating bills. Check with a contractor to learn the options for the type and installation method that’s right for your home. Baths are a good candidate for radiant-heat floors, since tile is one of the most efficient conveyors of heat created by a subfloor system. (Wood or laminate are okay too, but act as mild insulators against the radiant heat.)

5 Express yourself. Have a small collection of vintage tins or ceramic vases? Displayed on a shelf they add personal flair and warmth to a powder room.

6 Take the paper route. In the bath, one roll of wall covering is often all you’ll need. And don’t worry about the damp environment ruining your wallpaper. Today’s designs are made to resist humidity.

source:  womansday.com

Bathroom decorating doesn’t have to expensive, time consuming, or difficult. Consider the following easy and creative ideas below to get you started on your bathroom decorating project.

Minimalist

Bathrooms tend to be the smallest rooms in most houses. Decorating with only a couple of choice items may be all that you really need for the space. Choose sleek and stylish fixtures, clean lines, a simple shower curtain, and small framed mirrors to make an inviting room in a small place.

Romantic

To create a more romantic look in a bathroom, use lots of textures in rich colors. Spend a little extra money on some fabric that you can make a shower curtain and window curtains. Then, add some thick and fluffy towels, robes, and a few vases with live flowers or a potted lavender plant. You can also accent your counters with scented soaps or multi-colored glass pebbles.

Simple Country

For a simple country feel in your bathroom, decorate in dusty blues or neutral colors. Add a café style curtain or valance in a gingham print for your shower in addition to a few inexpensive pieces of framed art on the walls. Framing paper doilies with wallpaper scraps can add charming country touch to your bathroom as well.

Bathroom floor plans are essential to follow and adhere to when remodeling or making additions. If you plan on remodeling your bathroom, be sure to remember and take into consideration the following elements that are fundamental to a good floor plan.

Scale

All floor plans are designed to be on a scale. The plan should describe as to what the scale is, which means it should use a particular measurement of distance. This is important when looking over the plan because it will show you every aspect of the bathroom in its length, width, and perhaps height. This allows to see where you can make changes and how those changes will affect the dimensions for the rest of the bathroom.

Doorways and Windows

A common issue with a bathroom floor plan is how a sink or counter can obstruct a doorway. Be sure to check the plan carefully to ensure the spacing shown will allow enough room for the door to fully open. Additionally, window placement is important to consider. If you have an existing window, you’ll want to work around it and incorporate your new additions with it in mind. Should you overlook the existing window, you may place something near the window and ruin the function of the bathroom.

Cabinet Space

When looking at the plan, make sure that there is adequate space to open and close your cabinets. This aspect is often overlooked and can present storage problems for your bathroom. With cabinet space included, you’ll be able to make other additions without having to worry whether the cabinets will get in the way.

Bathroom paint ideas can be as creative and imaginative as you so desire. If you are considering painting your bathroom and need a few ideas to get started, consider the below ideas for a little inspiration.

Paint with Sponges

You can get a really airy and comforting look using some simple sponge painting techniques. For a beach theme, try sponging bright yellow paint towards the top of the walls and use other yellows to gradually fade into a dark sand color at the bottom. Overall, sponge painting using a couple colors will add some vibrancy to your bathroom, but won’t be too overpowering for the room.

Consider Dark Colors

Don’t be afraid of using darker colors, such as black. You can create a very modern look with a simple chair rail, black paint, and a splash of a neutral color. Additionally, adding a couple colorful items, like artwork or a artificial plant, will compliment the black paint of the bathroom.

Try a Glaze

If you’re bathroom is traditional in style, glazing is a great option for the walls. Glazing gives your walls a bit of extra color and texture. If you decide to use this technique, make sure you allocate enough time to properly apply the glaze to your walls.

Make Use of Stencils

Stencils are quite a bit easier to paint than applying a wallpaper border. You also have the opportunity to customize your color scheme. Additionally, you can mix and match the stencils for additional customization and design for your bathroom.

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