Bathrooms may be one of the most practical rooms in your home, but don’t discount their ability to be beautiful. Of course, the challenge arises when you have multiple people using the one bathroom, including possibly your guests. But don’t let this discourage you. There are plenty of ways to spruce up the room without compromising on style or, as The Block’s Shaynna Blaze so often harps on about, functionality.
Bathrooms may be one of the most practical rooms in your home, but don’t discount their ability to be beautiful. Of course, the challenge arises when you have multiple people using the one bathroom, including possibly your guests. But don’t let this discourage you. There are plenty of ways to spruce up the room without compromising on style or, as The Block’s Shaynna Blaze so often harps on about, functionality.
Steps to take
When renovating a bathroom, there are a few steps you should consider following.
1. Find your inspiration – while you want your bathroom to match the style and feel of your home, especially if those from the outside world will be using it, a bathroom can be the perfect room to change things up a bit. Jump online and see what kind of style you’re after, investigate what kind of finishes you want, and start looking at tiling colours and choices.
2. Design your floor plan – in some situations, you may be limited in whether you can move things, such as showers, baths and vanities, around. Don’t worry though, you can still redo the room with the existing floor plan. In fact, sometimes it makes it a hell of a lot easier. However, if you’re up for the challenge, think about how you’ll most likely use the room – who will be using it? What are their ages? What are their requirements? – and come up with a floor plan that will satisfy the majority of needs.
3. Shop up a storm – take your time at the shops, choosing what you want. Remember, this bathroom is going to be in your home for a while so you don’t want to be choosing things too left of centre that will date. Pick your floor and wall tiles, your bath, your tapware and your vanity, and make 100% certain that you’re happy with your choices because once they’re installed, there’s no going back.
The Trends
While practicality and functionality should definitely be prioritised, don’t neglect the style of your brand new bathroom. There are some easy tweaks that you can use to create a luxurious space. So what trends will we be seeing in bathroom design over the next year?
- Statement hardware and tapware – this is a relatively inexpensive way to spruce up your bathroom and really make a statement. Finishes such as matte black, and gold and copper metallics are still enjoying their time in the spotlight.
- Colours – you don’t have to go bright and bold if you don’t want to but incorporating some colour, whether it’s using a feature tile or some accessories will keep your bathroom bang on trend.
- Unique vanities – think antique console tables or one-of-a-kind timber pieces to give the room some character.
- Lighting – incorporating some feature lighting such as pendants or sconces will elevate the wow factor. Just remember to install some practical lighting too.
Max-use rooms
The challenge for many bathroom renovators is ensuring the room can be used by different people around the house – from babies to adults and sometimes guests. Ultimately, it all comes down to the right amount of storage and ensuring you’re using a colour palette that appeals to everyone.
For those sharing the bathroom with kids, consider some hanging baskets to put all bath toys away after they’ve had their time splashing in the tub. These can either be hooked on the rim of the tub or hung up on the walls. Just remember to hang the baskets so that water drips into the bath rather than onto the floor.
Remember also to have sufficient hanging space for towels; the last thing you want is for towels to be flung all around the room. Some elegant hooks on the walls can make a bit of a statement, or if you want them hidden, consider some hooks on the back of the door. If you’re after some warmth for the winter months, or if you live in a particularly damp area, consider some heated towel racks. There’s nothing more luxurious than stepping out of the shower and into a nice, warm, fluffy towel.
Block out peepers
Perhaps one of the most important elements to consider when redesigning your bathroom though, is privacy. There’s nothing worse than people being able to see inside, so of utmost importance is covering those windows.
Shutters are low-maintenance and uber stylish, plus by tilting the blades slightly, you can let light into the room while keeping the peeping eyes out. For those wishing to soften the room a bit, Romans or roller blinds are good alternatives. Just make sure that whatever material or window covering you choose, remember to ensure that it is 100% waterproof. While it may not be directly in the shower space or near the splashing of the bath, there will always be moisture in the air and the last thing you want is warped or mouldy blinds or shutters due to dampness.
Chillax
The final step in any renovation is to relax and enjoy your new space. Run a bath, soak under the water, decorate to your liking and chill out.
