Bathroom Design Archives

Tips and Hints for Choosing Bathroom Tiles

bathroom-tilesWhether you have a new home or are just redoing the bathroom in your existing home, you may be thinking about  the what bathroom tiles you should use.

Updating the tiles will really give your bathroom a lift and totally modernize it if it is tired looking and outdated.  But before you start shopping for tiles, there are some things you need to consider to ensure you get the right tiles for you.

Material

Vinyl Tiles –If you are looking for purely economical tile options, you may want to look at vinyl as it is much more affordable than other tile types.

Ceramic Bathroom Tiles – The most common tile you are going to find in the bathroom is ceramic. With a glazed finish this can come in a number of colors and styles and will last  for years to come.

Glass Bathroom Tiles – In the designer arena are glass tiles that are usually used as decorative accent pieces to your bathroom as they can be very pricey.

Mirror TilesThese can be used to give the appearance of space in a small bathroom.

Style

Simple – If you want to let your bathroom décor do the talking and not the tile, you may decide to choose a simple tile design that is just a solid color. Then no matter what accents you add to the bathroom they will be coordinate with the tile base.

Edge Design – Add  flair to a simple bathroom tile base by using solid color tile with an edge design. This literally means the edge pieces of the tile work will have a decorative accent.

Overall Design – If you know just what you want in your bathroom tile, you may want to go with an overall design. This is tile that is usually hand painted or that the pieces will go together to create a mosaic or decorative design that is just as much a part of the bathroom décor as it is a wall covering.

Random Pattern Tiles – Use an occasional patterned tile every so often to break up a solid tile base. These pattern tiles can be placed randomly or at standard intervals.

Once you choose the type of  bathroom tile that suits your decor and budget, you you can even jazz it up a little more by adding colored grout to complete the look.

Homeowners can really spruce up their home by renovating their bathrooms. Whether your bathroom renovation is on a large scale or very simple, it will make you feel good about your home as well as increase its value. Many bathroom renovations don’t have to be expensive to make a difference, and they can take just a few days if you are a do-it-yourselfer.

Replacing your bathtub or shower
One of the big things that you may want to consider in a bathroom renovation is replacing your bathtub or shower.

The tub or shower is usually the centerpiece of a bathroom, and when you replace your existing one it can change the feel of the whole room. You can replace the existing tub or shower with something really simple, it will upgrade the look of the room. You’ll find a wide range of showers and bathtubs at your local home center or from our online merchants, where you can choose from modern styles to old-fashioned claw foot tubs.

A nice Jacuzzi bathtub will definitely increase the value of your home and not only that, they are fun to use!

Add a new sink or vanity
Another uplifting addition to your bathroom renovation is a new bathroom sink and vanity. In many bathrooms the vanity appears outdated, and this really takes away from the overall look and feel of the room. Investing in a new vanity and sink will make your whole bathroom look new! You can also just order new hardware for the sink if you do not want to replace the whole unit. If your vanity is made of wood, why not stain or paint it another color to give it a lift.

New flooring can breath new life
Consider new flooring when you are considering a bathroom renovation. Bathroom floors really take a lot of wear. Replacing the flooring can breathe new life into your bathroom, as well as tie together an updated tub and vanity. Flooring for the bathroom area is generally inexpensive, since they are typically not big rooms. Keep the flooring light to give the bathroom a bright, clean feeling.

Simple changes can make the difference
In addition to these things, paint, colorful rugs, thick patterned towels, candles, and some simple prints can enhance the look of your bathroom. As insignificant as most people believe their bathrooms are, it sure does feel good when they have been renovated.

Bathroom Design Rules & Regulations

Redesigning your bathroom is an exciting project, with both financial and psychological advantages, since you’ll be value to your home and creating a stylish retreat for yourself. However, before you undertake the project of redesigning your bathroom, check that you are following all of your local rules and regulations.

The specific bathroom design rules and regulations that apply to you will vary depending on factors like your municipality, the scope of the project, and the age of your house. For example, if you live in a condo, your association might have regulations about what kinds of remodeling changes are allowed. If you live in a historic house, your bathroom design possibilities might be limited.

Nearly all municipalities will require that you obtain a building permit before starting work on your new bathroom design. A building permit will allow your local or state government to determine that your bathroom design follows all relevant regulations, and does not put yourself or your family at risk.

Usually a building permit is required if you are doing work like replacing drywall or moving the position of your water line or electrical outlets. Major structural work like changing the position of your walls requires an additional permit, whereas minor work like replacing your faucets or floor tile requires no permit at all.

If you are not certain whether your bathroom renovation calls for a building permit, call your local government office for the exact rules and regulations that apply to you. Failure to take this step could be extremely costly.

There are also some rules and regulations to follow when it comes to details like the height of your bathroom sink, or the distance between your toilet and the wall. These guidelines help ensure that your bathroom is safe and accessible, so be sure to educate yourself about them before you start with your bathroom design.

By following the bathroom design rules and regulations, you can avoid hefty fines while protecting the safety of everyone who uses your bathroom.

If your bathroom is becoming a little outdated you can create a major change to the atmosphere of your room by updating your bathroom fixtures.

Bathroom fixtures are available today in a huge variety of colors and styles, and a new look can be achieved on nearly any budget. Think carefully about the style of fixtures such as faucets, lighting, mirrors, vanities, shower stalls, soap dispensers and towel rails so that everything blends together to add to the appeal of your bathroom.

Here are some ideas to spice up a boring bathroom:

Replace Your Shower or Bathtub
Your shower and bathtub are two of the most important fixtures in your home. An uncomfortable tub or a too-weak shower can make bathing the exact opposite of the luxurious experience that you deserve. By installing a new tub or shower, you can completely change the look of your entire room while increasing your enjoyment of the room. Bathtubs are available in a variety of colors and styles and bathroom accessories can be purchased to tone in with the bathtub or as a contrasting feature Even if your major bathroom fixtures are perfectly serviceable and comfortable, you may just need a few new items to enhance the décor. A new shower curtain or door on your existing bathroom can change your bathroom’s style without the cost of a full replacement.

Update the Look of Your Toilet
Toilets might not be the first thing you think of when it comes to stylish fixtures, but you will be surprised by the array of possibilities you have today. Not only can you spruce up the look of your bathroom with a new color or style of toilet, but you can also save money by purchasing a water-efficient model. If you do not want replace the entire toilet, then consider buying a new toilet seat in a color or design that enhances your ideal bathroom style.

Install a Stylish New Sink

Sinks are a relatively easy way to transform the look of your standard bathroom. A pedestal sink will make your bathroom look larger, and a marble vanity adds elegance. Sinks are among the most flexible of fixtures, giving you a huge amount of choice in style and function.

New Looks from New Faucets

Faucets are the easiest and most affordable bathroom accessories to replace. Faucets come in a wide range of colors and styles from shabby chic to elegant antique. Even the oldest bathroom fixtures can get a whole new lease on life with updated faucets. Remember to match your tub and showerheads at the same time as your sink faucets for a blended look.

How To Choose Colors For The Bathroom

When renovating or updating your bathroom, a lot of thought will be given to the choice of colors to use on the cabinets, the flooring, the paint, the rugs, the shower curtain, and even the towels. The bathroom is a room in which we spend a surprising amount of time, so the look, and overall feel are very important and the choice of colors deserve particular attention.

If you are completely renovating your bathroom you’ll need to start considering colors right away. What color will you want to paint your bathroom walls? Will the sink, the vanity, and tub or shower you are installing match with this color or contrast it? You’ll also need to think about how versatile these pieces are if you decide to change the color of the walls in the future.

If you are putting in new flooring, a neutral color is often the best as this will allow you to easily change the color of the walls in the future. As far as paint goes, light colors help create a clean appearance. Many bathrooms are painted in light blues, pinks, purples, and even greens because these colors help to bring color and character to the room while giving it a clean feel that is most appreciated in the bathroom. Light colors also help brighten a room, especially if there is not a lot of natural light that fills the room. Dark colors tend to make the room look smaller, and since bathrooms are generally the smallest rooms in the house, light colors simply make more sense.

Although wood grain vanities have always been popular; white wash varieties have become very popular in recent years. Pedestal sinks allow for space and make the room appear bigger. Lighted mirrors above the sink make the room look larger as well and help to highlight the wall color.

Choosing the color of the towels and the rugs is a lot of fun. You may choose to match the towels and rugs to the color of the paint on the walls, or you may choose a color that contrast with the walls. Towels and rugs can be expensive, so plan your color scheme in advance and be sure that you really like what you do choose. If you go light with the paint colors you can go dark with the towels and other accessories.

When you are done, your bathroom will look quite colorful and lovely!

Bathroom Design

whirlpool-jetted-bath-tubA lot of consideration must be put into bathroom design because it is one of the most expensive and most used rooms in the home.

Not only is the actual layout of a bathroom important, the way it is designed or decorated is also very important.

One type of wallpaper may look terrible in a bathroom and give it an overall non inviting look, but some fresh paint and some new accessories will liven it up and make it look like a totally different room.

Most of us don’t think about it, or want to think about it, but we spend an awful lot of time in the bathroom so designing a bathroom is very important.

If you are remodeling or building a new home you should spend as much time designing the bathrooms as you would on the kitchen.

Right now big Jacuzzi tubs are very popular, as are garden tubs, showers with two heads, and a bathtub separate from the shower.

Many homeowners are opting to put the toilet in its own little room for privacy and a clean look to the room. A pedestal sink works well, but a vanity is also nice and often adds to the resale value, especially if it is a double sink vanity.

The layout of these items will typically depend on where you can get water and the actual shape of the space. Even if a bathroom has the most ideal layout for the space, it can be a very cold room if not decorated well. Good bathroom design usually involves simple accessories and a good use of color.

If your bathroom has very little light you choose light colors and mirrors to make the room look brighter and bigger than it is. If the room has natural light you can go for a darker color.

Accessories don’t have to be anything that isn’t functional but matching accessories such as towels, bath mats, rugs, and shower curtain can bring a whole new look to your bathroom. Accessories should say something about you and who you are, so that you can really own the space and feel comfortable in it.