Quick And Easy Bathroom Decor Changes

Are you tired of the way your bathroom looks? Don't feel bad, a lot of folks are in the same boat. The bathroom is one room in the home that can look drab and run down very easily. And what if you don't have an unlimited budget to make changes in the fixtures and plumbing? Well take heart, there is lots that you can do for very little money that will totally and radically improve the decor of your bathroom.

One of the biggest problems with bathrooms is their tendency to get cluttered. You know, towels hanging all over the place, bath products on top of the vanity and on the shower floor, and things like that. So if you really want to make a 100% improvement in your bathroom clean up the clutter.

Fortunately, that is very easy to do and inexpensive. If you go to any WalMart or Target store, you will find plenty of organizer products for use in the bathroom. They are also very cheap. So get some of them and start to install them so that the most used products and items are within easy reach of wherever they would be used in the bathroom. If you make the storage spot convenient most people will continue to put it back in it's place after they use it. If you make the storage spot even a little difficult to access, you will see those items left all around wherever someone finds a spot for it.

Next, get some extra towel racks and install them so that there is a towel holder within easy reach of almost anywhere in the bathroom. Extra towel holders mean that even used towels can have a spot to be hung up instead of just left lying over the tub or shower stall door. Another advantage decor-wise of having extra towel bars is that you can use some of them to put up fancy towels for show that will really pick up the appearance of the room and highlight the colors that you used in your bathroom design.

Another simple and easy change to the appearance of any bathroom is the flooring. If you don't like what you see, change it. Fortunately, most bathroom floor spaces are fairly small and so not much material is needed. There are several options that you can choose from including vinyl sheets, ceramic tile, or vinyl tile squares. If you want simple and easy, stick-on vinyl tiles are probably the way to go. You can get them at a local Home Improvement store and they are usually very inexpensive too, and you can get some great looking designs that look very close to actual ceramic tile at a casual glance. Armed with a small cutter to trim the tiles when needed or shape them around an object on the bathroom floor, you are ready to go. If you make a mistake, peel up that tile, throw it away and use another one. Simple and easy!

Finally, buy some new towels for the bathroom. Get some great new colors and designs that are eye-cathcing and pleasing. Again, not much money invested for lots of return in visual appeal.

Change out the door knobs on your vanity and closet, and change the shower curtain and rings if you have one.

Just a few of these inexpensive changes in a bathroom can go a long way to changing that tired, old, cluttered, bathroom into one that makes you proud to show it off, and a pleasure to use.

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Personalizing Your Next Kitchen or Bathroom Makeover

There are certain things you can always count on this time of year -- warmer temperatures outside, birds flying home after a long winter, more daylight and people getting the itch to finally renovate that kitchen or bathroom that’s been bothering them for years.

In fact according to Kitchen & Bath Business magazine, more than $70 billion will be spent in 2004 to do just that. People spend months (and thousands of dollars) drawing up plans, shopping for appliances and fixtures, color matching cabinets or countertops, picking out that oversized corner tub and deciding which type of faucets and accessories will best highlight all of the other decisions they make.

Today, there are thousands of choices in the faucet category. Traditional styles, contemporary styles, and now, there are even “transitional” styles that will look good in either setting. As a shopper, not only do you get to choose the style, you get to choose the finish. There’s chrome, brushed chrome, nickel, brushed nickel, satin nickel, chrome with satin nickel accents, brass, brushed Brass, polished brass, and the list goes on.

So why do manufacturers of these faucets offer so many choices in styling and finishes? “Personalization,” says Jeff Pratt, vice president of sales for Danze, a manufacturer of decorative plumbing products including kitchen and bath faucets, bath accessories and showerheads. “Years ago, there seemed to be a few standard finishes and styles in both kitchen and bath faucets,” says Pratt. “Now consumers expect -- and deserve -- a variety of choices so they can bring their lifestyle and individual personality into their home.”

According to Pratt, the ability to purchase decorative, beautiful styles and finishes used to be more exclusive to those who could afford to spend a lot of money on their renovation or new construction project. But, with manufacturers like Danze on the scene, high fashion and design are more attainable for the mainstream homeowner.

“Everyone wants a beautiful faucet, bath accessory or showerhead to accent the new environment they’re creating, but not everyone can afford to spend thousands of dollars on those components alone,” says Pratt. “Danze can offer consumers both a unique style with a gorgeous finish and a great price. We call it affordable luxury.”

Luxury has definitely been a hot topic among consumers doing kitchen makeovers in recent years. High-rise kitchen faucets, over-sized pull-down faucets and pot fillers have all seen a spike in sales across the country. Homeowners at varying socio-levels are striving for the high-end, commercial-grade kitchen.

Part of the commercial-grade residential kitchen includes enhancing the functionality of the space, which often means multiple faucets. It’s now common to see a primary sink/faucet, a faucet behind the stove and a bar/convenience sink either within the center island or in an alcove space just off the main room.

But luxury isn’t limited to the kitchen. Bathroom renovations have seen tremendous growth within recent years. Whether it’s an elegant powder room or an expansive master bedroom suite, bathroom faucets, accessories and shower systems continue to lead the way in accenting (or determining) a room’s personality.

As vessel lavatory sinks soar in popularity, so do their companion faucets. These wall mount faucets provide simplicity and uniqueness that can soon become the focal point of any lavatory vessel sink environment.

Styling in the bathroom has also evolved over recent years. “Transitional” styling has now complemented the traditional and contemporary style offerings. “The Danze Bannockburn Collection is the industry’s newest introduction in transitional styling,” continues Pratt. “It uses elements of both traditional and contemporary styling, allowing it to be at home in either environment. And, this latest collection showcases a new, beautiful finish called brushed brass.”

So what should you keep in mind as you choose from the thousands of decorative products available for your kitchen or bath project? Here are a few helpful hints:

* Select faucets and accessories that are within scale of other elements in the room. If you’re putting in an over-sized integrated kitchen sink, be bold with a high-rise pull-down faucet. If a large stovetop is in your plan, install a pot filler on the back wall to make filling pots or large pans easier.

* Carry the styling and finish throughout the entire room. As you choose the faucet for your bathroom project, make sure your bath accessories are available in that same style and finish. It keeps the personality you brought to the room consistent (not to mention it adds beauty to even the smallest detail -- robe hook, toilet paper holder, towel bars, etc.).

* Don’t sell yourself short in the shower. Unique showerheads and shower systems continue to grow in popularity and can also bring a bit of customization to your bathroom. Watch for fun and interesting showerhead styles such as spinning showerheads, ceiling mounts, large 10-inch downpour showerheads and stylish hand-held personal showers. Again, keep the styling and finish compatible with other fixtures in the room whenever possible.

* Research a product’s quality. A pretty faucet isn’t pretty if it leaks or doesn’t operate smoothly. Find products that offer solid brass construction, ceramic disc valves and other high-quality components that ensure a long-lasting, reliable product. You don’t want to renovate that same room next Spring!

* Compare prices. Luxury doesn’t have to mean high prices. Shop around for the styling and finish that you prefer and then compare prices with other brands that offer a similar style. More manufacturers entering the category means the affordable luxury mentality will bring more value to consumers.

The choices you have available to you for that next home remodeling project are endless. So bring out that personality, extend it into your home and enjoy it. Because no matter who you are, where you come from or what personality traits you possess, we all want the same outcome at the end of this process -- a beautiful room with great styling and design.

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Mirrored Cabinets Add Functionality and Fashion to Bathrooms

In today’s homes, the bathroom is becoming a symbol of luxury and relaxation as homeowners equip these spaces with spa-like amenities such as multiple-head showers, whirlpool tubs, plush towels, soaps and candles. But it is hard to maintain that feeling of spa serenity when the bathroom is strewn with all the necessities of day-to-day life and grooming.

Toothbrushes, makeup, toiletries, hair products and other such items have to go somewhere. But if they end up in a jumble on the bathroom countertop, the appearance is not very soothing. Especially in older, smaller bathrooms but also in many newer ones it can be a challenge to find enough conveniently located storage space.

Whether you’re looking for a design statement or are in need of a functional bathroom storage space, a good option is a mirrored cabinet. While once medicine cabinets were basically a hole in the wall with a mirror as a door, today’s products offer ample storage as well as enhance the design elements in the room.

For example, mirrored cabinets by Robern, a leader in stylish bath storage innovation, offer options such as a safety lock-box to provide security for personal items like prescriptions and jewelry; mirrored, lighted interiors, so you don’t have to close the cabinet to see yourself; and an interior electrical outlet where you can recharge and store small electrical devices such as a cell phone or an electric razor.

Because medicine cabinets can be recessed into the wall to achieve a flush, clean look, homeowners are not giving up any valuable space in the bathroom when they add one. And they don’t have to compromise their design sense, either. There are cabinets to complement a wide variety of styles and fit any décor, from traditional to modern.

Robern’s Fairhaven cabinet brings back the styling of the early 20th century. Inspired by the summer communities and seaside cottages in New England, this cabinet combines the benefits and functionality of a luxury cabinet with a traditional, relaxed look. Details like crown and foot moldings, a beaded door with a beveled mirror and round doorknob all add to the vintage appeal.

For those with more modern sensibilities, Robern’s Métallique cabinet reflects the Art Moderne movement of the ‘30s and ‘40s, an era when high style and beauty meant glamorous touches throughout the home. The cabinet has clean, simple lines in polished chrome, brushed nickel or Monaco gold finish. It is part of a collection that includes matching faucets, towel bars and other bathroom accessories of the same finishes.

For the ultimate medicine cabinet, consider Robern’s Cité, which embraces the 1920s decadence and sophistication, highlighted by its leather-wrapped frame. This cabinet adds romance and sophistication to any bathroom, but can also be used in other areas of the home. The cabinet is available in Ebony (black), Ox Blood (burgundy) and Parchment (tan), colors that can blend into just about any décor.

So instead of cluttering your bathroom with baskets of makeup and bins of shaving supplies, you can neatly stash them out of sight, but within easy reach. The clean, stylish surfaces will immediately make the space feel more tranquil and relaxing, so you can pamper yourself in peace.

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Master Bedroom Organization

In a perfect world your master bedroom should be a haven in which you and your spouse can retreat from the world and enjoy each other. Unfortunately, the same type of clutter and dust that invades every other room in your house can spill over into your master bedroom.

One of the easiest ways to spiffy up your master bedroom on a daily basis is make the bed. It's a simple as that. If you aren't someone who routinely makes the bed you'll be amazed how much better a room will look and how quickly you'll be hooked. A great facelift for a bedroom is also a simple one, it's called a "bed in a bag". These sets come with comforters, coordinating sheets, pillow shams and bed skirts. If you have a visible bathroom attached to the master bedroom it's nice to carry your color theme through to the bathroom too.

Clear off the top of your dressers. As with all flat surfaces these will tend to gather papers too. If you don't have a home office where you keep bills and other important papers, get an organizer. A good way to organize bills and papers is in an accordion folder. They can be organized alphabetically or by month. Just get them off your dresser!

Now onto the vanity. It's time to part with what you really don't use. Bottles left sitting anywhere just become dust collectors and if you haven't used that perfume in the past two years, you probably aren't going to. You can pick up some small and nifty storage boxes and use one for lipstick, one for eye makeup, and one for foundation. It's a good time to go through all your make up and get rid of what's old.

If you don't already have one, get a laundry basket for your room. These can also be decorative items. Get those clothes up off the floor. Get a shoe rack for your closet and put your shoes in the closet when you change clothes after you get home from work. Shoes left lying around in a bedroom don't just look bad - they can be a health hazard. More than one person has hurt him or herself tripping over shoes on the way to the bathroom during the night.

Now that we've beautified the bed and are going to keep it made, cleared off the tops of the dressers and organized the papers. Picked up the shoes and dirty clothes from off the floor it's time to run the vacuum.

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Making the most of a small bathroom

In bathroom terms at least, bigger doesn't have to be better – It’s all just a case of making the most of the modest proportions you’re presented with! And what's more, designing a bathroom that’s small on space usage but big on style and functionality should be a lot more fun.

The Click Bathrooms guide to maximising a modest bathroom follows three simple principles…

1 - Make it seem bigger

A great way of tackling a bathroom with limited dimensions is by creating the illusion of space. First and foremost, aim to colour your walls in lighter shades such as whites, creams and pastels, thereby avoiding the darker colours that dramatically reduce the sense of space inside a small room.

Good lighting is also a vital tool in expanding the look of your bathroom. By illuminating areas that are prone to shadows with strong directional lights you’ll find that the room opens up even further.

Finally, attempt to generate a feeling of space through the clever use of mirrors, which positioned correctly can literally make a room appear to double in size. For maximum effect, adorn the back wall of the room with one or more large mirrors, or a number of smaller mirrored tiles.

2 - Utilise hidden or difficult spaces

Time to get creative and think outside the box; can you utilise space that isn’t immediately visible? Start at the bottom by identifying any available low-level spaces - under bath storage is a great way to keep towels and toiletries out of sight for a start. If you’re struggling to free up low-level space, wall hung ceramic ware can provide vital extra ground room.

Then it’s time to target the high-level spaces – stylish hooks and hangers can effectively replace the need for bulky closets, whilst a large ladder style heated towel rail can happily accommodate all necessary towels and dressing gowns.

Don’t just give up on the difficult or unusual spaces your bathroom may present to you. Corner fitting WCs and basins can squeeze in to the tightest of spots, whilst short projection bathroom furniture and ceramic ware options should also prove equally economic with space.

3 - Get multifunctional

If space is really at a premium, try selecting bathroom fittings and fixtures that serve more than one purpose. Choosing a combined shower bath will allow you the option of relaxed bathing or rapid and refreshing showering without occupying the amount of space otherwise needed. Then there’s the dual functionality of the heated towel rail, working as both a radiator and a storage feature, or bathroom cabinets that provide shelf space, lighting and mirrors.

Finally, look to combine individual bathroom items to create harmonious multifunctional bathroom features. An inset ceramic basin can be housed on top of a short projection vanity unit to create a stylish washstand with ample low-level storage.

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Making space at home

Clear out excess furniture and accessories from the interior of your home as much as possible. If a piece of furniture is too big for the room, or is crowding the room, put it in storage, have a garage sale, or give it to a deserving charity.

This also goes for decorations, oversized stuffed animals, and other items that you may have collected over the years. Anything that takes up space should be considered, and if it’s not necessary, you’ll want to clear it out.

Nothing is more effective at opening up a house than getting rid of clutter. It will look immeasurably more spacious without all of your extra things in the way.

Go through your house and clear off all of the horizontal surfaces, kitchen counters, and bathroom countertops.

This means that you won’t be leaving any magazines, knick-knacks, or other various items to add to a cluttered appearance in your home. Either pack them or get rid of them in some other way.

Pay special attention to keeping hallways and doorways clear. Not only will this make people feel that you have a spacious home, if you're considering selling, they can easier imagine their own things inside of it.

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Maintaining Your Sanity

I recommend doing laundry daily, depending on the size of your family. If you have at least 3 kids, do some every day. For example: baby laundry is handled differently than adult laundry. You shouldn’t use fabric softener for baby laundry, but it’s fine to use with adults’ clothes. So choose a day to do only baby laundry. Choose a different day to do adult laundry. Do your oldest child’s laundry on a given day (maintain that day on a weekly basis), your next child’s laundry the following day, etc. If you keep up on it, it won’t become a Mt. Vesuvius and overwhelm your home again.

If you find laundry tedious, sort and pre-treat while you’re watching TV, for example. It takes moment to pluck a piece of clothing out and check it for stains, squirt it with pre-treater, and then put it in the dirty basket, ready for the wash. Folding can be done the same way. Once it’s folded, I recommend putting it on the recipient’s bed (not in the basket). This way, it must be put away before retiring for the night and you won’t live from a laundry basket full of clean clothes.

If you have things that need ironing, do it when the laundry is clean and hang it up. Be done with the task and make sure that clean, ready-to-wear shirts or blouses are smiling at you when you walk in the closet in the morning.

This is easier said than done, I understand. But what I’ve discovered is that if you put your home on a schedule, things won’t overwhelm you. You’ll know that vacuuming will be done on one day and that laundry will be done on another. You’ll not resent walking in to the bathroom, because it will make you smile to see a shiny sink when you turn on the light. And you’ll know that YOU are special enough to have a clean bathroom, not just the company that comes to visit.

You’ll have peace of mind knowing that if a package comes to your door, you won’t kill yourself getting to it and won’t be ashamed to throw the door open for the UPS guy or mail carrier.

Most of all, you’ll have the appreciation of your family, and you’ll know that you’re setting up good habits for your children to observe and repeat in their own homes. No matter what the Mastercard ads say, THAT is priceless.

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