LET's face it, bathrooms take a beating. The daily use, moisture and general wear and tear take their toll. Because of this, bathrooms need to be and should be revamped and refreshed more frequently than other rooms in the home.
The cost and time involved in a total renovation is not always practical or affordable. Keeping the bathroom updated regularly can be done through other, more affordable means until the budget allows for a complete reno.
This lovely, quaint bathroom (photo courtesy of Kohler) is a perfect example of how adding a few new touches can rejuvenate a tired bathroom. This small, older-style bathroom has been brought up to date with fresh paint and accessories, yet still maintains its vintage charm.
The sunny, yellow wall colour definitely brightens up the room. Since bathrooms are usually smaller spaces, it's easy enough to give the space a fresh coat of paint every few years to update the decor. Wallpaper is another option if your bathroom lacks architectural detail, as it can add colour, pattern and texture, depending upon your choice. If you think wallpaper is a bad choice for the bathroom, think again. As long as your room has proper ventilation, moisture shouldn't be a problem. I use wallpaper in my bathroom and it has held up just fine.
Our feature room has great add-on fixtures that can readily be installed by most DIY enthusiasts. You'd be amazed what a new towel bar, soap dish, cabinet hardware and decorative robe hooks can do to change the look of a dated bathroom. Spend a few bucks and treat your room to a new look. There are many great styles and finishes available to suit your taste and your budget. Opt for classic styles and finishes that will be timeless.
As you'll note in our feature bathroom, the faucet, towel bar, soap dish, light fixtures and cabinet hardware are all in a similar metal finish. Try to keep the finishes on the metal items the same for a fluent, consistent look. While the curtain rod used in our feature room is black (in order to accent the black lines in the curtain), it may have to be changed in future when you update your decor once again, so keep these things in mind when you purchase your accessories.
Our feature room has a vintage-style wall-mounted soap/toothbrush holder, which works great in this particular space. If you're still using that matching ceramic cup, soap holder, toothbrush holder and waste can set you bought some years ago, perhaps it's time for a new look. Consider something different, like a wall-mounted fixture or at the very least a new style and colour.
The wall-mounted medicine cabinet and mirrored storage cupboard are not only lovely but also very useful. The mirrored cupboard does not take up floor space but can hold tons of bathroom items. As well, the mirror definitely makes the room feel more spacious and is a great size for a dressing mirror. Because there is no vanity around the pedestal sink, the storage cupboard is definitely an asset. The matching medicine cabinet is pretty and useful as well. The added touch of the crown moulding makes them look a little grander. If you already have a similar cabinet set in your bathroom but it's rather plain, consider adding similar decorative trim to bump them up a notch.
While you're at it, consider beefing up the baseboards and window casings to the same effect. This particular room has wider-than-average baseboards, which really make the wall colour pop. If you have standard baseboards you can create a similar look simply by adding half-inch round trim to the wall about an inch or so above the current baseboard, then painting the entire area, from half-inch round to the bottom of the baseboard, in white. (A few coats of paint may be needed to achieve a uniform look.) Similarly, at the ceiling you can add half-inch round trim on the wall about four inches from the ceiling and paint from the half-inch round to the ceiling in white, or, without trim, simply bring the white ceiling colour down onto the wall a few inches.
Linens
Shower curtains can be costly to replace, but can also make a huge difference in the look of your room. Find one that you love and use it as a jumping-off point for your colour palette. That way you'll be sure that it will match the rest of the room, rather than trying to find a curtain that suits an already decorated space.
Towels get washed out and faded and should be replaced before they get threadbare. When you change the look of your bathroom, you don't necessarily have to purchase a whole set of new linens. A few accent towels in the new colours will suffice for when company comes. In general though, it's a good idea to choose neutral colours for the majority of your towels so that they will fit into any new colour scheme you may desire. White is a great option as it can easily be accented with a few decorative coloured towels to accent any decor style.
A new look for a tired bathroom is just a few simple touches away. Make a plan for a new look and add the new accessories as time permits. Before you know it, you'll have a room that you love to be in.
Connieoliver@shaw.ca
