Cleaning Up Your Act: From the Simple To The Simply Luxurious…Ways To Beautify Your Bathroom

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By Mia Bolaris-Forget

With the new open concept homes on the market replete with a bathroom in each room and a fireplace in the ensuite of the master bedroom, it’s easy to believe that revamping the look of your three bedroom Levitt ranch, packed with partitions and one master bath for the entire family to share, is veritably impossible without spending sundry sums of money. Think Again, according to experts making your bathroom a bathing beauty is as simple as “cleaning up” its look.

1. Accessorize, Accessorize, Accessorize: This conventional concept applies not only to enhancing the look of an outfit but also to outfitting the look of your home. Towels are a quick and easy way to wipe out an outdated and mundane appearance. Despite an “old school” of thought that espouses towels be a direct match to wall color (and believe it or not, that you should repaint the color of your washroom (walls) should you care to change the color of your towels), experts advise (as long as colors are complimentary), frequently updating your toiletries at least for seasonal transitions. Experiment with different colors and patters to give your bathroom a fresh appearance. Brighter shades are great for spring and summer while deeper tones and hues add cozy character in fall and winter. Holidays are another opportunity for diversification. Consider towels and soaps and even seat covers and rugs with festive colors, patterns, and designs.

2. Opt For Refined Style and Fixtures: Select at least one traditionally “classic” piece that will contribute charisma and character to your chamber. Pedestal sinks with shapely symmetry or a classic claw-foot tub. If you do have a “clunky” cabinet, consider a marble counter top for subtle sophistication or a vanity mirror that mirrors distinction.

3. Try Before You Buy. If you plan on showering yourself with a little opulence and luxury with a new bathtub, experts suggest knowing exactly what you’ll be getting into. Consider size. While a 60-inch tub is suitable for most, you’ll want to ensure that you have enough room to stretch out and have a firm foothold. Other considerations should include the angle of the back and lip for comfort and neck support. A tub made for two should slope at either end and should feature taps in the middle. If you only have enough room for a small type, experts recommend going for depth in place of length.

4. Tile and Error: A simple way to upgrade your bathroom look is to literally take a few steps in the right direction. Think about footing the bill for a new floor, one made of ceramic, marble or stone. All are durable and water-resistant. You can also invest in subfloor heating coils designed to keep floors warm. Other options include well-sealed hardwood floors. They offer natural warmth and serve as a foil for other hard, cold, washroom surfaces.

5. Make An Investment To Reflect On: Professionals are quick to exalt the “magic” of mirrors. They advise that an elegantly framed mirror over a sink offers regal majesty in lieu of the more conventional concept of stark surfaces covered with mirrors. Also recommended are a supplementary wall-mounted adjustable makeup mirror and/or a lighted, mirrored shaving niche in the shower stall.

6. Spatial Inspirations: If you want or would like more space, experts assure you that you don’t have to move to get it. Instead take advantage of lost space between wall studs by recessing a tall storage cabinet into the wall to amplify vertical storage while also conserving floor space. The cabinet should feature and interior depth of at least three inches and a door that’s flush with the wall.

7. Shower Power: Shower yourself with luxury and consider building an open-concept shower area that doesn’t require a curtain or door and is less restrictive than a typical “traditional” shower stall. If this feels like too much “extravagance”, you may simply want to replace your shower doors or at least get rid of plastic shower curtains and replace them with more updated cloth or fabric variations.

8. Sharing Spaces: Home design experts suggest sharing spaces in homes with back- to- back bathrooms. They point out that sharing a shower via access doors to each of the washrooms maximizes limited space. They also recommend converting a closet situated next to the bathroom into a small ensuite with access to a neighboring bath.

9. Shed Some New Light On An “Old” Room: High hats with wall sconces beside or directly over the mirror prevent shadows. You may even want to consider dimmers.

10. Seating Arrangements: A good quality commode need not be expensive but is certainly one way of ensuring you and your guests will be sitting pretty. Toilet seats come in a variety of shapes and styles that offer added ambiance. Toilets are also available in a multitude of models including elongated bowls (and seats) that are noted for being more comfortable.

11. Extras, Extras: If you don’t have the money for lavish luxuries, you may consider a small table for magazines, books, even a radio. More lucrative investments would include an expansion including a dressing room, replete with piped in music, television, fireplace, workout equipment, makeup vanity, perhaps even a lounge chair. Remember, it’s easy to start small and simple with the option to move “up” and if you’re going to dream, go ahead, indulge your fantasy and dream big.