Bathroom Lighting Style For Comfort and Usability
Apr 26th
If you are doing a complete bathroom remodel, or even if you just want to liven up your bathroom, lighting should be one of your biggest concerns. The right lighting in any room can really make the style stand out, while bad lighting can make a room dreary and unusable. Keep usability and looks in mind when you are choosing the right bathroom lighting. The bathroom is one of those areas where you should be generous in the amount of light allowed in. Multiple sources of lighting are perhaps one of the best approaches to lighting up your bathroom. You should move beyond the use of one little ceiling light and investigate what other options are available.
Think About Different Fixtures
You’ll want your bathroom to be bright and easy to use, so you will need to consider a variety of fixtures. There are a number of standard ceiling fixtures to start with as your main source of light. Stay plain and uniform with this light and build a variety of fixtures around the room, each with a particular use and keeping in mind the overall atmosphere of the room. There are many types of fixtures to choose from. A good approach is to start with three and add more as you see fit. Think of your main light source, mirror lighting, and accented lighting.
Mirror & Vanity Lighting
This is where you’ll want a strong, alternative lighting source. If possible keep mirror lights on their own switch, so they can be turned on or off when need be. There is no sense having the vanity lights using up energy when no one is using the mirror. Choose a style that brings out the beauty of your vanity, as well as a bright white lighting for maximum efficiency and reflect-ability.
Shower & Tub Lighting
A nice recessed light over the shower is a great idea. This type of lighting is easy to install and safe for bathroom use. Again, remember that you want a good, bright source of lighting over the shower to prevent any accidents.
Stylish Accented Lighting
Pendant lighting is a great way to bring some personality into your bathroom lighting. Many people confuse pendant lighting with chandelier lights. Pendants, however, are smaller and cast an ambient light. Strategically pick a corner or two to place the pendant lighting. It is best to keep these lights away from areas where a lot of water splashing may occur. Opposite sinks and showers are great spots for pendant lights to give the bathroom lighting a little character.
Don’t skimp on bathroom lighting. Find the best deals you can, but be sure to offer plenty of lighting in this all important room.
Bathroom Sinks: Buying Tips, Ideas & MORE!
Feb 24th
Does your bathroom need a new look? One of the easiest ways to give it a facelift is to get a new bathroom sink. These days, there are a variety of sinks being offered, from the traditional white porcelain bowl, to the free-standing sink. Most importantly you can easily find something to fit your budget.
There are five basic types of sinks on the market today, and each one should be chosen considering your needs, who uses it the most, the size and style of your washroom, and your decorating style. If you are unfamiliar with the types, each category has been listed with a brief description.
Vanity Sinks
Vanity sinks are sinks that are installed into cabinetry. They are functional because they provide ample storage space and keep all your toiletries neatly out of sight. However, since they can take up a lot of room, they are most suitable for large bathrooms as opposed to a tiny powder room.
Pedestal Sinks
Pedestal sinks usually come in one piece as the sink sits on top of a pedestal and are usually made of porcelain or marble. This adds to their sophistication and quality. They take up very little room, so are an excellent choice for a small bathroom.
Vessel Sinks
Vessel sinks sit on top of a counter and often looks almost like a bowl or some other vessel. They are very decorative and have a contemporary look and feel. This type of sink can vary in size and can come in a variety of different materials, with the most common being glass, stone and metal. If you are going for a more modern look than vessel sinks are your best bet.
Console sinks
Console sinks are sinks that are mounted on a countertop, connected to a wall and supported by two legs at the back. This is a great style for smaller bathrooms as it can make the room appear larger than it is. There is no cabinet, but placing a basket under it is a good way to create some storage space.
Wall-mounted Sinks
Wall-mounted sinks are the type of sinks most often seen in public restrooms. They are functional and take up little room, thus making them perfect for even the smallest bathroom. Since this type of sink can be pulled away from the wall, they are best suited for households without small children or anyone who needs to use a sink to support their body weight.
Careful consideration should be taken when selecting the perfect bathroom sink to ensure it best suits your lifestyle and design. Shop around to find the best one for you.
Bathroom Design: Candle Light & Soaking Tubs
Feb 24th
As a woman, the bathroom is one of my favourite rooms in the house. It is a sanctuary where I get ready for the day to come and unwind after a long day of work.
I prefer to take a bath rather than a shower, and try to do so everyday. So when I designed my house, I took a long time deciding what kind of a tub I wanted. This is important because there are an astounding amount of options out there.
My first decision was whether I wanted a whirlpool bath or not. Obviously, the big advantage is the massage you receive when you turn on the jets. However, you can’t use any oils, bubble baths or salts if you don’t want to make a huge mess. The noise of the motor is also an issue, as well as the space you need to house it.
I have always been a big fan of the old fashion tub as well. However, if you like to have a platform around your bath to keep shampoos, bath oils, candles and towels, than this won’t work well for you. With a freestanding old fashion tub, you are limited to a soup holder that crosses the tub. I find it gets in the way.
A freestanding tub also requires exposed fixtures which are very expensive. So, I decided to take and old fashion tub and drop it into a platform that I covered with marble tiles. I saved money on the facets because they were mounted from the platform instead of leading from the bathroom floor.
These tubs also come in different sizes. You can have a 5 or 6 foot long tub. Since I am only 5’5”, I decided for the 5 footer. Also, you use less water to fill it which saves money in the long run.
Now, I can come home, light a few candles and relax in my luxurious tub. Sheer heaven.
O. Alexandra Viteznikova
Important Things To Remember When You Want To Design Your Bathroom
Dec 23rd
If you want to design your bathroom, before you start it is important that you have an idea of what you want and then to follow it through with a plan. Bathrooms, although the smallest part of your house, should not be overlooked when it comes to decorating. There are basically two ways for you to improve the look and feel of your bathroom, which are your bathroom’s shower and tiles.
Shower and Tiles
When picking out your décor for your bathroom you need to pick out a suitable shower and bathtub and make sure that they compliment your house’s interior.
Tiles are a key element in creating a more sophisticated bathroom. When picking out your bathroom tiles, make sure that they compliment the interior design of your house. You should take into consideration, when picking out tiles, not only the look but whether or not the tiles are easy to clean. If you have more modern taste you can install tiles that have a shiny finishing so that your bathroom will radiate even with soft lights.
The most common tiles that people choose for their bathrooms are ceramic. To give more life to these tiles, you can create a pattern or border around your bathroom that will provide you with a nice juxtaposition and create a lively atmosphere in your bathroom. By installing different tile sizes for your walls and floors it will create a more diversified look. Also, take your favourite colour and put in different decorations so that your tiles will look more personalized to your sense of style.
When you want to design your bathroom, the tiles and the shower are the two important things which you need to plan around. They both boost the inside of your bathroom and make it more welcoming not only for you but for your guests as well.
Bathroom Design Trend Ideas
Dec 23rd
Getting involved in different bathroom design trends will not only enhance the function of your bathroom but it will also add to its decor and overall look.
Suitable Fixtures
If you want to remodel your bathroom, it is essential that you know the amount of space you are working with. This will guide you when choosing pieces and fixtures that will work best for the size and shape of your bathroom. For example, if you have a rather small bathroom, then you can simply opt for a combined shower and bathtub to save space for other things. If you have a large bathroom and are willing to spend a little more money, then perhaps you can go with a specialized luxury shower.
Unity In Fixtures
A bathroom remodel design that is consistent in style is very important. It is vital that all parts of your bathroom go with one another to achieve a sense of unity. For that reason, it is important that before buying your equipment and fixtures that you make sure your bathroom remodelling ideas are final and that they are applicable for your space.
At times, your renovation ideas may be limited especially if you are on a tight budget and are not equipped with the right knowledge about things like plumbing and electrical. However, in such cases, you can simply hire a technician to do the job for you and even an interior designer to put your different ideas into action.
Remodelling your bathroom is certainly a tough task especially if you do not possess the right skills. It is important that you find help if you need it which will ultimately guide you into creating a room that you want.
Different Bathroom Renovations You Can Employ
Dec 23rd
Having an elegant home is indeed an important part in making it a much livelier and warmer place to come home to. Moreover, having a home that has a well designed interior will surely impress any visitor who comes to your house. However, you should not only concern yourself with the main rooms and areas of your house, but you should also make sure that your bathroom is well decorated. Although bathrooms tend to be one of the smallest parts of your house, they are still important in making your home a comforting place to be in. If you are thinking of redesigning or remodeling your house, it is a great idea if you can include bathroom renovations in your plans.
However, renovating your bathroom may not be as easy as you anticipate. Indeed, there are different aspects which you need to remember and research in order to achieve the best results afterwards. In addition, your decisions will also depend on how big your bathroom is. Smaller bathrooms may be trickier to renovate, however, there are still small bathroom designs that you can create to suit your needs. Even if you have a rather small bathroom, it is still possible to make it seem larger and to decorate it in a way that seems less cluttered.
Be Wise with Your Space
There are a lot of small bathroom designs that you can mimic as well as ones that you can create yourself. It is important that while doing so, you must remember that you are working with limited space and to only install essential things you need. These essential things are your sink, shower, tub, toilet and your mirror. If you are doing small bathroom remodeling, the best thing that you can do is combine your shower and bathtub which has become popular these days. This will definitely save you some more space.
Other Fixtures to Install
After wards, you can pick your sink and toilet to compliment the style of your shower and bathtub. It is important that their styles are closely related in order to make your bathroom much more coordinated and unified. Such a thing will also enhance your bathroom by making it look more organized and theme oriented. Make sure that the choice of sink and toilet does not only give you the functionality that you need but also the style you desire.
Your mirror is also an important part of your small bathroom remodeling. When dealing with mirrors, make sure that you pick out a bigger one to give you the illusion of a much larger bathroom. A mirror without borders will definitely do the trick to make it seem like a part of the wall. Indeed, there are different ways to implement your bathroom renovations and by having the proper equipment inside your small bathroom will definitely work for the best.
Bathroom Styles that are Bubbles of Fun
Nov 18th
Just like any part of your home, your bathroom is an essential area that you visit on a regular basis, so why not include the luxury of a five star hotel and make yourself a permanent guest! Accessorize your bathroom with a splash of the ocean, a touch of Victorian times or a lush forest feeling.
Beach Look
It is fairly typical to incorporate blue, but to make it more interesting you can have complementing colours to the lavatory look by hanging up pictures with a blue-green background and a pink seashell on the fore ground for brightening purposes. Additionally, you can purchase teal coloured shot glasses from the dollar store, fill them up with sea salt and place fragrant tea lights in them. If you’re feeling a little arty crafty over the weekend, you can also stencil out an ocean inspired design like a seahorse or a line of waves to embellish the walls with. Place some bath pearls and shell/fish shaped soaps for the finishing touches for this marine ambience.
Black & White with a vintage feel
If you enjoy new-age modern decor with the sharp appeal of black and white, yet also appreciate an era of historical art, then this is certainly the look for your bathroom.
- Choose a shower curtain with an intricate vintage design, be it with roman pillars, a paisley print or classic floral.
- To transform back to a Victorian period, a baroque mirror or decorative items like stone carved cherubs would certainly add to the classic sensation.
- The bathroom can be accentuated by black and white wall art of your favourite classic masterpiece into a black wooden frame with gray or white mounting.
Waterfall showers
Living the city life but craving nature on a cold winter’s day? Begin your day in the Brazilian rainforest by integrating simple changes to your bathroom for a zen state of mind. Refresh , Rejuvenate and Relax are the three words that will describe your new home spa.
- Besides having leafy green shower curtains, a great decoration piece is a simple flat plate with a scented flower candle over smooth stones.
- If space permits, add a plant or two, preferably artificial ones as there would not be much natural light. Fake foliage will certainly set the mood and bring out the refreshing green theme.
- Choose your towels, bath lilies and rug with natural tones like olive green, sky blue or an earthy brown.
Whichever theme you decide to go for, be sure to let it reflect your own personality and taste. Feel free to add fun bits and pieces like a mini bookshelf (if you do happen to be the occasional bathroom reader!), picture frames with appropriate bathroom quotes, towel ladders, a nice selection of miniature hand creams/ bath cubes and anything else that floats your boat. Happy Showering!
Supriya Arora, Writer STYLE.CA
