REALLY SAVVY HOMEOWNERS ARE REMODELING THEIR HOMES, ESPECIALLY THE KITCHEN AND BATHROOMS, WITH AN EYE TO THE FUTURE

BATHROOM IDEAS

The simple, functional bathroom of a decade has become a retreat when you indulge the senses. Dimmed lights or chic candles emitting a relaxing aroma, bubble swirling in the tube and a locker door result in a totally relaxing mood.

There are Luxurious bathtubs, showers, saunas, and steam rooms designed for the home spa, manufactured for all budgets. Bathrooms are an important part of any home. They're necessary, they're functional, and, if you show a little ingenuity, they can be beautiful, too.

Bathrooms often get the short end of the stick when it comes to interior design. After all, nobody's going to spend a lot of time in your bathroom, right? The problem is, it's not true-you will. Here are some great tips for refreshing the look of your bath without breaking the bank.

Five Areas of Focus in Bathroom Design

There are five areas you can focus on to improve the look of your bathroom short of a total remodel:

• Walls
• Lighting
• Vanities
• Hardware
• Décor

Design Consideration

The design of a bathroom must account for the use of both hot and cold water, in significant quantities, for cleaning the human body. The water is also used for moving solid and liquid human waste to a sewer or septic tank. Water may be splashed on the walls and floor, and hot humid air may cause condensation on cold surfaces. From a decorating point of view the bathroom presents a challenge. Ceiling, wall and floor materials and coverings should be impervious to water and readily and easily cleaned. The use of ceramic or glass, as well as smooth plastic materials, is common in bathrooms for their ease of cleaning. Such surfaces are often cold to the touch, however, and so water-resistant bath mats or even bathroom carpets may be used on the floor to make the room more comfortable. Alternatively, the floor may be heated, possibly by strategically placing heater conduits close to the surface.

Electrical appliances, such as lights, heaters, and heated towel rails, generally need to be installed as fixtures, with permanent connections rather than plugs and sockets. This minimizes the risk of electric shock. Ground-fault circuit interruptor electrical sockets can reduce the risk of electric shock, and are required for bathroom socket installation by electrical and building codes in the United States and Canada. In some countries, such as the United Kingdom, only special sockets suitable for electric shavers are permitted in bathrooms, and are labelled as such.

TIP of the day

One of the best ways to maximize space and create a feeling of quality workmanship is to add built-in cabinetry. If you have space behind a bathroom wall, back into it with shelving: you'll not only have a place to store toiletries, you'll have an ideal showcase for decorative items.