The bathroom is one of the most important spaces within the home, a place I, myself, dream of escaping to after a hard days work. Previously seen as a practical and functional environment, a room used merely for ablutions, the bathroom is now considered a luxury retreat. It will take you in when you’ve had a stressful day, cocoon you from the harsh realities of the outside world and soothe all your aches and pains.
A well thought out and attractive bathroom really can have a positive effect on your lifestyle. While innovative features such as whirlpool systems, hydro jets and chromotherapy lighting can all play a vital role in creating the right mood and targeting tired muscles, these types of products usually come with a hefty price tag - great for those with buckets of cash, but let's be fair, with some well placed design decisions, you really can have a positive impact without totally breaking the bank.
It’s reassuring to learn however, that small, simple and inexpensive changes to the bathroom can set the mood effectively. As life becomes increasingly hectic, it’s important to mould your bathroom into the perfect resting place for you and your family – water therapy can do wonders for both the mind and body, and regularly inspires homeowners and renovators to prioritize the bathroom when setting out ways of developing their projects.
Most bathrooms incorporate tiles in some way shape or form, be it to cover the floor, a section of the walls or in many cases, both. Tiles were primarily called upon to protect the surfaces from water damage but oh gosh they can be used as an amazing styling tool too. There are so many glorious options available; from glorious Moroccan Zellige to textured Limestone that can help transform your bathroom into a space that reflects your own individual taste.
Tiling need not be an expensive and time consuming task, especially if you decide to tile over the existing tiles. Providing the substrate can take the weight of the new tile and the correct adhesive and grout is used, there shouldn’t be a problem, and achieves a bathroom that boasts a completely refreshed look and feel.
When shopping for tiles, think carefully about what aesthetic you wish to achieve. Break the room style you are considering into bite size elements; wall tiles, floor tiles, paint colours, styling accessories etc, then piece the room back together element by element to create your dream room. Remember the designers at Baked are happy to assist you here, just send them the basic info, or give them a call and they will assist with suggestions.
Mirrored surfaces are great for creating the illusion of space. Where smaller bathrooms are concerned, a mirrored wall could make the room appear twice as big and equally twice as appealing. As obvious as it sounds, make sure the mirrored panel can fit through the door of the room before you start work.
Another cost effective way to transform the bathroom is with a lick of paint. The trend for organic earthy colours or bold feature walls is likely to hold longevity well into 2023 and beyond. Not all paints are suitable however, you must specify an ‘Egg Shell’ finish as this type of paint will not peel, fade or deteriorate in wet areas. Some brands also sell a range of ‘wet area’ suitable paints for the home – these will be more resilient to high moisture environments and so will be able to stand the test of time, even where family bathrooms are concerned.
A little tip for using paint in the bathroom; for an up-to-the-minute, en-vogue look, use a muted colours like earthy pinks, greens and blues and layer with loads of plants. In the same way, a roll of wallpaper can too have a dramatic effect on the bathroom - just make sure it’s solid vinyl.
Good lighting as not only critical from a practical perspective, it is also a design element within a room. Back light mirrors, and under vanity lighting will all add to the ambience within the room. For the ultimate mood enhancing trick, add a simple (not to mention, inexpensive) dimmer switch available from any local DIY store - just make sure the bulbs you are using are dimmable! This offers you the opportunity to dim the lights for a perfect, relaxing atmosphere whilst you’re soothing your achy limbs in a hot bubble bath.
