Yes, Size Matters!
The biggest concern when it comes to remodeling any room is its size. When you renovate, creating more space should always be a priority. No matter how many fresh fixtures or state-of-the-art features you install, it’ll all be useless if the room feels cramped. This is especially important when it comes to small bathroom design. Lavatories, even if they’re only ? baths, are meant to be luxurious and relaxing. And although it’s great to have a cozy, private retreat, you should also feel comfortable and at ease. So when it comes to undersized restrooms, you need to find ways to utilize the space you’ve been given in order make a tiny area feel like an airy sanctuary.

Let Space Speak for Itself
The simplest way to deal with a small bathroom design is to highlight the pre-existing space. This means you have to trick people into seeing more than what is really there. Giving the illusion of space is a very effective way to enlarge a room:

De-clutter: One bathroom design idea is to remove the clutter. Get rid of the busy wallpaper. Take down the picture frames. Remove excess furnishings. Eliminate those ugly towel bars.

Storage: Now that you’ve ridded yourself of the clutter, where the heck are you going to put your stuff? To hang towels, install a hook on the back of the door or buy a shower rod with towel bars already attached. If you have to have furniture, make it do double-duty. Get a decorative chest that can also act as an additional storage unit. Or invest in a small magazine rack that can be placed out of the way. But it’s best to get things off the floor by hanging tiny shelves or buying a mirrored medicine cabinet to conceal your toiletries.

Lighting: Now that your stuff is out of the way, you now need to spotlight the space you’ve created. In small bathroom design, natural illumination is a great way to cast some light in dark corners. So install a skylight or add a window. If that’s impossible, make use of the light you have. Put in a glass-block window that lets light in from other rooms. Mount some wall sconces that take up little space yet shed lots of ambient light. Or just fire up some candles to generate a romantic mood.

Walls: Along with lighting, another key bathroom design idea is color coordination. Letting your walls stay neutral (white or beige) generates an impression of more space. Plus, if you draw the eye upwards, the room will look taller; so add a border around the ceiling to create more vertical depth. Also, installing polished tiles and hanging mirrors lets the area reflect itself, thereby creating the feel of additional square footage.

More Out of Less
In any type of small bathroom design, it’s the plumbing fixtures that eat up the room. But there are ways to make these cumbersome necessities fade into the background.
Toilet: A hung toilet has no tank attached so it slides right up against the wall.
Sink: Most vanities come with small, useless counter spaces and cabinetry systems. Instead, eliminate the waste by installing a wall-hung sink which frees up floor space. Or a pedestal sink installed in an out of the way corner can deliver the elegance you want with the openness you need.
Tub: Make this particular fixture do the work for two by installing a unit that works as both shower and tub. If you still want luxury, clawfoot tubs actually free up space around the walls and can be turned into a shower or Jacuzzi depending on the model.
Shower: If you have a half bath, a quick bathroom design idea is to simply install a single-stall shower in a corner. And to make it invisible to the naked eye, invest in frameless doors or a clear shower curtain for a transparent appearance.

Exploring the endless options available in bathroom mirrors, establishing the look one is striving to achieve whether traditional or contemporary, bathroom mirrors have transitioned through the modern ages. Victorian style bathrooms were often built with heavy layers of dark wood types from boxed in baths, wood framed mirror to wainscoting. Today’s traditional styles of bathroom furnishings are sporting similar design concepts, but with a much softer look. Bathroom mirrors are lightly capped with various wood textures and tones and wood bath panels are added to step up the design elements as an extension of tradition. Arched mirrors alone or with the addition of wall sconces for extra lighting can also create a Victorian feel to your bathroom setting.

Selecting the right bathroom mirror

Selecting the appropriate wall mirror is also determined not only by the size of your bathroom, but also on the size of the bathroom vanity, bathroom mirrors should never extend beyond the vanity as it will create an unbalanced look. The ideal wall mirror for bathrooms with double basins, are rectangular wall-to-wall mirrors to disseminate adequate lighting exposing bathroom accessories as well as the other bathroom furniture, increasing the presence of the bathroom.

Solid white bathroom suites are a way of adequately diffusing light for an airy feeling, when the light is reflected off of white bathroom furnishing the illusion of space is instantly created. All white pottery bathroom suites give your bathroom a cohesive look, but more importantly set the stage for the induction of color, warm hues of reds, blues or greens are now showing up in the latest bathroom designs, accented with gallantly solid colored ceramic tiles or tiles with a motif inlay to tie the look of the bathroom together for an inviting sanctuary.

Contemporary bathroom mirrors

Wanting to give your bathroom a contemporary personality, frameless bathroom mirrors with inset lighting deliver all the potential for an ultra modern ambiance. Achieving a modern look with circular or square mirrors is the perfect solution for intricate modern designs. Hanging his/ her matching wall mirrors with an overhanging light feature increases the amount of light in the bathroom again not to exceed the length of either the floor mounted or wall mounted basin furniture, helps to create a sophisticated modern expression especially for more complex bathroom remodeling projects. For even more dramatic results, discovering different uses for wall mirrors can present a unique look, mirrors with built in lighting are also being installed inside shower enclosures and in and around the bathing area creating a shaving area for the males in your home while furthering the functionality of bathroom mirror in supporting additional lighting needs. With today’s bathroom suppliers carry a number of bathroom mirror designs, styles and sizes, scheduling a theme around mirrors and lighting are easily worked in with other bathroom design components.

Written by Shelley Murphy on behalf of www. victoriaplumb. com an online retailer of bathroom furniture, steam showers, shower enclosures, whirlpool spa baths and bath related products serving the United Kingdom.

Most of us have not been that fortunate and we now need to work with the bathroom that came with our home in the first place. Don’t give up hope because in this brief article I will give you some tips and tricks on things to consider when designing your home bathroom.

One of the first steps that you need to do before you even think about paying someone or doing the upgrade yourself is researching and setting some design goals. These will outline what it is that you want to achieve. The best place to do research on finding bathroom designs and photos that you like is on the internet or in magazines and other printed materials like books.

When you consider these small bathroom designs just compare yourself to the pros and try to copy them. You don’t need to invent the wheel from scratch. I would clip out the best bathroom design photos that you find and then try and follow what you see in your own renovation.

Another thing you are going to want to set up from the beginning of this is clear goals for the project. Do you want to change the colors to brighten the room up? Install a new bathtub or sink? Or do you want to fully gut the place and enlarge your bathroom area? These are key questions to ask so you have a clear design goal and end outcome in mind.

Also you should be setting up and defining a budget before you start the project. If you don’t do this you could run the risk of the project costing way more then you had originally hoped for and no one likes to go broke over a bathroom.

So do yourself a favor and set a budget, and then stick to it. We all know that like any home improvement project if you are not careful the price can end up being a lot more then you had originally planned out.

Small bathroom designs can be fun or can be a nightmare depending on the strategy and common sense you apply to the design process. If you follow some simple steps including some of the tips I’ve outlined in this brief piece you should be well on your way to having successful small bathroom designs in your homes.

The bathroom design ideas that you use can have a dramatic impact on the appearance and functionality of your bathroom. The bathroom is a room that will be visited often every day and you want this space to be comfortable, usable, appealing and safe to be in while fitting into the overall style and decor of your home.

Here are bathroom ideas to consider as you are planning this important room:

1 – Add a Mirror – mirrors on the bathroom walls will give the appearance of windows being there, will reflect light and extend the room. Mirrors can create a sense of openness, making any bathroom appear larger than it really is. Add a medicine cabinet with mirror to your bathroom to store grooming supplies, medicine or toiletries. Traditionally, the medicine cabinet was located above the vanity or sink, however, you can place it elsewhere in the bathroom if you want.

2 – Create Ample Bathroom Storage – you cannot have too much storage space in a bathroom. Use wall space wisely with shelves or built-in cabinets, vanities or cabinets over the commode. Corner shelves are good bathroom ideas choices if you have limited space. Install corner shelves to display ceramics, shampoos, soaps, bath oils and candles. Display corner shelves can be found that are decorative and allow you to use otherwise wasted space.

3 – Use Wicker Baskets – fill wicker baskets with soaps, candles, sponges, bubble baths, and loofahs. You can roll some of your colorful towels and place them in inexpensive wicker baskets around the bathroom. Keep some of the large wicker storage baskets with towels near the tub and shower within easy reach.

4 – Carefully Select the Floor Material – besides the appearance, the bathroom floor should be safe to walk on and water resistant. Rubber flooring, ceramic tile, vinyl and linoleum floors are good choices since these floor materials can be easy to clean, water resistant and safe to walk on.

If you will use natural stone or terra-cotta ceramic tile on your floor, use the kind that has a non-slip finish. Be careful using rugs that can slide on a tiled floor or natural stone floor. Use rugs that have a rubber backing or add rubber backing strips to the rugs.

5 – Plan the Lighting Carefully – bathroom ideas and general lighting can be ceiling lights, wall fixtures or track lighting. Having adequate general lighting means there is enough light for someone to walk safely through the bathroom. This overall light will distribute itself throughout the entire space, however, general lighting is not sufficient for grooming functions.

Task lighting provides light to a specific area where shaving, putting on makeup or other types of grooming take place. Task lighting should be adjustable by using dimmers or controls, and it is best to aim this type of lighting at an angle to avoid hot spots or shadows.

The use of natural light can be included in your bathroom ideas by having a window, a wall skylight or a roof skylight to bring in natural light. Having a skylight that can be opened is great because it reduces moisture buildup. Remember that using a combination of different types of bathroom light fixtures carefully placed may give your bathroom the best results.

6 – Plan for Moisture Control – bathroom ideas should plan for humidity and odors in the room. Use a power ventilator large enough to do the job. Lingering moisture could become a problem if you do not have a properly-sized ventilating fan to get rid of moisture and odors. Ventilating fans are sized by the cubic feet of air they move in one minute (cfm).

A good ventilation system that can move the air from the bathroom to the outdoors about eight times per hour means that the bathroom will have the moist air removed in 7 or 8 minutes. If you take the length, width and ceiling height of your bathroom and multiply these three numbers, you will have the cubic feet of space for your bathroom.

For example, a bathroom that is 5 feet by 8 feet with an 8 foot high ceiling will have 320 cubic feet of space (5 times 8 times 8 equals 320). A 40 cfm (cubic feet per minute) fan will move the air from inside this bathroom to the outdoors in about 8 minutes (320 divided by 40).

Enjoy gathering bathroom ideas and the planning process, learn as much as you can and use your imagination as you collect and implement your bathroom ideas. Having a comfortable, attractive and functional bathroom that reflects your personal style means you will have a special place to enjoy for many years to come.

Copyright 2007 InfoSearch Publishing

The bathroom design ideas that you use can have a dramatic impact on the appearance and functionality of your bathroom. The bathroom is a room that will be visited often every day and you want this space to be comfortable, usable, appealing and safe to be in while fitting into the overall style and decor of your home.

Here are bathroom ideas to consider as you are planning this important room:

1 – Add a Mirror – mirrors on the bathroom walls will give the appearance of windows being there, will reflect light and extend the room. Mirrors can create a sense of openness, making any bathroom appear larger than it really is. Add a medicine cabinet with mirror to your bathroom to store grooming supplies, medicine or toiletries. Traditionally, the medicine cabinet was located above the vanity or sink, however, you can place it elsewhere in the bathroom if you want.

2 – Create Ample Bathroom Storage – you cannot have too much storage space in a bathroom. Use wall space wisely with shelves or built-in cabinets, vanities or cabinets over the commode. Corner shelves are good bathroom ideas choices if you have limited space. Install corner shelves to display ceramics, shampoos, soaps, bath oils and candles. Display corner shelves can be found that are decorative and allow you to use otherwise wasted space.

3 – Use Wicker Baskets – fill wicker baskets with soaps, candles, sponges, bubble baths, and loofahs. You can roll some of your colorful towels and place them in inexpensive wicker baskets around the bathroom. Keep some of the large wicker storage baskets with towels near the tub and shower within easy reach.

4 – Carefully Select the Floor Material – besides the appearance, the bathroom floor should be safe to walk on and water resistant. Rubber flooring, ceramic tile, vinyl and linoleum floors are good choices since these floor materials can be easy to clean, water resistant and safe to walk on.

If you will use natural stone or terra-cotta ceramic tile on your floor, use the kind that has a non-slip finish. Be careful using rugs that can slide on a tiled floor or natural stone floor. Use rugs that have a rubber backing or add rubber backing strips to the rugs.

5 – Plan the Lighting Carefully – bathroom ideas and general lighting can be ceiling lights, wall fixtures or track lighting. Having adequate general lighting means there is enough light for someone to walk safely through the bathroom. This overall light will distribute itself throughout the entire space, however, general lighting is not sufficient for grooming functions.

Task lighting provides light to a specific area where shaving, putting on makeup or other types of grooming take place. Task lighting should be adjustable by using dimmers or controls, and it is best to aim this type of lighting at an angle to avoid hot spots or shadows.

The use of natural light can be included in your bathroom ideas by having a window, a wall skylight or a roof skylight to bring in natural light. Having a skylight that can be opened is great because it reduces moisture buildup. Remember that using a combination of different types of bathroom light fixtures carefully placed may give your bathroom the best results.

6 – Plan for Moisture Control – bathroom ideas should plan for humidity and odors in the room. Use a power ventilator large enough to do the job. Lingering moisture could become a problem if you do not have a properly-sized ventilating fan to get rid of moisture and odors. Ventilating fans are sized by the cubic feet of air they move in one minute (cfm).

A good ventilation system that can move the air from the bathroom to the outdoors about eight times per hour means that the bathroom will have the moist air removed in 7 or 8 minutes. If you take the length, width and ceiling height of your bathroom and multiply these three numbers, you will have the cubic feet of space for your bathroom.

For example, a bathroom that is 5 feet by 8 feet with an 8 foot high ceiling will have 320 cubic feet of space (5 times 8 times 8 equals 320). A 40 cfm (cubic feet per minute) fan will move the air from inside this bathroom to the outdoors in about 8 minutes (320 divided by 40).

Enjoy gathering bathroom ideas and the planning process, learn as much as you can and use your imagination as you collect and implement your bathroom ideas. Having a comfortable, attractive and functional bathroom that reflects your personal style means you will have a special place to enjoy for many years to come.

Copyright 2007 InfoSearch Publishing

The size, configuration and style all have to be taken into consideration when creating a personalized bathroom. Researching for general information is only the beginning and must be tailored to your specific tastes and needs. You really have to give careful consideration before you begin a remodeling project – after all you’re going to change the look and feel of your house. The changes you make can be costly and permanent, so you want to choose something that you are willing to live with for. . . well possibly for several years.

Often, people consider remodeling when they realize that they need more space. Maybe there needs to be a change in the floor plan that allows two people to use the bathroom more comfortably; just based on your basic living circumstances. Maybe there is limited counter space or storage space and you’re finding this frustrating. These are all important considerations that will guide the types of changes you make and how the bathroom designs you select become more personalized.

It is also a good idea to discuss with your family members any current issues or concerns around the layout of thebathroom. Their input can offer some good insight into what the new bathroom should solve in terms of living style problems.

Once you have a clearer idea of what you want to change, you can begin looking at bathroom designs that will offer the right solution for your current issues.

Books and magazines on home design and decorating are an excellent place to start to generate plenty of ideas. Keep the pages of designs that most appeal to you in a folder or bookmark those pages in your web browser. Searching online for decorating tips can also help. Put together a scrapbook of all of your ideas, photos and product catalogs that will be useful as you decide whether to use a professional designer or go it alone and follow the do-it-yourself route.

It’s always better to use a professional contractor, unless you’re only making minor changes to your bathroom. The more complex the bathroom designs, the more appropriate it is to use bath design professionals. When interviewing contractors, make sure that they have a good idea of your specific desires and tastes; you don’t want any last minute surprises when you see the finished results.

Be ready to answer a lot of questions about you and your family, and how you all plan to use the additional space. This is also a good time to show the contractor your scrapbook so they can get a look and feel for what you want the redesign of your bathroom to achieve.

Remember the old adage: perfect planning prevents poor performance. This is also true when considering bathroom designs for a remodeling project. The more careful, thought out plan will pay off when you meet with a contractor, and when you walk into the new spacious bathroom of your dreams.