New Designs Pointers For Your Bathroom
Thirty percent of the 121 million Americans who completed a home improvement project this year worked on new designs for their bathrooms. The average bathroom is 50-square-feet, which is not a whole lot of space to cram in whirlpool tubs, double sinks and separate shower stalls. Even so, bathroom design knows no bounds and people are breaking down walls, moving toilets and building extensions to house their own personal spas. After a long day at work, nothing compares to a trip to the home spa.
While on a vacation, one of the most impressive features is usually the bathroom design. Women love that there is a separate vanity area with lighting, mirrors and a sink, where they can put on their makeup, brush their teeth, do their hair and spread out their supplies a little. Additional drawer space reduces clutter, which the men can appreciate. Rather than a shower stall, there is a separate whirlpool-spa tub and an enlarged shower area with space for drying off, which eliminates the need for shower curtains. New designs include heated floors and towel racks, natural halogen lighting and soft paint colors, in addition to multiple sprayers, all of which add luxury hotel caliber ambiance to one’s bathroom.
Looking at dramatic new designs for your bathroom can be exciting, but they should also be practical, experts say. Rather than simply looking at shower fixtures in your bathroom design search, take this opportunity to correct any defects. If you suffer low pressure from small pipes, mixed up hot/cold valves or high energy costs, then spend the money now to reap the benefits later. In the past, whirlpool tubs were everyone’s dream and they are still popular with customizations like lighting, aromatherapy and bath jets. However, Suzie Williford, National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) vice president, says the customized shower is gaining more attention these days. “People have time to use the shower every day, but they don’t really have time to take a bath every day,” Williford explains. Rain bars, steam showers, mosaic tiles, hand-held shower heads and dual-mounted shower heads are just a few of the many enhancements to make your shower more enjoyable.
While choosing new designs for their bathrooms, a number of Americans are deciding to “go green” while they are at it. Here are some interior design tips for achieving your own environmentally-sound bathroom. First, go organic with your bath linens and shower curtains. This one is a no brainer and does not cost much to do. Organic cotton requires less pesticides and is usually softer than regular materials. Vinyl or plastic shower curtains can be extremely toxic, cautions Annie B. Bond, author of Home Enlightenment. Instead, choose a heavy cotton duck curtain, she adds. You can find a number of eco-friendly bath products at www.gaiam.com. Then, choose natural bath products made without chemicals, like those at Aveda, to create a chemical-free zone. There are also green cleaning products, like the “Greenworks Cleaner” or “TerraCycle Cleaner.”
