The Home Shop Blog

Are you ready to make your bathroom more than just an ordinary bathroom? For many homes, the bathroom is not the elegant area that it can be. Making a bathroom exceptional is not as difficult as it may sound. More can be done than simply reorganizing the bathroom or giving it a good cleaning. Rugs, artwork, tiles and fixtures all contribute to how elegant your bathroom really is. With a little bit of work, your bathroom can add to the overall appearance of your bathroom.

In general, a bathroom needs to be renovated every 15 to 20 years. Most of the time, a homeowner doesn’t need an interior designer to tell him or her of this. Odds are, most homeowners can already tell when their bathroom is out of style. If renovation is a choice, after picking a budget, a theme for the new bathroom will need to be selected. This theme will be what guides the rest of the interior design of the bathroom. Examples of themes include Tuscan, baroque, or perhaps something simple like a black-and-white theme.

Your financial plan will decide how large your bathroom changes will be. A large budget will allow homeowners to change bathroom tiling, alter the shower, and even change the position of sinks and tubs. A tighter budget will allow a change in fixture type and artwork. The heart of bathroom improvements will also depend on the type of bathroom. Bathrooms for children tend to be more colorful and fun, guest bathrooms should be impressive but functional, and master bathrooms should have a resort-style feeling. Don’t forget, redesigning the bathroom is also a great time to add earth-friendly appliances!

Usually, bathrooms don’t need to have too many colors, which can be to intense and muddled in such a small area. Two colors, or monochromatic shades, are the best. For the functional pieces such as faucets and racks, the type of metal used should depend on the bathroom theme. Conventional restrooms may use bronze faucets to match their wallpaper, for example, while brushed nickel is trendy and used for modern work. A stone or basin-style sink can work very well with Japanese Zen patterns.

Lighting is also very important in bathrooms. Most bathroom lighting should be indirect, avoiding glare wherever possible; sconces and light shades work nicely for this purpose. Tiles play their part as well, whether automatically heated or of plain linoleum, they should be used creatively. Stone tiles are generally the best for modern and classy bathrooms, but are tough to arrange in different patterns. Cheaper tiles, on the other hand, can be arranged in different patterns to give the bathroom a special look.

Many of the last details of the bathroom will depend on what you like and dislike as well as your overall theme. You can add accessories to your bathroom such as candles, lotion bottles, toothbrush holders, and whatever else you like. You can really bring out your bathroom’s theme by choosing articles that will match that specific theme.

An additional great item that no bathroom should be without is a mirror. Use your mirror as an opportunity for design. The mirror will make your bathroom seem bigger and it should be a chance to add something to your bathroom’s style. Choose art and rugs that are water resistant as they will be exposed to continuous moisture. Without being water resistant, the humidity in the bathroom will damage these types of items.

If you are looking for a new home, be sure to look at the great Coldwater Springs homes for sale and the Estates at Spectrum homes for sale. These homes come in many different styles and sizes. There is something for every budget, no matter how big or how small.



By: April Walters

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Bathroom remodeling not only adds beauty and enjoyment to any kind of home, it also increases the value of your home when you wish to sell your house in the future. Bathroom remodeling is perhaps the most popular project for home improvement because it yields the highest return on your investment. Moreover, homeowners can enjoy their relaxing bathroom from the time they remodel until they decide on selling the house.

Tips for Bathroom Remodeling Design

The task of remodeling your bathroom is difficult andcan be costly There are several key fixtures to consider when you work on your bathroom. And yes, most of them are expensive. There is flooring to consider, as well as the paint, and the result of anything going wrong is you will end up with place that you spend a lot of time in while not enjoying the room. So good planning is essential.

Of course, to be successful, you need to design your remodeling project well before you swing a single hammer. If you take the time to work out a well-planned bathroom remodeling design, a wonderful bathroom is sure to follow.

Map it Out

When you are working on the design for your bathroom remodeling project, make sure to take accurate measurements of your bathroom and create a map to work with. Mark where the plumbing is, mark where your fixtures are, and you’ll be able to better plan what you need to do. The key to a great bathroom remodeling design is good planning, and a map is a great way to keep you focused on exactly where everything needs to be. Draw it out and plan it on paper. It can be a good idea to cut out your main pieces and try them on your map to see how they fit and what they are likely to look like.

There is also software available that can help you plan a bathroom remodel. The simple packages allow you to do the same mapping exercise as above, and the more complex and expensive can even build a ‘virtual bathroom’ so that you can see the results of your planning.

Function Before Form

The secret of a comfortable bathroom is to put the function of your bathroom above what it will look like. No matter how gorgeous your bathroom looks, if you have a poor design, one that makes your bathroom uncomfortable to use, you won’t enjoy it. Throughout your bathroom remodeling design process, consider what you want your bathroom to do and work towards that goal.

Consider Your Fixtures

Make sure to learn exactly where your fixtures will go when designing your remodeling project; you will need the plumbing there to accommodate them. Your sink, tub, and toilet are going to be exactly where you have them right now, unless you can somehow move the the plumbing. In most cases, the location of your fixtures is going to be a hard limit, so plan accordingly.

Locate Things Sensibly

When you decide where smaller fixtures, such as the towel rack or even the toilet paper roll, go in the bathroom remodeling design, keep in mind that they should go in places that are sensible, once again going back to function over form. The towel rack might look nice by the door, but if it’s out of arm’s reach of the bathtub, then you won’t be happy whenever you get out of the shower, for example. With all things in bathroom remodeling design, if you design with an eye for common sense and space, you will be successful in your attempt to create a room that’s both stylish and functional.

Focus on your walls, ceiling and tiles because these three items can greatly influence the outcome of your project. Mix and match the colors by using pastel, earthy, contemporary or traditional colors that fit your taste. Be aware that whatever items, equipment and furniture you wish to add to your bathroom should add warmth and relaxation to the room.

You can create your dream bathroom by expanding the area and separating the toilet from the bath area. You can even add spa treatments, bathtubs, water jets and other more expensive bathroom add-ons. If you have no idea where to start and what items to add, you can always look at a home-improvement magazine and check out the latest bathroom trends.

Know Your Budget

The extent of your bathroom remodeling project will all depend on your budget. If you have a large amount of money for your remodel project, you can start designing your bathroom from scratch. However, you can still remodel your bathroom even with a small budget. Just change the light fixtures, accessories and bathroom furniture.

Designs, Accessories and Furniture

When you decide to start a bathroom remodeling project, it is quickest to organize your goals before shopping for materials. determine on what items you want to replace, add or take away from the bath area. Think about refinishing existing items such as bathtub, shower, sinks and toilet or renewing the tiles, tub and shower enclosure to give a current look to your bathroom even with little investment.

Bathroom Remodeling Check List Helps Keep Project On Track

Renovations in any part of your home can easily get out of hand, both in the terms of time and in costs, but using a bathroom remodeling check list, you can maintain control of your budget as well as keep the job on track. As part of your planning process, a bathroom remodeling check list can also help you determine how much of an upgrade you can afford.

Some of the major items on your list may include any electrical work you may need, plumbing changes or additions, heating and cooling as well as any walls that will need to be moved or repaired. As some of the first things listed on your bathroom remodeling check list, you can also determine the timing of contractors. For example, if you are going to replace an existing tub and wall tile, plumbing work will need done, but having a carpenter handy for installing modern drywall will need to be done first.

In addition to the major work, also listed on your bathroom remodeling check list would be any components, such as cabinets, fixtures and countertops. You should also list the type of countertops you plan to install as well as the floor, the sink, storage cabinets and any free-standing furniture.

Having a column on your bathroom remodeling check list that shows the amount budgeted for each item will help you stay in control of the costs of the project. When buying the items on the list and you decide to go over the cost for one item, you can always pick a cheaper model on another component to stay on budget. By looking at the costs before you go to the store, you can have a good idea of what you are likely to spend.

Once you have determined the exact cost of your project using the bathroom remodeling check list, you should budget another 10 percent of the total cost for contingencies. For instance, when you are cutting out the wall for a fresh fixture you accidentally cut through a water pipe and your current drywall is ruined. The contingency budget can pay to replace the cut pipe as well as the ruined drywall.

You may also plan on the time each item on your bathroom remodeling check list should take to complete as a way of keeping the project on track. You will know during the planning stage how much each item should cost, how long it should take as well as what part of your bathroom is not going to be touched during the project.

If you don’t have the money to hire an architect or contractor for your bathroom remodeling, you can do the work yourself by focusing on simple things that can give a dramatic change to the bathroom. For instance, add a vanity mirror or a shelf and display small items such as perfume bottles, soaps, bath salts, spa accessories and other items you wish to display.



By: Stephen Dolan

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