Archive for the 'Bathrooms' Category

Feb 23 2010

Decorating Your Bathroom in an Ocean Theme

One popular theme for a bathroom is an ocean theme. With some ocean-themed décor items, you can give your bathroom a unique ocean look so that every time you set foot in the room, you feel like you’re at the beach. If you’re looking to create a wonderful ocean theme for your bathroom, then use your creativity and follow these tips.

Paint the Bathroom with Colors from the Ocean
You can quickly transform your bedroom into an ocean retreat by painting it blue, green, tan, and cream: the colors of the ocean. You can add a unique twist to the theme by painting one wall an accent color like turquoise and the other walls cream. Add more color to the room by adding yellow, which will work to highlight the feeling of warm sunlight over the ocean.

If you tend to be really creative, you might paint a mural of an ocean scene on one of the bathroom walls. In this way, you can fill in a large space and also create a great highlight for the area. If the bathroom is right off your bedroom, then it will seem as if you are right on the ocean.

Use Real Ocean Accessories
Use items you would find down at the beach or ocean, rather than buying all your décor items from the store. It’s amazing how things such as shells and sand make such great additions to the room. To add instant ambiance, place a basket of shells or bottles of sand on the shelf.

Hang an Ocean-Themed Shower Curtain
One of the first things people see when they walk into a bathroom is the shower curtain. Hang an ocean-themed shower curtain for all to see. In this way, you can really play up the shower area. You might choose one with a beautiful ocean or beach scene, or go with a more playful look, perhaps with pictures of fish. Decide whether you’re trying to create an ocean retreat or a fun beach theme, and choose your curtain accordingly.

Look for Themed Accessories to Complete the Look
There should be no problem finding bathroom accessories that fit in with the décor, as ocean themes are popular these days. There should be lots of soap dishes, bath mats, wastebaskets, and even towels that are ocean-themed. Tailor the accessories to fit the theme. For instance, if you’re creating a fun bathroom décor, then choose something like a fish-shaped soap dish. But if you’re going for a serious ocean retreat, then try something like shell-shaped soaps displayed in a blue soap dish.

You can use an ocean theme for a master bathroom, as easily as you can use it for a child’s bathroom. You can follow many different variations on this theme, everything from lighthouses, to sand sculptures, to fish. Have fun with this theme, and be sure to include your own personality when designing the style.

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Jan 27 2010

Great Tips for Decorating a Kid’s Bathroom

When decorating a kid’s bathroom, it’s easy to get carried away. But you do need to be sure that the room is functional as well as fun. You don’t need to undertake a big remodeling project to create a perfect bathroom for a kid. Often, all that’s needed in a great decorating plan that makes sense. When it’s time to decorate a kid’s bathroom, keep in mind the following tips.

Get Your Kid Involved in the Decorating
By giving your child a say in decorating a room, you make it much more likely that he or she will use that room and keep it clean and organized. When it comes to choosing colors and a scheme for the bathroom, consider your child’s opinion (if he or she is old enough). See if your child would be interested in helping you paint or making art projects to hang on the walls. They will be much more enthusiastic about the bathroom if they are involved in any aspect of the decorating.

Always Remember Safety First When Decorating
When designing your child’s bathroom, it’s important to keep issues of safety in mind at all times. It’s so easy to get caught up in planning and implementing the design, and then realize belatedly that you’ve created a safety hazard. This is particularly important for younger kids and toddlers. If there are younger children in the home, remember to add things like a non-slip tub mat and safety latch for the toilet. It’s also a good idea to add safety locks to the cabinets to keep medications out of the reach of little hands.

Be Sure to Add Plenty of Storage and Organization Space
If you want your kid’s bathroom to stay clean, then you need to provide a designated space for everything in the room. By providing your kids with plenty of storage and organization space, you will make it more likely that they’ll clean up than if they don’t have a place to put their stuff. Place smaller bins and baskets in the cabinets and drawers to help organize them. Also keep in mind that your storage and organizational spaces can be decorative ones as well.

Add Style or a Theme with Small Touches
Kids grow up so fast. It’s therefore often smarter to decorate the room in a neutral manner, keeping the walls and flooring plain. You can then add stylish flair to the room with smaller décor items. After all, wallpaper borders and shower curtains can easily be changed later on. Other smaller décor items that will add instant style are towels, baskets, and artwork.

Get Creative with the Decorating
Remember that this is a kid’s bathroom—not your dining room or living room. Therefore, you can get creative—even go a little crazy—with the décor. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone when decorating this room. It doesn’t need to match the style of the rest of your décor, particularly since the only people who will probably see it are you and your kids.

Both parents and kids can have a lot of fun decorating a kid’s bathroom. By keeping these tips in mind, you can be well on your way to creating a great kid’s bathroom.

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Nov 20 2009

How to Create Your Own Spa Bathroom on a Budget

Spa BathroomMost people would love to have a spa bathroom right in their home. A spa bathroom makes a great addition to any home; it can also be quite expensive to install. Completely renovating your bathroom to resemble the local spa is going to cost you. Fortunately, there are some affordable tricks you can do to create a spa-like bathroom on a budget.

Install the Right Lighting
When it comes to the bathroom, lighting plays a major role. After all, adequate lighting is necessary for such things as putting on makeup or brushing and flossing your teeth. At the same time, for a spa atmosphere, you don’t want light that is too bright disturbing you. To create a lighting compromise, install a dimmer switch for your bathroom lighting. This way, you can have full light for everyday tasks but also dimmed lighting to set the mood when you are relaxing in the tub.

Keep Things Clean and Organized
If your spa bathroom is a mess and nothing is organized, you are not going to be able to relax. First, be sure that you have a spot for everything in the bathroom. You might add baskets and bins to the shelves and cabinets, which will help keep things organized. If you like, make your organization stylish by adding wicker baskets and painted shelves to the room.

Add the Right Accessories
Accessories don’t have to cost a lot, and they can make all the difference in a décor.

  • An easy way to create a spa ambiance is by adding candles around the bathtub and the rest of the bathroom.
  • Other things such as flower arrangements and air fresheners are also great additions.
  • Install a radio or CD/MP3 player in the bathtub or place one on a shelf nearby for some soothing and relaxing music.
  • A luxurious bath mat near the tub will keep your feet from hitting the cold tile after a bath.
  • A water feature, such as a small fountain, can also set a relaxing mood for a spa bathroom.
  • Surround that small fountain with a few small plants to create your very own oasis in your bathroom.

Choose Peaceful Colors for the Room
Neutrals and pastels are the best color options for a spa bathroom, especially for the main wall colors. Don’t pick anything too loud or vibrant, such as red or bright yellow, for the walls and décor. Remember, you’re trying to create a peaceful feeling that will best come from lighter colors and neutrals.

Peaceful doesn’t necessarily mean boring, however. You can add splashes of color with towels, candles, flowers, and other décor items. Paint is very inexpensive. By simply painting over a dark or vibrant color with a neutral or pastel, you can easily change the entire look and feel of the room.

When creating a spa bathroom in your home, you don’t have to spend as much money as you think. When you apply a little creativity and work with what you already have in the room, you’ll find that there are plenty of ways that you can create a spa feeling in your bathroom without breaking your budget.

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Nov 13 2009

4 Tips for Creating a Child’s Bathroom

Kid's BathroomMost bathrooms are designed for adults. But if you have a kids’ bathroom in your home, you might have to adjust your focus when it comes to decorating. It’s not that difficult to create a bathroom perfect for a child, particularly if you remember who you are decorating for and address any problems your children may have with your ideas.

Accessibility Is Key
If you are creating a bathroom for your child, it’s important to make sure that your child will actually be able to use the bathroom by himself. There are many different ways by which you can make the room more accessible, especially for those younger children. Simple things like a kid-friendly faucet or cabinet pulls can instantly create a more accessible bathroom for your child. Place a stepstool in the bathroom if your child can’t reach the sink by himself, or consider lowering the height of the counter and sink.

Make the Bathroom Safe
A bathroom can actually be a pretty dangerous place for a child. If you want peace of mind when your child goes to do things by herself in her own bathroom, it’s a good idea to make the room as safe as possible.

  • If there’s a shower, be sure to install non-slip adhesive decals or a mat for your child.
  • Place a cover over the faucet and bathtub spout that will control the temperature of the water and prevent scalding.
  • Don’t place items up high that your child will have to climb to reach.
  • Don’t place toothbrushes and other items above the toilet or sink; put them down lower in a cabinet.

Add Plenty of Storage
A child can accumulate a lot of items in one bathroom. The key to getting your child to keep the bathroom neat is to have plenty of organized storage in the room. As with anywhere, if children have a specific place to put something away, then they will be more likely to do so. Use plastic baskets and bins for larger items and then drawer organizers and bins for smaller ones. A separate bucket for tub toys is also a great idea, so they’re not all over the bathtub.

Sharing Is Possible in a Child’s Bathroom
Don’t worry if more than one child will need to share the bathroom. You can avoid a lot of problems by keeping things organized and labeled. For instance, give each child his or her own basket or bin on its own shelf, which will prevent confusion over whose item is whose. If you have a larger bathroom, you might want to even consider installing a double sink in the room, which will prevent fights when everybody is getting ready. Ask each child for design ideas. This way everyone will feel like they’ve had a say in the bathroom’s décor.

You’ll be surprised how fun it is to design a child’s bathroom, particularly when you get your child involved in the process. This is a great project that you and your child can plan and create together, resulting in a special bathroom specifically designed for your child.

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