Glamour rooms

INTERIORS

After a hard day’s work, nothing can be more relaxing than a rejuvenating shower or a long and luxurious soak in the bath tub with aromatherapy candles for company. Soothing sights, gentle lighting and pleasing aroma in this personal space called the bathroom can work wonders to our mood. No longer grubby little rooms locked away for most part of the day, bathrooms are getting the preferential treatment that the other rooms in the house get.

In fact, some bathrooms are modelled as private spas that pamper their owners to no end. However, they need a makeover at regular intervals to maintain their glam quotient. If you’re wondering as to how you can transform the look of your bathroom without digging too deep a hole in your pockets, here’s how.

Start by de-cluttering
To begin with, give the available space in your bathroom a closer look. The larger the space, the better it is to remodel. Kick off your bathroom remodelling project by decluttering the place. First of all, throw away old shampoo bottles, deodorants, toothbrushes and body scrubbers that you never use. Clean the shelves and if you feel you can do away with some of them, then do it for better space availability.

Next, spare a thought to the size and design of the sink. The newer models of sinks in the market are compact and trendy and are great space-savers. From funky to classic, they are available in a wide range of designs to add an element of drama to bathrooms.
You can choose the sink that best fits the size and design scheme of your bathroom.
If space is still an issue, consider replacing bath tubs with compact shower cubicles. If investing on shower cubicles is not on your list of priorities, then just go in for a change of shower curtains.

Available in styles ranging from plastic to fabric with patterns in numerous colours and designs, shower curtains are definite mood-lifters in an otherwise dull bathroom.

Pay heed to floors, walls
Once the issue of space is taken care of, take a closer look at tiles on bathroom floors and walls. They would have probably got discoloured due to the nature of water used. The harder the water the tougher will be the stains.

Though replacing the tiles is the easiest way out, it is the most expensive one too. The many tile cleaning options, including acids, available in most supermarkets, can solve the problem of stains in a jiffy. Once the tiles are stain-free, they look sparkling new, lending the bathroom a refreshing feel.

Though most part of the bathroom walls is covered with tiles, the area above the tile-clad area needs to be paid attention too.

For, chipped paint in an otherwise stylish bathroom can spoil the party like no other.
Paint the walls in colours that go best with the other fittings and accessories in the bathroom.

Brighter paints are welcome while darker shades are a strict no-no. Also, use paints that can withstand hot temperatures and are water-resistant. The right choice of paint can go a long way in keeping the walls safe from mold and such other problems.

Use vanity cabinets
A hot decorating trend that is fast catching up in bathroom designing is the use of vanity cabinets.

These cabinets work wonders to the overall appearance of the bathroom, while also adding functionality to the room. 

The variety of vanity cabinets available in the market, in styles ranging from casual to contemporary, is just mind-boggling. So is the finish, ranging from cherry to oak. These cabinets, topped with slabs in granite or marble, never fail to lend an elegant touch to bathrooms.

While remodelling bathrooms, the safety aspect too needs to be taken care of.
Since soaking wet bathroom tiles can be slippery, care should be taken to ensure that tiles remain dry.

The only solution to wet bathrooms, other than mopping, is a good bath mat that is highly absorbent and easy to launder. The latest in the bath mat scene is the one with rubber stoppers that allows users to wipe their feet without slipping and hurting themselves.

Particular attention should be paid to the lighting aspect of bathrooms too.
If you have been unhappy with the lighting in your bathroom, now is the right time to enhance it.

Positioning of windows
Add a window or change its positioning to allow lots of natural light to stream in. Skylights are also a good option.

Not to forget are bathroom fittings. Either replace the old ones or polish the existing ones, taking care to scrape off hard water stains, till they gleam with glamour.
Including a long, life-size mirror in the bathroom too gives the place an airy feel. Last, but not the least, add certain elements like towel racks, toilet seats and toilet paper holders that are in tune with the rest of the bathroom décor.|

After all, bathrooms should be as aesthetically pleasing as they are comfortable.

Designing tips
* Mirrored cabinets make the bathroom look larger.
* Lighter blinds look better than heavy curtains in the bathroom.
* Open shelves look more attractive with ornamental plants in them.
* Pedestal sinks are good options for small bathrooms.
*Light coloured tiles in bathrooms mask hard water stains to a certain extent.
* Aromatherapy candles lend bathrooms an ethereal touch.
* An antique bowl with bath salts and scented soaps give the bathroom a spa-like feel.