There are numerous bathroom design ideas out there. No matter whether you’ve got a luxurious family sized bathroom or a small but functional space, whether you have the money to completely redesign your bathroom or are aiming to rejuvenate your bathroom on a shoestring budget, there are lots of practical things you can do. When you think about it, we all spend a fair amount of time in our bathrooms everyday, so putting some thought into your bathroom’s design can help you create a welcoming yet practical space.

A good way to bring a touch of style to a tired looking bathroom is to add an attractive piece of furniture, such as sink vanity or a new wall cabinet. These things are relatively straightforward to fit or replace, and can help give your bathroom a fresh new image without the expense and hassle of replacing all your fixtures and fittings. Bathroom vanities and cabinets come in a range of beautiful designs, including antique effect, country style and contemporary, and can be used to great effect to influence the character of your bathroom.

If you want to give your bathroom a makeover without blowing your budget, there are a number of things you could consider. For example, you may be surprised at the difference new faucets on your sink and tub can make. Shiny new faucets in a stylish design can instantly improve a bathroom’s appearance, without the need to install a whole new bathroom suite. Another way to cut costs when remodeling, is to just replace your bathtub, leaving the sink and toilet in place. Bathtubs take up the most space in our bathrooms, and a well-chosen tub can become an attractive central feature of your bathroom’s design.

If you like the luxury of a long soak in the tub but you have a very small bathroom you could make the most of limited space by installing a corner bath. You could further enhance this by adding an overbath shower. In larger bathrooms that are shared by a couple or a family, it can make practical sense to add a double sink, which can also look very grand and elegant. Other ways to make a bathroom more aesthetically pleasing include hanging a fresh new shower curtain, replacing outdated tiles with nice new ones, and making good use of mirrors and lighting to create a relaxing atmosphere.

When it comes to bathroom countertops there’s no limit to how creative you can be, because most countertops are custom-designed for each installation. There are hundreds of colors, patterns, and materials to choose from, but not all of them work well in the bathroom where water and condensation are a constant concern. Your best choices are marble, granite, ceramic or porcelain tiles, solid surface materials and laminate surfacing.

Plastic Laminate is the most common and least expensive countertop material, by a considerable margin and is available in just about any color and texture you can imagine. The four major manufacturers - Wilsonart, Formica, Nevamar and Pionite -each offer more than a hundred colors and patterns. The latest rage is having your plastic laminate custom-designed to your own color, texture and style, but be prepared to spend a few bucks here. Laminate is a breeze to clean because of its smooth surface. Cost is between $25 and $50 per linear foot, installed.

Ceramic & Porcelain Tile is probably the most versatile material that you can use on your countertop to create a specific style or look. Contemporary, retro, traditional, rustic, country, and everything in-between is possible when working with ceramic tile. The only drawback to using tile is the grout lines, because nobody wants to invest the time and energy necessary to keep grout clean, especially in the bathroom. And don’t be fooled - tile grout requires regular maintenance and lots of elbow grease. On the flip side, the tile itself is easy to clean. Cost is between $50 to $80 per linear foot, installed. Plain-colored tiles cost from $2 to $40 per tile with hand-painted tiles running from $5 to $75.

Corian and Solid Surfacing is made of either a pure acrylic product or a polyester-acrylic mix. The most widely available and widely known 100 percent synthetic countertop material is Corian by Dupont, but other manufacturers including Wilsonart, Formica and Avenite also make it in a wide range of colors and textures. Some of the materials are solid colors, but most have flecks that give it a textured look that resembles real stone (that will run the cost up). Cost is between $75 to $150 a linear foot, installed.

Granite slabs are the most expensive of all countertop surfaces, but this is one product that holds its weight. The expense of granite will vary greatly, depending on the type, quality and availability of granite that you select, as well as the finished edge that you choose. If you just can’t resist the look of granite and your purse is stretched, try going for granite tiles. Cost is between $75 to $200 a linear foot, installed.

Composite Stone is the hot new surface when it comes to tops and a big rival to granite. It is a stone-synthetic composite made of about 90 percent quartz particles and 10 percent acrylic or epoxy binder. Some of the composites look like natural stone, but not one that you could identify. Others are so close to real granite that you’re left wondering if it’s real or not? Since the composites are man-made materials, they do not have the unexpected variation of granite or marble and they do not need to be sealed. The four major choices - Silestone, Okite, CaesarStone and DuPont’s Zodiaq - all use the same process. The only differences between them for the end users are the colors and textures offered. Taken together, the four companies offer more than 130 countertop choices. Cost is between $110 to $250 a linear foot, installed

Wood is attractive and versatile, but it is very vulnerable to water damage and its porosity makes it hard to clean - especially in the bathroom. If you have to have a wood top in your bathroom be sure it’s well sealed with polyurethane or marine varnish. Note: extra care should be taken to seal around the edges of plumbing fixtures so standing water can’t seep in and cause wood rot. Cost is between $25 and $40 a linear foot, installed.

A bathroom designs idea - can I really design my own bathroom? Why not! Today, the bathroom is much more than just a room for grooming and a place to read. Bathrooms can be a good place for home exercise equipment and a good music system or TV, for example. What better way to unwind from the day than a soothing shower or warm soak in the tub with candles and relaxing music. So start a notebook. When you get a bathroom designs idea, write it down. Soon you will have defined the bathroom that is just right for you.

Design my own bathroom? You bet you can! When designing your own bathroom, some of the questions you should ask (and answer) include:

1. How big will the bathroom be? Bathroom sizes include:

• Master bathroom or luxury bathroom - includes toilet, bidet, two sinks, separate tub and shower, whirpool or spa and perhaps more, depending on your budget. Some master bathrooms are large enough to have exercise equipment, and they are subdivided into smaller compartments for privacy depending on what is needed.

• Full bathroom - includes toilet, sink, and combination tub/shower plumbed along one wall. Typical dimensions are 5x7 or 5x8 feet.

• Half bathroom - includes sink and toilet only. It can be placed on the main floor of your home to reduce the morning rush, and the family doesn’t have to go upstairs to use the toilet. Common dimensions are between 3x6 and 4x5 feet, about the size of a smaller closet.

• Small bathroom - includes corner shower stall, toilet and sink and typical dimensions are 6x6 feet.

• Childrens bathroom - can be a three-quarter bathroom or full bathroom depending on the size of your home and how many children you have. Children’s bathrooms should have plenty of storage and cubbies that are safe and colorful. If several kids will use the same bathroom, a wall or half wall between the toilet and the rest of the bathroom may be a good idea.

• Guest bathroom - can be a three-quarter bathroom or a full bathroom.

2. Are you planning to have convenient storage in the bathroom? A design my own bathroom person will always include bathroom storage. You can find a combination sink/vanity for extra storage. A great bathroom designs idea is you can never have too much bathroom storage!

Use the wall space wisely with shelves or cabinets over the commode or almost anywhere in the bathroom. Consider using corner shelves, and hang towel bars above one another. Add a medicine cabinet with mirror to your bathroom to store grooming supplies, medicine or toiletries. Traditionally, the medicine cabinet was always located above the vanity or sink, but nowadays you can place it elsewhere in the bathroom. Add a shower caddy to your corner shower for extra storage.

3. Do you have enough lighting planned for your bathroom? Natural light is an important element in bathrooms. A window, a wall or roof skylight will bring in natural light, a view or a dramatic skyscape. Having a skylight that opens is great because moisture build-up is reduced.

Artificial lighting is also vital and often overlooked in a bathroom. Without good lighting, the decor and the personality of your bathroom can not be developed properly. Lighting for your bathroom can be natural and manufactured. Lighting should be used to brighten and define the space since both can affect your mood and how you feel inside your home.

4. Another bathroom designs idea - what about ventilation? If you live in climates prone to mold and mildew, you should install an exhaust fan in your bathroom. Ventilating fans are sized by the number of cubic feet of air they move each minute (cfm). A design my own bathroom person will have a good ventilation system that can move the air from the bathroom to the outdoors about eight times per hour or once every 7 or 8 minutes. Bathrooms generate humidity and moisture that can penetrate ceilings, floors and countertops. Remove odors and humidity from a bathroom by installing a power ventilator large enough to do the job. You do not want your walls to break into a sweat every time someone showers.

Design my own bathroom? Go for it! A design my own bathroom person will read as much as possible, thinking through what is wanted and needed in this important room. A bathroom designs idea will range from materials used to the bathroom layout to the finished colors. Having a successful bathroom project is about making informed decisions while planning and while building. Continue the process of learning as much as you can before building begins. How much can you spend, what style will the bathroom be, what size ventilation should you have and so on. Your answer to each bathroom designs idea question is what will guide you so you’ll have the best bathroom ever.

The right bathroom vanity can really set the tone and style. Who doesn’t want a classy looking, spa style bathroom? An instant and inexpensive bathroom makeover can be as simple as getting a beautiful new bathroom vanity. You can take your bathroom from a plain abode, to a classy and luxurious, spa style bathroom, with this simple hardware upgrade. There are so many different styles of vanities out there. Vanities come in a variety of styles, and are made from a variety of different materials. You can find the classic ceramic vanity sink, or you can move on to more luxurious looking sinks. There are even handcrafted bathroom vanities that will fill your bathroom with an embellished look of heirloom art.

After you found the right vanity, it’s now time to have it installed. You can do this one of two ways: you can consult a contractor, or you can install the luxurious new bathroom vanity yourself! In either case, you should always consult a contractor to get advice on upgrading your vanity. Now lets move on to installing the classy, luxurious looking bathroom of your dreams.

Here are the steps you need to take to install that beautiful new bathroom vanity:

1. First, you need to find a luxurious style vanity. Well this step seems obvious, but make sure that you have the right vanity that will project the luxurious feeling you want in your new bathroom.

2. For this next step, you will need to know a little about plumbing. Shut off the water to the pipes then disconnect the supply lines. You will need a bucket to catch any dripping water from the supply lines. Also, make sure to use the bucket to catch water that comes from the curved pipe in the center of the sink. This curved pipe is called the p-trap.

3. Next, you will need a utility knife to loosen the caulking between the wall and the vanity. You may need to go all the way down to the floor to remove all the caulk. When the caulk is removed, be sure to remove the counter top carefully so that the wall is not damaged.

4. After you have removed the counter top, remove the screws that are attaching the vanity to the wall. Then remove the old vanity.

5. The next thing you will need to do is find the wall studs. After this is completed, make marks on the wall for new screw holes.

6. You will need a carpenter’s level, and shims to make sure that the vanity is against the wall. Once the vanity is positioned currently, secure it to the wall with 2 ½” wallboard screws.
7. Use tub and caulk to secure the vanity top to the base.

8. Next, you will need to reconnect the plumbing.

9. The last step in creating a luxurious looking new bathroom is to apply caulk to the edges of the countertop.

If you are the do-it-yourself type, and know a little about plumbing, these steps should go easy for you. Otherwise, you can always get a contractor to lay down that classy and luxurious looking new bathroom vanity.

It’s time again to fix that faucet. You’re sick of the ‘drip, drip, drip’ from your bathroom sink that keeps you awake until all hours of the morning. It’s not the washer in the faucet itself that’s gone bad this time; it’s the whole apparatus. You go to Lowe’s or Home Depot and wind up staring at the huge selection before you slack jawed because you have no idea what to choose. You need help.

The first thing you need to do is decide if you want to replace your bathroom faucet with the exact same style as before or go for something new. Replacing your faucet with the same style is the easiest route to go. You can remove the faucet from your sink and bring it with you to your local hardware store where you can buy the matching replacement. Of course if this isn’t possible or even feasible, your chore becomes a bit more complicated. There are many different types of mounting for your faucet and you will need to be aware of what type yours is before simply going and purchasing the new fixture. This is actually the hardest step in choosing your new faucet because the one that you really liked at the store may not work with the current configuration of your sink.

Common types of mounting include: widespread faucets that have individual hot and cold water handles; centerset faucets with one handle that controls both temperatures and covers the three holes that may be in your sink for mounting; mini-widespread which are the same as widespread faucets except positioned closer together; single-hole, similar to the centerset but filing in only one hole; and wall mounted, most commonly found on your bathtubs. Centerset and mini-widespread faucets are both designed for sinks with pre-drilled 4” holes. Some single-hole faucets include covers that allow you to use them on a sink with 4” pre-drilled holes. If you have one of the other types, though, you are best in choosing that same replacement.

Once you have determined what type of mount your sink has, your job of choosing a faucet comes down to aesthetics. Which finish will look best in your bathroom? This really is your personal preference and what will compliment the décor in your bath. It is also good to know whether or not your current faucet is a classical design (rounded edges, flowery embellishments) or modern (sharp angles, geometric embellishments). For example, if your bathroom is more of an antique decor, you may want to stick with a classical style, an everyday décor could use either, and somewhat futuristic décor would definitely go well with the modern styles.

You’ve picked out the faucet. You’re ready to go home and install it. Not yet. Have you considered your faucet’s finish? Bathroom fixtures come in a variety of finishes, from dull to shiny, chrome to wrought iron. Each finish has its pros and cons. Stainless steel and chrome are the most common finish available, but they scratch easily and show up fingerprints and water spots. Brass, which simulates gold and is very distinctive, rusts easier. And brushed nickel, which includes your flat finishes that do not show your fingerprints, is more expensive and its plating will eventually wear. The finish is personal choice, but know your options. Some faucets even offer a choice in the style of handles that come with it. But once again, choose something that will be a good match for your bathrooms décor.

The only thing left now is to take your new faucet home and install it. And then enjoy the compliments you will get on this most basic of bathroom items.

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