North Leeds Plumbing & Heating – Home Improvement and DIY Advice

Archive for the ‘Bathroom Accessories’ Category

Themes are always a good place to start when thinking about redesigning your bathroom. Whether your interest is in Art Deco, modernist painting or rustic idylls, deciding on a subject that interests you helps define exactly how you would like your new bathroom to look.

It also makes choosing such bathroom accessories as shower curtains, bathmats and knick-knacks so much easier.

Remember, choosing wall designs for your bathroom is just as important as choosing a bath or new shower unit. For example, if your passion is for Art Deco, then bathroom tiles in alternating black and white would seem to be the obvious solution.

For those enamoured with period design, wallpaper is the accessory of choice. Depending on your budget, wallpaper can be bought hand-blocked or mass manufactured. It comes in an astonishing range of patterns and prints, is easy to hang and even easier to keep clean.

Choose wallpaper that is specifically designed for the bathroom, as this will avoid problems with wrinkling. Most DIY shops stock a good selection. Create contrasting wall designs by hanging one section in deep gold and combine it with an opposing wall in dark green. Almost immediately the room will resemble a Regency or early Victorian bathroom.

Team the wallpaper design up with crimson towels and bathmats and perhaps a striped shower curtain. Add appropriate taps and a deep, ceramic sink. If possible, add a freestanding bath and you will have the perfect period bathroom.

It seems as if every day brings a new design or concept into our bathrooms. Interior designers and bathroom accessories have revolutionised the way we now look at and use the room.

Where once we would have had to visit a luxury hotel to enjoy a steam sauna or Jacuzzi, the option is now there for us to indulge ourselves in the comfort of our own home. Best of all such luxury comes at a very affordable price.

A good casing point is the sharp rise in domestic whirlpool installations. Particularly popular is the air-jet variety. This appliance streams air, at high pressure, directly into the bath. The user can relax for hours by adding fragrant oils or cleansing salts, an experience previously available only to the very rich and privileged.

But why stop there? Chromotherapy is another innovation that is fast becoming popular. This works by placing lights inside the bath, which are operated by a remote control unit to produce a variety of light patterns. By doing so, the manufacturers claim that the body experiences intense relaxation.

Aromatherapy works on roughly the same principle. Different fragrances drift around the bath, creating a unique atmosphere in which to contemplate the travails of modern day life. Users claim that the as the body relaxes, the mind becomes sharper and focused, so is better equipped to deal with whatever problems the next day throws up.

Finally, whirlpools are not only good for the body; they are also kind to the bath. Because of the constant circulation of water, unpleasant fungi and spores have a vastly reduced chance of building up.

The bathroom is a great place to express yourself. Forget bland, functional bathrooms and instead think creatively. Above all, enjoy the bathroom. After all, you spend as much time there as anywhere else in the home. Where else can you be on your own, relaxing, contemplating the absurdities of life?

If you really want to be radical, then completely alter the layout of your existing bathroom. Maximise space by moving the toilet and sink units around. More room means more comfort; exactly what a bathroom should be about.

Accessorise; ditch the old taps and rip up the tiles. Choose a theme for your new bathroom and stick to it, even if it means waiting a little while before you can afford it.

Have a look around the paint shops. Mix colours until you find one that exactly complements your personality and theme. Contrast colours; painting the walls in different shades makes for a vibrant atmosphere. Choose prints of your favourite paintings and frame them.

Add some plants. Many ferns, in particular, thrive in humid conditions.

Have you considered combination showerheads? Imagine standing in the shower cubicle, having strong jets of water pour over every part of your body. Shower curtains now come in a multitude of patterns and designs. Even the towels and bathmat could be swapped for something you have always wanted.

Have a collection of your favourite objects placed around the bath, mingling them with scented candles. Festoon the bath in lights, creating your very own chromotherapy experience. Use fragrant oils, pipe music into the bathroom and above all, enjoy it.

For many, the bathroom is the most important place in the house. After all, we probably spend as much time in the bathroom as in any other room, with the possible exception of the kitchen

It therefore gets a lot of use and that, unfortunately, means having to refurbish it on a fairly regular basis.

Obviously, refurbishment means spending money, which for most of us, is in short supply. However, giving the bathroom a lift, from time to time, need not cost the earth if a few simple rules are followed.

Firstly, buy a new set of towels to complement the décor of your bathroom. Try mixing different colours together. Any contrast well done makes an attractive focal point.

Tiles are expensive, whether they are on the floor or on the walls. Tile appliqués are an inexpensive way to brighten up your existing fixtures. Again, look to contrast and create your own patterns.

Mirrors can be made to stand out by adding a frame or painting over the existing one. Use bold colours to create a stand out effect. Changing the dull medicine cabinet for a bathroom mirror is also often worthwhile.

Get a new shower curtain. These are cheap and readily available in a wide range of distinctive colours. Match it with your towels and bathmat for a sophisticated look.

Even changing your taps will create a totally new appearance. Choose different metals, perhaps brass and complement them with the toilet fittings.

Art Deco is one of the great design movements of the last century. It epitomises glamour, wealth and intrigue. Its clean lines and geometric patterns create an uncluttered environment of space and elegance combined with functionality. What better design could there possibly be for your newly refurbished bathroom?

The first thing is to clear your bathroom of any unwanted items. Art Deco is a minimalist design. Walls should be as free of shelving as possible. Hanging items will also have to go.

Geometric patterns, often in black and white are the order of the day. Tiles should be used both on the floor and walls. Experiment with different patterns. Lay the tiles at right angles to each other or create diagonals. A splash of a strong bold colour creates focal points all over the bathroom.

Try laying a different pattern around a black-framed wall mirror.

Light fixtures should be of a contemporary look. Rustic or Victorian retro is definitely out, as is wood. Chrome fixtures, slim, elegant and functional, are the order of the day. And this applies to the bathroom taps and towel racks. Even soap dishes should be in bright chrome or matt black.

Artwork should reflect the spirit of the age. Black and white photographs and prints could be framed in stainless steel. Slim crystal glass vases, placed next to black ceramic items, also work particularly well.

Lighting should be used to slightly soften the effect. By all means use a bright white light over the mirror, but try blue or even green bulbs to relax when taking a long, hot bath.

Children’s bathrooms need to be fun. Kids love splashing in the bath, playing with their toys and generally making a mess.

Their bathroom should reflect their sense of fun. While you may want it as a place to relax in and while the time away, this is exactly what most children loathe. So forget the neutral tones, soft lighting and complemented bathroom accessories and start thinking colour and themes.

A bold Caribbean blue is a perfect colour for a children’s bathroom. Forget the ‘blue is for boys’ nonsense, blue is an ideal colour for both gender, especially when accompanied by a glossy white painted skirting board.

Make it into a nautical theme, fit shower curtains with pictures of boats, maybe. Rubber bathmats in white would continue the theme. Striped towels of blue and white could complement the blue shelves on which wooden toy boats could sit after use.

Alternatively, a bright spring green would suggest a natural outdoor theme, with frogs and birds stencilled on the bathroom walls. Bathmats in bright yellow would enhance the look, with towels to match.

Another good combination is dark-orange on one wall and pillar-box red on the other. Charcoal-grey or deep azure-blue shelving would be the ideal complement.

Remember that a lot of splashing is involved; so laminated flooring is a must. Soft, warm and easy to clean, it is a far better and safer bet than bathroom tiles or stone.

Play around with colours. Even splash painting looks good in a child’s bathroom. Remember it is their bathroom, not yours.

Plastic shower curtains are the stereotypical choice for most bathrooms. However, why not experiment with different patterns and colours? Too often, white curtains reduce the bathroom to antiseptic conformity, clashing with the rest of the accessories and quickly looking dirty and tatty.

Nowadays, shower curtains are manufactured in a range of fabrics. Have you thought about canvas as a relatively cheap alternative? Many stores now offer high-quality, beautifully coloured, durable canvas curtains. They are ideal in a steamy environment, as the material is wrinkle resistant. There is no reason to throw away your old plastic shower curtain, simply stitch it to the shower-facing side of the canvas curtain and make it completely waterproof.

Polyester is another fabric rapidly increasing in popularity. Like canvas, it is a woven material and feels fabulously tough and smooth. A definite bonus is its easy to clean finish and wide variety of prints and designs, a real benefit for a household with children.

Two other materials enjoying a resurgence with interior designers and the fashion conscious are silk and satin. Both give your bathroom a sense of style and decadence. Anyone who has ever shopped for fabrics will know what a stunning the range of colours and finishes these materials are available in.

Although not waterproof, a relatively good-quality plastic or polyester shower curtain can easily be attached to the fabric and will instantly create a lovely warm atmosphere to any bathroom.

So, with a little sense of adventure, your bathroom could be transformed from a dull, functional washing room into an oasis of style and comfort.

Whether you are thinking of selling your house and want to maximise your profit or are just fed up with staring at the same tired fixtures as you lie in the bath, brightening up your bathroom should be a priority.

What’s more it need not cost a fortune. Have a good look around the bathroom. Isolate areas that need attention and then go to work compiling a list of trouble spots.

Top of the list is sure to be those boring fixtures. Things such as vanity unit doorknobs and hinges can be easily and cheaply changed. You will be amazed at how much difference such small items can make.

Give the room a lick of paint. Change the colour scheme. It will take a weekend at most. Think vibrant colour. Be experimental. Paint no longer costs the earth and it will be like having a completely new bathroom.

Painting not your thing? Then try wallpaper. Create a mural or alternate different patterns on each wall. Bathroom wallpaper is easy to hang and wrinkle resistant. Choose from a huge variety of patterns and designs.

Throw out those tired looking towels. Invest in some of the heavy styles in plush. Again, choose something colourful that complements your bathroom walls.

Don’t forget to have look at your shower curtain. When was the last time it was changed? Perhaps pick one in a fabric and line it with vinyl. There is really no need to keep buying the cheap and nasty plastic ones from the local supermarket.

After having finally installed that new bath or shower enclosure, bought new towels and bathmats, retiled the floor and painted the walls and ceiling, some final finishing touches will add your own sense of individuality and style to your perfect bathroom.

Why not display special memorabilia along a shelf along wall? This could take the form of anything, from framed family photographs to holiday souvenirs. Glass jars could be easily utilised as receptacles for bath salts or aromatic oils.

Fresh flowers or ferns make a wonderful addition to any bathroom. Hunt down some unusual vases in charity shops or market stalls. Even old window boxes make a delightful fixture.

Why not remove the door of the linen cupboard and replace it with a tapestry screen? Alternatively, cover it with a made-to-measure painting or embroidery.

Instead of paint, try staining bathroom cabinets. This way, you can recreate a genuine rustic feel. Wood stain comes in a myriad of different shades, so take your time while choosing.

Trailing light bulbs along a runner at the top of the wall produces a marvellously atmospheric tone. Perhaps add a table lamp, if you have sufficient space, with a specially designed lampshade.

Adding tiles around bathroom mirrors is another good way to highlight a focal point. Try painting the frame in a gold or silver finish or place the light so it reflects off the mirror.

Whatever you choose to do, make certain that the finishing touches do not let down the bathroom you have so lovingly and expensively created.

Bathrooms are no longer considered to be only utility spaces. There is as much scope to design your bathroom as any other room in the house. Indeed, apart from the kitchen, the bathroom is probably the room in which you will spend most of your time. And whether you have a small or a large bathroom, remodelling will still seem a daunting task.

Have a good look around at bathroom accessories and fittings. Traditionally, white, biscuit or bone colours have proved popular. However, investigate more contemporary designs in chrome or soft brass. These add clean, smooth lines to soft and gentle curves – particularly combined with hand-blown glass sinks or vanity units.

Although steel baths have traditionally been the favourite choice of most households, acrylic baths are more versatile, easy to clean, and maintain heat more effectively.

Try corner shelves and corner showers. These are a great way to increase space in even the smallest bathroom. Hanging towel rails, medicine cabinets with built-in mirrors and round, square or even rectangular wash basins, are all part of contemporary design and innovation.

Natural tiling on both the floor and walls harmonises the bathrooms and makes for a clean uncluttered look. Focus on simplicity with subtle details. Experiment with different tile sizes and colours. Create borders to highlight fixtures such as the bath or shower stall. Install effective lighting focusing on parts of the bathroom that you would particularly like highlighting.

Remember, you will only need to redesign your bathroom two or three times in its life. It is better to get it right the first time.