What would you say is the most important room in your home? Many people would say the kitchen, and others would choose the lounge. For those who are exercise obsessed they may decide on a home gym, and for those who work from home, a home office. But when you think about it more deeply, most people come around to exactly the same answer: the bathroom. This is the place that is many people’s refuge when they are sick, want to relax, or prepare for a big date. Your bathroom should be a sanctuary of calm and a place where you can cleanse – and yet in many homes it is just a bit of an afterthought, squished into the home as though the designers almost forgot about it, and with little design features to recommend it.
If you have the chance to completely redesign your bathroom, then you have an amazing opportunity to do something really great with a room that is absolutely vital in your home. So how do you go about doing that? Well, first you need to think about the practical stuff. No one likes to, but in a bathroom especially there is absolutely no way of getting round it. There are only going to be so many places within your existing bathroom that you can move things to because of the plumbing, so talk to an expert about whether or not it is even possible for you to create your dream design. You do not want to get too invested in your masterpiece for someone to then bring it all crashing down because it’s simply not possible to put the shower there.
Next you need to think about light. One of the most depressing types of bathroom is one that does not get enough light, and if you have previously been in that position then you need to work your hardest to make sure that you can bring as much light in as possible. That may mean a skylight, or some special light bulbs that imitate daylight; whatever works for you. You can also help give the illusion of light by keeping the color scheme of your bathroom very light – not necessarily white, but steer clear of anything too dark and heavy. It will just make your bathroom feel incredibly small and claustrophobic, and that is the last thing that you want.
Lastly, start to think about little day to day touches that can really inspire you. Put the towel rail right by the shower so that you can always grab warm towels when you get out. If you have children, why not put a star chart near to their toothbrush so that they can feel good about brushing their teeth twice a day (a recommendation from San Diego dentist Dr Paige Woods)? Why not have a special rail over the bath so that you can eat whilst you are in there? It is these fun touches that will make your bathroom completely unique, and something that you can be proud of for many years to come.