{"id":97751,"date":"2019-09-21T09:00:34","date_gmt":"2019-09-21T13:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bhgre.com\/bhgrelife\/?p=97751"},"modified":"2019-09-13T17:53:19","modified_gmt":"2019-09-13T21:53:19","slug":"bath-restoration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bhgre.com\/bhgrelife\/bath-restoration\/","title":{"rendered":"Create More Space and Freshen Up Dated Bathrooms with Remodels"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Since bathrooms are usually among the smallest\nrooms in the house, unless you\u2019re doing a complete tear out and replace, a\nsimple bath restoration can usually be accomplished in a weekend. That\u2019s great\nnews for folks looking to create more space and freshen up dated bathrooms with\na remodel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some suggestions for bath restorations<\/a> that don\u2019t cost an arm and a leg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frame Your\nMirror<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Wall-mounted, flat mirrors are great for\nreflecting light and making a small room look bigger. However, by framing the mirror<\/a>, either with tiles or traditional\nwooden framing materials, you can make the ordinary look extraordinary. Since\nmirrors are a large feature of most bathrooms, this is probably the biggest\nbang you\u2019ll get for your buck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Create a\nBathroom Gallery<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Whether it\u2019s a series of three whimsical\nprints identically framed or a larger collection of small art carefully\narranged on a single wall, art in the bathroom is something you and your guests\nwill both appreciate. There\u2019s never been a rule that bathroom art has to be tacky,\nor that bathrooms have to be solely functional. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Toilet<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Paint<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Try painting a wall or two in wide neutral\nstripes (two shades of the same color, for instance, on two walls that meet at\na corner). Neutrals, soothing blues, greens, and grays work well, but the color\nyou choose will have to work with your existing (or new) linens. Better to let\nyour linens provide a pop of color than your walls. Also, try to avoid dark and\nshouty colors. Bubble gum pink is rarely a good idea in a bathroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you like your wall color, perhaps you could\npaint your vanity. With all the humidity in bathrooms (even if the fan is used\nreligiously before, during, and after every shower), many wood vanities start\nto look shabby while they\u2019re still perfectly functional. Pick an accent color\nthat works with your linens and any other furniture you may have in the room.\nThat includes shelving, ottomans, or small linen closets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Install\nTowel Hooks<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you have a tub that\u2019s separate from your\nshower enclosure, the space above the tub is almost always wasted space. It can\nbe the perfect spot to install a series of towel hooks (one for every family\nmember, plus an extra or two for guests) so towels can both dry properly and\nadd a decorative element. Invest in some thick bath sheets and you\u2019ll be able\nto admire them every time you enter the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Bathroom<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Add a Plant<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A huge, healthy plant will not only add a shot\nof verdant green to your bathroom, it will create three-dimensional visual\ninterest. If your bathroom isn\u2019t big enough for a plant stand, there are lots\nof wall- or ceiling-mounted plant hangers you can use instead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your bathroom isn\u2019t very bright, look for\nplants that thrive in diffused light. Bonus: since many houseplants are\nactually tropical, they\u2019ll love the bathroom humidity. Remember to take\ncuttings regularly so you don\u2019t have to get out your machete to hack your way\nthrough the jungle to the tub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Install a\nStandalone Linen Cupboard and Laundry Hamper<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Built-in linen closets are great things to\nhave, but their placement in hallways is often problematic. If you\u2019ve forgotten\nyour towel or realized you need a clean one after you\u2019re in the bath or shower,\na wet footprint trek down the hall is the last thing you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look for a small but tall standalone cupboard\nwith both open shelving and cupboard doors and store your linens out in the\nopen where you can easily grab them when needed. Use the cupboard space for a\nlaundry hamper to try to catch as many dirty clothes in one place as you can.\nIt will make the laundry round-up a lot easier. You can also store bathroom\ncleaning materials in the cupboard space so they\u2019re handy when needed without\nannouncing their presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Toilet<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Add\nShelving<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While premade over-toilet shelving fixtures\nmay solve many bathroom storage issues, they tend to be functional rather than\ndecorative. You can probably get more mileage from a couple of small floating\nshelves above the toilet and add open seagrass baskets to hold bath bombs,\nlotion, leave-in conditioner, hair spray, mousse, gel, curlers\u2014all the things\nthat end up clattering to the floor when you try to extract them from a\ntoo-small space that\u2019s jam packed with other occasionally used items. The\nshelves can complement or contrast with your bathroom\u2019s color scheme, depending\non the impact you want to make.\n\nWhatever you decide\nto do, take advantage of every bit of wall space and every new hook, holder,\ncupboard and drawer organizer you can find. Your bath restoration should leave\nyou feeling you\u2019ve got a new room in the house where form and function meet.\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"