Bathroom Basics: Make Yours Stylish and Functional

Bathrooms are one of the most important and used rooms in your home. Often, the importance of good bathroom design goes overlooked and is only thought of when homeowners consider renovating or upgrading prior to listing their homes for sale.  But as anyone with a beautiful and functional bathroom can tell you – it is so worth it.  So why wait? You can be enjoying the bath of your dreams now! Renovating and designing a new bath can be daunting but with the right professional help and a clear vision, you can be weeks away from luxuriating in a gorgeous new bathroom.

Looks & Style

The look and style of each bathroom should reflect your taste but also should consider the people who will be using it. Is it the primary bath part of an owner’s suite, for guests only or is it intended for children? Beyond who will use it, consider the overall design style and message you wish to convey from the bath’s décor. Traditional, modern, transitional, and farmhouse styles determine key bathroom elements such as vanity style and color, plumbing fixtures, sinks, mirrors, lighting and more. If it's a traditional look you prefer you may choose drawered vanities with beautifully framed mirrors and light sconces, whereas if it’s a more modern look you desire, wall hung vanities with vessel sinks and back lit mirrors may be more appealing. Primary baths typically include luxurious features similar to those found in five-star hotel and spas. At the other end of the spectrum are kids’ baths which can include fun colors and whimsical features. Farmhouse bathrooms are increasingly more popular and often feature black plumbing fixtures, distressed wood vanities, open shelving and other rustic elements.

Function & Storage

Function and storage are key considerations for your bath design. Do you want heated floors or towel bars? Consider storage needs for towels, drawers for blow-dryers and curling irons and extra toiletries and separate shelving and closets.   Double sink vanities are often preferred in primary baths and in shared baths. The shower and bath experience should also be considered as there are so many wonderful plumbing options that go beyond your traditionally mounted shower head.  Rainfall shower heads, hand-held shower heads, massaging jets and steam baths are all options. Showers should include shelving and niches for storing your bath products and proper seating and grab bars if needed. Lastly you need to make sure you have the perfect bath accessories for hanging your robe and towels. Function and storage complement each other to help form the foundation of a successful bath design.

Cleanability

The ability to easily care for and keep your bath clean is one of the most important aspects of a good bath design. An array of products can help clean your bathroom but how can your design selections play a role? Consider larger sized tiles in your design with small grout lines so you have more surface area and less grout to clean. Porcelain tile is easier to maintain than natural stone and doesn't need to be sealed annually. Large porcelain slab sized products are also available. Using stone slab pieces on those areas that typically get standing water such as knee wall caps and thresholds looks beautiful and is easier to maintain. Incorporating a hand-held in the shower makes cleaning a lot easier.  Using a darker grout on shower floors where hard water stains may be an issue could be a perfect solution. Baths that are easy to clean are easy to enjoy! Keeping these useful tips in mind and working with a talented team of interior designers can help make the dreams of a luxurious and functional bathroom a reality while also avoiding the nightmare of renovation project mistakes. Allow J&L Interiors and their expert team of design professionals to help you create the bath you’ve always wanted – to enjoy now and for years to come.