Posted on: June 17, 2009
Dream in Themes
Go green, go cheap, go color crazy - your bathroom is waiting for its makeover
By Morgan McMillan
CTW Features
Image courtesy Bed Bath & Beyond
If everything in your house matches perfectly, except for that bathroom you keep trying to hide from your guests, there are some easy - and affordable - things you can do to punch up its design. And, whatever you're thinking, there's probably a theme that will fit.
"Everybody wants their bathroom to work well," says Evalyn Ashmore, designer and owner of Design Era, Inc., just outside of Chicago. It's just a matter of "how to use the space."
Lean to Green
People are sensitive to green movements. They make use of recycled tile, wood mats and countertops made of recycled materials, Ashmore says. "Any time you think of green, think of 're' : recycle, repurpose, renewable resources."
Many other designers are so into the green movement that it's all they use. "We focus all our products to be green: hard wood, recycled glass, tile [and] LED lighting because it's the most energy efficient," says Cathy Nason, owner of bay area-based Spirit Interior Design.
Sweet and Simple
Generally speaking, says Nason, it's always a popular choice for designers to keep themes, "simple, organic, with clean lines, well-lit and functional." From solid color use, to redecorating around mirrors or including some mild texture, neatness and simplicity has great appeal.
"Line, form, color, texture: These are the ingredients you want to work with. If you want to play up one, play down the others," says Ashmore. "If you play down the others, it makes [one] start to become more obvious."
Now, about that budget
As for your how much you should be spending, "Start with looking at things," Ashmore recommends, before you pick a set dollar amount. It could be just as easy as replacing an old toilet.
If not, try changing out hardware - Nason recommends chrome - paint the walls or the cabinets, add mirrors, buy new hanging towels or towel racks for decoration.
Whatever you decide to do, "theming" can be a fun and easy project. And it certainly brings a new meaning to cleaning up the bathroom.