Often referred to as “the smallest room in the house,” the bathroom provides a unique space for the home decorator. The intimate size of the room allows for design elements to impart maximum impact. A quick walk through a home improvement warehouse or a home supply store will reveal a dizzying array of sinks, bathroom accessories and other bathroom decor. While we would all love to design the bathroom of our dreams, for most of us a complete overhaul is not viable. This, however, should not stop you from looking for ways to spruce up your powder room. The following are a few key areas to consider in your bath design ideas.

The Big Ones
Other than floors and walls, the sink, tub/ shower and toilet are the bathroom pieces with the longest life spans. Though it may seem daunting, replacing large items, such as sinks, is not impossible for the do-it-yourself home improver. When making expensive and long-term purchases, remember to look for neutral colors. Though a fire engine red toilet might seem like fun now, neutral colors allow easier changes in design later on. Staying away from vibrant colors will also increase the resale value of your home if you choose to put it on the market.

Let Some Light In
A simple change to the way in which your bathroom is lit can cause the room to take on an entirely different feel. New lighting can allow the porcelain and metal of your bathroom to shine. This alone can make the room feel new without having to replace a single item from your bathroom accessories. If you have used any interesting painting techniques good lighting is needed to make sure it is visible. You might also consider spotlighting a particularly interesting piece of bathroom decor.

Don’t Forget the Walls
With all the items available to place in your bathroom, do not forget to take a look at your walls. A few wall decorations or a fresh coat of paint could be all that the room needs to feel new again. There are many painting techniques that can be applied to the walls of the bathroom. Sponge painting is always a favorite. In this technique a sponge brush is used to dab paint on the walls creating an interesting texture. The bathroom can be a great place to display family photos or favorite works of art but keep in mind that the moisture and heat will likely take their toil on these eventually. Do not forget that wall decorations need not be limited to pictures and art. A wall clock will not only add an interesting design accent but also keep everyone on time during those fast paced mornings.

Use Your Other Senses
While looking for new and interesting ways to accessorize it is important to remember there is more to design than just physical bathroom decor. A basket of fresh flowers or a dish with sage smudge sticks will take your bathroom design to new heights by including the sense of smell. Nothing says pampered better than a warmed towel. There are many techniques available to heat bath towels. Though there are great devices made specifically for this purpose, simply making space for a microwave can instantly give you the option stepping out of the shower and into a warmed towel. Many people also like to consider their sense of sound while designing bathrooms. Radios, televisions and stereos have quickly become widely used bathroom accessories. Because these appliances use electricity it is important to position them far from the water sources. Alternately, many companies produce waterproof sound sources specifically for the bathroom.

Nowadays your shower does not have to be the conventional type wrought with a standard shower head and the tinted glass sliding door. In fact many interior designers suggest adding a soothing spa shower to your bathroom. You can also complement your steam shower with other features such as design lighting, bathroom tile, and cabinetry, and your bathroom will not only be a relaxing spa but it will be more functional.

The Shower Head

The personality of a shower can be accented by the type of shower head that you choose. There are many shapes and sizes that will fit your needs. With the newest Immersion technology, shower heads come in many varieties such as massage jets, steam shower heads, hydrotherapy shower heads with adjustable body jets , rainfall shower sprays, and thermostatic valves for temperature control. Many shower head features come with an on/off valve control, adjustable body jets, thermostatic valve control, water control diverters, and even some that are self-cleaning.

Shower Head Design

Whether you desire elegant, country, or a modern design, there are a lot of styles and textures to choose from that can personalize your bathroom. There are unique shower heads made of chrome, brushed nickel , antique nickel, oil rubbed bronze, anodized aluminum, wrought iron, antique bronze, granite, and waterproof wood-like fixtures. There are also many types of shower heads such as vertical wall mounts, hand held shower heads, some with directional heads, and some with lever handles. With the latest designs you can also choose whether to mount the shower head back-to-wall or in the corner.

Bathroom Tile

Bathroom tile showers are easy to maintain and definitely made to last. The hard yet smooth surface makes it easy to keep clean and wipe down brilliantly. Ceramic tile does not fade, stain, or scratch; making it easy to maintain and lasting for years.

There are a variety of tile designs that are available, making it easy to match your décor and style. Tile comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, and color. Ceramic bathroom tile comes in a range of fine art such as ancient Tuscany, African, Georgian, Asian, Country, Seafaring, and Floral; each are unique and beautifully crafted. As well, colors come in many varieties to fit your decorative needs, even white comes in many shades. There are unlimited bathroom tile design ideas out there and the hardest part is picking which one you will be happy with.

Cabinetry

Along with choosing the ideal bathroom tile you can pick from a variety of shower accessory shelves. Shower shelves can be for functional purposes such as for bathroom items or for displaying a favorite plant that thrives on steam. Shower accessory shelves come in many sizes and widths, they can be two to four tiered, rounded, square, or oval shape.

Lighting Design

When designing a bathroom, special lighting is a excellent addition. Lighting design can be for enhancing a dark corner, accenting your décor, heating the bathroom, and updating to more efficient light. Lighting comes is a variety of fixtures such as ceiling lamps, wall lamps, waterproof shower lights, and also different colored fluorescent lamps. There is a wide variety of shapes and sizes when choosing what you need for your bath remodel, some lights can even be custom made to fit a special design.

When installing any light design it is usually a good time to add fans for ventilation; most ventilation fans are on the same outlet as your light. As well, there are a variety of fans that have adjustable speeds, timing devices, and can be set to come on when you turn on a light.

Other Accessories

With today’s technology, showers can come with many types of electronic equipment. Along with a steam shower and invigorating jets you can enjoy an FM radio or CD and relax to the music of your choosing. As well for you for convenience, there are hand free phones and microphones available while taking a steam shower. For an added bonus to your spa shower you can get a steam generator, remote control, and even a foot massage.

New Found Spa Bathroom

With the extensive selections of spa showers that are at hand you can create the ideal living space the way you imagine it. The decorative choices for creating a perfect spa bathroom are endless. Spa showers come in a variety of shapes and sizes and the quality of the craftsmanship will be enjoyed for years to come. Your design is what you want, whether it be extravagant, picturesque, or inspirational. Your spa shower will bring hours of calm relaxation that will leave you rejuvenated.