Sunday, November 30, 2008

Economic Ways to Build your Ideal Bathroom

By Tal Potishman

With the credit crunch burning holes in our wallets, the last thing we intend on doing is paying an arm and a leg on a new bathroom or even renovating an old bathroom with new and expensive bathroom furniture. Having an atmospheric place to relax after a hard day's work is always ideal, but for many of us, it is far too expensive a fantasy, especially in the current economic climate.

Yet a bathroom renewal does not have to be as costly as we would think. There are many economic strategies we can employ to create the bathroom of our dreams, while still managing to make ends meet. By looking at how mirrors, tiling, furniture and paint can be used in an economically viable manner, the bathroom of our dreams can, in fact, become a reality.

As various designers will point out, mirrors are very useful in creating an illusion of space. By placing full-length mirrors on opposite walls or on cupboard doors, a small bathroom can be made to look twice a large. The type of tiles and lighting you use can create a similar effect. By adopting big, warm lights, in addition to large-size tiles, your bathroom area can be made to look significantly bigger. Rather than spending excessive amounts of money on physically enlargening your bathroom, attempt to create an illusion of space instead.

If you need further physical space to place your bathroom furniture, there are still more financially feasible ways to create your desired space. Getting fitted or built-in furniture is, for example, an effective space-saver. Large standing cabinets take up a lot of room, so small, deep overhead and wall cupboards are ideal for freeing up floor space. Additionally, buying your own wooden planks on which to place items such as beauty products and towels, and hanging them on the wall, is also a useful means to clear up extra floor-space. Utilizing a space effectively is therefore essential for the creation of your ideal low-budget bathroom.

As colour is a large contributing factor that sets the atmosphere for any bathroom choosing the right type of wallpaper or paint is crucial. Painting a room yourself is the cheapest way in which to drastically alter the tone and create the ambience you seek.

There is no 'right' way to decorate, so choose your colours depending on the style you are after:

If you want to provide an illusion of space, the use of soft and pale colours is recommended (such as peach and off-white).

To create an atmosphere marked by peace and calm, it is advised to use cool colours (i.e. green or sky blue).

For a cosy, comfortable ambience, warm bright colours such as apple green, red, and orange are best used.

As is demonstrated by the above examples, a bathroom renovation does not necessarily have to be pricey, nor would you need to enlist the help of a high-budget professional designer. By changing the furniture, adding some mirrors, and splashing a fresh coat of paint on the walls, you can transform your bathroom into your ideal safe haven. - 17607

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