Home Remodeling San Diego

Bathroom Remodeling Ideas - Brighten And Freshen That Gloomy Old Bath

Increasing the size of a bathroom as a strategy in remodeling is rarely an option. While there may be ways to do that, it would usually require a major investment on your part. Trying to move a wall requires determining if it is a part of the structure that is required for load bearing. The placement, age and condition of the plumbing is another potentially costly factor. So to keep costs reasonable it is best to look at your bath as it is and try to improve the perception of space rather than actually increasing the space.

During a recent remodel we were able to take a small bathroom space and make it appear larger by using materials that enhance the perception of size. In the past baths frequently were put together to be practical and useful with a focus on looking more charming. Now, we want to make our bathrooms look and feel larger and that we can feel comfortable in. Let?s explore some methods of accomplishing these goals without breaking the bank.

(I) Floors and Walls

The first, easiest and least expensive way to start is to look at the floors and wall in your bath with a critical eye. You are looking for ways to increase the perception of space with materials and color. Using soft, pale colors on the floors and walls will enhance the feeling of spaciousness, making the bath look and feel larger than it is. If your bath has carpet on the floor replace it with new vinyl, laminates or ceramic. You may want to remove ceramic from the walls and paint them. A nice touch is to use wallpaper border at waist high with different paints above and below. The border and accessories can be done in bold colors for accent. Accessorize with as much mirror as the bath will handle, painting a stencil on the largest wall (if this reflects in the mirror all the better) or maybe a painting of a spacious outdoor scene. All of these ideas will help give a feeling of spaciousness.

(II) Fixtures

Sinks, stools, showers and baths can make a big difference. In the remodel I mentioned above we used a rounded shower with glass doors to increase spatial perception. There are many neo-angle shower stalls available to fit different layouts. Replacing an outdated vanity with a pedestal sink will help a lot and home improvement centers have a great selection of styles to choose from. Make sure to use light colors on all your fixtures ? keep in mind dark colors will stop the eye and make the room appear smaller. Again use bold, dark colors in accents and accessories.

(III) Using Light

Keep this rule in mind ? more light equals the perception of more space. If natural light is available see if you can increase the size of the source. Replacing the current window with a larger one will add light and also give you an opportunity to add a more energy efficient window. Maybe you can add a skylight, this is an excellent way to bring in more light and increase the feeling of spaciousness. CAUTION: Changing a window and adding a skylight are structural changes and are likely to be costly. Also skylights not properly installed can leak and cause significant damage.

Of course if natural light is not an alternative you can change the lighting in your bath to add more light. One method is selective use of recessed cans. These fixtures can be pointed in specific directions to add light. One note here, too many recessed fixtures could cause a small bath to heat up quickly. Light bars over the mirror with 6-8 bulbs offer generous light in a small bath. Again I always recommend spending some time touring home improvement centers and lighting stores for ideas.

You can see from the few things we?ve discussed above that your bathroom need not be dull and gloomy. A little creativity, elbow grease and a minimum investment of time and money you can brighten and cheer it up and at the same time increase the perception of size. Have Fun!!!

Greg has been associated with residential construction, remodeling and consulting for nearly 30 years. See other Remodeling tips and strategies at http://www.2LEFTTHUMBSRemodeling.com. You will also find links to our http://www.2leftthumbsdecorating.com, Home Improvement and Maintenance articles.

ANDERSON REPLACEMENT WINDOWS

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