5 Steps Towards a Beautiful Bathroom Makeover

Although renovating areas of your home such as the kitchen and bathrooms may seem complicated – it really isn’t. And, because updating these rooms in particular can create instant additional equity, you will be increasing the value of the home as well.

Step 1: Evaluating the Cost

The first step in doing any type of renovations – especially those that will include work done on plumbing or electric – is to determine your budget. Depending on the amount you wish to spend, a bathroom makeover can be as simple as a new coat of paint, or as extensive as a full gut and rehab.

Step 2: Laying Out the New Style

Once you have established your budget, your layout will be the next step in the bathroom renovation project. Here is where you choose style, color, and overall tone of the room. Once completed, it is the layout and style that will tie the room together and project the theme you are seeking.

This also includes the basics of exactly where you will put or keep the toilet, sink, shower, and / or bathtub. Some examples of layout are the square – where the plumbed pieces are set up on all four of the bathroom walls, and the u-shape – where the pieces are against three walls in the room.

Step 3: Deciding on Finishes for Floor, Walls, and Cabinets

The finish that you choose will apply to the actual bathroom surfaces. This includes everything from the floor, the walls, and the cabinets. Here is where you will choose the color and style of the room’s look and feel.

Be sure to be mindful of your budget in this area because some of the higher end options such as stone or wood floors could be quite costly, whereas vinyl or concrete will be less pricy. In addition, you will also need to decide upon the countertops and the hardware for sink and cabinet handles. As with the style step, you will continue in tying the room together depending upon the matching cabinet hardware and other finishes that are chosen.

Step 4: Picking the Fixtures

Although you have already decided where your fixtures – such as toilet, sink, and bathtub – will be, now is the time to actually pick them out. There is a wide variety to choose from today in this area. Oftentimes these fixtures are chosen based on look as well as functionality. For example, some of the newer toilet models today offer environmentally friendly and water saving options.

Step 5: Hiring the Contractor (or Beginning the Work Yourself)

Based on your budget – and your remodeling talents – the final step entails deciding on who will actually perform the work. If you decide to use a contractor, be sure to check references. Oftentimes you can get an idea of the contractor’s feedback by going to the website of the Better Business Bureau.

Here you can typically find any complaints that have been filed as well as how – or if – they were resolved. In any case, be sure to choose a contractor that has a good reputation and experience in the kind of work you want done.

Kelli McDonald is a hard working writer for many blogs about interior design and home furnishing. She also works with LuxeYard on changing the way people approach home furniture shopping

12 Lighting Tips for Bathrooms

Bathrooms are an area of your home that you can be really creative with. From unique lighting fixtures designed specifically for the space to window placements, creating the perfect bathroom is easy and fun. Below are 12 lighting tips for bathrooms that will help you get the most from the space. Will you use these lighting tips when designing the bathrooms in your home?

• Don’t be afraid of letting natural light in. Natural light is important all throughout your home, including the bathroom. There are ways that you can add natural light in without risking your privacy. Choose to add in a skylight or a frosted glad window. Don’t be afraid to let natural light in.

• Overly bright lights will make you want to avoid the space. When choosing the lights for your bathroom, be sure that you choose the right color of light. You don’t want your bathroom to be overly bright. On the other hand, you don’t want it to be overly dark either.

• Make sure your fixtures aren’t too big for the bathroom. Unless you are making the fixture the focal point of the bathroom, avoiding choosing lighting that is too big for the space. This can make your bathroom look smaller and off scale.

• Arrange lights around the mirror. Many people choose to add lighting to their bathroom vanity mirrors. Whether you choose to add fixtures above the mirrors or on the sides, this is a great place to get really creative with your fixtures while providing you with the lighting you need in the area.

• Dimmer switches will allow you to adjust the atmosphere of the room. For those times when you want to relax in the bathtub, put a dimmer switch on each of your lights so that you can adjust the mood and atmosphere in the room. This is a really inexpensive option in creating the atmosphere that you like.

• Decorative fixtures may not give off enough light. Remember that when you choose your fixtures, you want to choose a variety for your bathroom. If you choose decorative glass, you will want to ensure that the glass isn’t too dark for the room. While they do look pretty in a bathroom, you may be forced to use a variety of lighting if you go with glass fixtures that have a dark design.

• Recessed lighting is great above tubs and in showers. The bathroom is the perfect place for recessed lighting. Take advantage of what recessed lighting can do for tubs and showers.

• Closet lighting. If you closet is located in your bathroom, you will want to be sure to add in some lighting. Many people mistakenly feel that they will not need the extra light. You will! Go ahead and add fixtures into your bathroom closet.

• Laboratory lighting. There are many creative ways to add light to the space. You can under light your vanity or add lighting behind your wall mirrors. Discover the many interesting ways that light can be used in your bathroom that isn’t necessarily traditional.

• Task lighting. Is there an area of your bathroom that you will use more frequently than others? Perhaps you know the location where make-up will be applied. It is important to focus on properly lighting these areas. Add in task lighting where needed.

• Accent lighting is important. Does your bathroom have accent lighting? Accent lighting is what will give your bathroom the classy, modern look. Create the look that you are going for by adding in accent lighting.

• Do what you love. The last tip for lighting your bathroom is to do what you love! Spare no expense when it comes to creating the bathroom of your dreams. Properly lighting your bathroom can be expensive but it will be worth it.

Listed above are 12 tips for lighting your bathroom. Task lighting, accent lighting, and dimmer switches will help you create the look and ambiance that you are going for. Take your bathroom to the next level by having professional lighting. Seek help from someone who is experienced in the subject to help get the most from the fixtures that you choose for your bathroom.

Shower Accessories For An Enjoyable Showering Experience

Shower Accessories definitely add value and comfort to your showering space. A shower area that is furnished with all the required and useful shower accessories provides a more enjoyable experience. Apart from increasing the usefulness and comfort, proper showering accessories also make your shower area look stylish and chic.

Various shower accessories required for a complete and beautiful shower area :-

Shower curtain rails and rings:

The shower curtain rails and rings are very important shower accessories to create a good showering space. Good quality curtain rails and rings allow easy sliding of the curtains. Thus a tug of war before and after every shower just to pull the curtain won’t be required anymore.

Shower curtain:

There are a variety of shower curtains available in the market. They come in materials like textile, PVC and PEVA etc. Themed shower curtains for various styles of shower enclosure and showering spaces are also available. They spruce up the place and are one of important aspects of your bathroom interiors.

Shower rose and other shower spares:

The showering accessories like the clamps, riser kits and shower rose define the styling of the area. A shower head or a rose is one of the most important shower accessory as it is responsible for providing an ample and enjoyable showering.

Shower racks:

Whether it is the shower or any other place for that matter, the most important aspect of any interior is the storage. A storage space in the shower makes it clutter free and pleasant to use. Shower rack and shower caddy occupies very less space providing the optimum facility and a handy reach for shower gels, shampoos and other toiletries.

Shower pumps:

What is a shower without proper water pressure? However elaborate and luxurious shower you have but a low water pressure will ruin your showering. If you have low water flow in the bathroom it is very advisable to use shower pumps that will give the required pressure and you will be able to enjoy an ample downpour.

Spruce up your Bathroom Cheaply

When we think of sprucing up a home bathroom we think of spending money on remodeling. This isn’t always the case. With a standard sized home bathroom, you can spruce that up in a fairly cheap way without spending too much money.

Most problems with bathrooms are the clutter. They are so small and we usually have so much stuff in our bathrooms we simply don’t have space for it. This is when bathroom fixtures come in handy. Bathroom fixtures are cheap and also spacious. They allow you to hang items and everyday bathroom items off the floor or above counters. A simple mug or container on your bathroom counter can be enough to spruce up your bathroom and add color to thing such as a small cup to hold your tooth brushes or your razors.

A colorful shower curtain can also be a cheap way to spruce up the bathroom by adding effect. Even the color your bathroom is painted can add so much to your bathroom’s appearance and that usually isn’t expensive to paint as well. Finding a nice mat color or pastel can be easy and then adding a nice floral stencil around the edges of the top and base of your bathroom walls can change even the smallest of bathrooms.

Some bathrooms have an open area under the sink. This area is where we store things but sometimes it can look cluttered and even very messy. Just by adding a few colorful containers to organize your bathroom items can make your bathroom appear bigger and even more colorful. An everyday bathroom is usually painted in a sterile white that can be rather drab and even become easily dirtied and thus making the bathroom appear more of a mess than it really is. A color scheme can be very important when it comes to adding some spruce to this most underrated area of the home.

Most of these suggestions will use only a minimal amount of cash. Most times we have extra items lying around our home which we can find and move to use in other areas such as the bathroom. Even a couple of scented candles can add some extra kick to your bathroom. Sometimes a nice fresh smell can add to the size of a room or even make the appearance seem more colorful. Just step back and look at your bathroom and imagine what can be different or what can make it look more cheerful. The answer might be simpler than you think.

Mark Gregory recommends West Radiators, who offer TRV radiator valves and radiator valves and a number of other services.

To Flush or not to Flush

A popular urban myth circulated in 20th century New York that alligators lived in the dark damp sewers under the city. The myth states that vacationing New Yorkers in Florida would often buy baby alligators as pets for their children. These animals were taken care of as pets but when their cuteness was replaced by sharp claws and teeth as they grew, they were flushed down the toilet. The myth continues, saying that these flushed-down gators survived and bred, and that their descendants would sometimes encounter unfortunate sewer workers. Another version of the myth is that alligators are replaced with goldfish where they have mutated into species that can live in the polluted sewers of the city.

Internal plumbing is probably one of the greatest inventions of man. Without it, you can bet that we will be knee-deep in human waste everytime we go out. It is said that when the French constructed the sewers under Paris, the modern age was born. Before that people would throw out waste water on the street and wait for the rain to wash them down. Without a systematic sewerage system, there will be houses like those made in India where slaves would come to the back of the house to clean up the excrements of their masters.

With this in mind, people should have the discipline and a little common sense not to flush down things other than human waste everytime they go in the bathroom. Here are some things that are commonly flushed down that shouldn't be.

1. Cigarette Butts – Smoking while doing number 2 can sometimes be a relaxing Zen moment alone. But please bear in mind that cigarette butts are not biodegradable and can clog up the piping plus they contain chemicals that will add to the already polluted waste waters in the sewers

2. Sanitary Napkins – Obviously, this is a flushing sin committed by women. It's best to wrap them up and throw these in a nearby waste basket.

3. Hair – Although biodegradable and fairly resistant to chemicals, human hair does not decompose because of the proteins present in its structure. So when shaving in the bathroom, please be mindful to throw them out in a bin; other people might not want to see hair swimming in the toilet bowl. Also, a couple of strands may not factor much but they accumulate over time and may clog up the pipes.

4. Condoms – Granted, your lady friend may want to cuddle with you after doing the deed so you need to be back in bed ASAP. But does it really take that long to find a waste basket where you can throw them out?

5. Cotton Swabs – Be mindful of the type of buds which have plastic sticks for bodies. The cotton will decompose, but the sticks will take a much longer time.

These are some of the common things that people flush down the toilet. Either by habit or some people are just too lazy to thrown them in a compost bin. People should learn to be responsible and have the discipline to be mindful of the harmful effects of flushing things other than their own waste materials.

While there are the “normal” things being flushed down the toilet, there are some weird things being dumped in there as well, sometimes either by accident or just plain stupidity. Here are some of them:

Mobile phones – An estimated seven million units are flushed down in toilets. It may be safe to think that most of the time phones are flushed by accident because it's just weird spending hundreds of dollars for a smartphone only to throw it in the loo just for kicks. Plus you don't want to pick up a phone from a toilet bowl and use it again to call someone. That just begs for an ear infection.
Goldfish – Children flush down their dead goldfish all the time. The sadistic ones lets live ones swim around for a few seconds before watching them being sucked down.

Whole rolls of toilet paper – As if flushing down tissue papers instead of throwing them out is bad, some people just takes it to another level by flushing rolls of paper.

Toys – As a kid, it’s addictive fun seeing things disappear when they flush the toilet. Bad news for toys, as they are the usual thing they get their hands on.

Underwear – The temptation of just flushing down underwear after being soiled by accident is just too strong. There are some who resort to this quick fix instead of just washing them.

About the Author: Adie Sotelo is a contracted writer for Premiere Vanities. A specialty store dedicated to proving our customers with a great selection, competitive pricing and unparalleled customer service.

Ten Unique Bathroom Vanity Backsplash Ideas

With such an overwhelming number of choices available in today’s market, remodeling a bathroom can prove to be a challenge. While something like a backsplash for a bathroom vanity may seem like a simple task, this is an area to make a maximum input with minimal effort.

Here are a few ideas to lead you in the right direction, no matter what your decorating style may be.

Customize your backsplash with personality. Enlist several family members to paint a tile of their own, or use your own artistic talents to create a custom theme that is unique to your bathroom. Place the tiles in alternating patterns along the backsplash.

Customize your backsplash with tranquility. Hand-paint several tiles with words like “Relax” or “Restore” to imbue a sense of peacefulness in your bathroom.

Don’t shy away from color. Although many bathrooms are small, there’s no reason to avoid vibrant color schemes; this is one of the few rooms in the house where colorful walls may not seem too overwhelming. Pick a hue that interests you and build a bathroom around it, perhaps using contrasting colors in the vanity backspalsh.

Or, keep it simple. White subway tile or penny tiles can be an easy and cost-effective way to create a backsplash. It can also highlight other features of your bathroom, like a show-stopping vanity.

Double your visual space. Does your bathroom feel cramped and confined? A large mirror extending from the top of the bathroom vanity straight up to the ceiling can help enlarge even the smallest spaces.

Create a spa-like atmosphere. For many, the bathroom can be a place of retreat from every day stresses. Natural stones like Travertine can add to this feeling by bringing in nature and serenity from the outside.

Establish a pattern. Mosaics can be a fun way to add touches of interest to your backsplash without fully committing to a large swath of a single color. They can be found in a variety of shades.

Play with a color scheme. In order to establish an intriguing and multidimensional look, choose two or three different shades of tile within the same color. They’ll blend together seamlessly without looking flat or dull.

Add a touch of luxury. Small glass tiles in warm earth tones create an atmosphere of comfort and extravagance. Extend the backsplash onto the entire wall to create a unified look.

Go retro. A simple pattern of black and white diamond tiles can look classic and playful when mixed with vintage accessories.

During his work with SimplyBathtubs.com and PremierVanities.com, Author Miguel Salcido has seen his fair share of bathroom backsplashes paired up with premium bathroom vanities and designer bathtubs.

Create a Modern Bathroom for the New Year

With new styles and features in home design changing dramatically over the past decade, it’s important to be sure that your home is up to date with the latest features and themes if you wish to live in a fashionable home that friends and visiting family will envy! Renovating your home can add new life to certain rooms of the house and can certainly show others that you have a keen eye for interior design. So with some fresh ideas and modern colours, let’s look at some ways you can create a family bathroom that is not only practical, but simultaneously looks great and provides maximum luxury.

As the New Year has passed, the best time for change and fresh renovations is upon us; make the most of this time of year and plan a bathroom overhaul that will continue to compliment your home in the future.

Add Stylish New Features

There are many modern features that you can opt to add to your family bathroom that could give the room that extra ‘edge’. The first step you should make is deciding what sort of theme to wish to go for; it’s entirely possible to create a modern bathroom with a vintage look just by adding and accessorising with the right features. The same goes for bathrooms with a 21st century look; what really sells the look you’re going for is the overall collaboration of each appliance and feature.

For example, if you decide you would like a vintage looking bathroom then there are a number of ways to achieve this; consider the range of bathroom vanity units you have available to you. Look for the perfect unit that expresses the design you have in mind and then shop around for mirrors and bathroom storage units that match this same style. Again, the same applies for 21st century bathroom suites; choosing darker units with straight edges and a neat and tidy appearance looks fantastic when this style is carried consistently throughout the rest of the room. Plant pots and rectangular floor mats could reflect this design effectively.

Consider Colours at all Times

When you are looking for the perfect features to accent your bathroom always consider the consistency in colour throughout the room. If you have dark or even black floor and wall tiles in your bathroom then compliment this instead of working against then. If you pick matching tones for each feature (again, plant pots, mats, storage units, vanity units etc.) then your sense of style and eye for fashion will pour from the room.

Another useful tip is to let as much natural light into the room as possible, a little sunshine never hurt anyone and it can certainly contribute towards giving the room a larger, spacious feel.

Daniel Travis - Brown is an avid writer or articles and guest blogs. Follow him on Twitter @DanTravisBrown