It may not be a case of actually entertaining people in your bathroom (well, not in most cases anyway) but, if you’ve got guests staying overnight, they’ll be using it last thing before they retire for the night and again as one of the first rooms they visit in the morning. If your bathroom’s looking shabby, it’s the sort of thing that can make your visitors wrinkle their noses and feel a little uncomfortable and for you, the homeowner, it doesn’t do much either, wondering what your guests are thinking of the state of your bathroom.

For you, as the person that uses the bathroom the most, it should be somewhere peaceful, where you can relax and ease away the stresses of the day. If you’re lucky enough to have a second bathroom or an en suite attached to your master bedroom, then it’s generally an easier task to keep your main bathroom tidied up and looking fresh, but if you’ve got just a single bathroom in your home, then it can be a bit more of a major job keeping on top of it. The reality is that the bathroom of any house is probably one of the toughest rooms to keeping looking good, because it’s used so regularly and typically has to suffer through regular periods of heat and damp. In addition, if you’ve got young children who enjoy splashing in the bath or throwing around containers of water, then the job of keeping your bathroom looking top notch becomes even more difficult.

Without going through a major bathroom renovation (we’ll look at that in a later issue of NZ Projects magazine), there are some things you can do to give your bathroom a lift and improve its appearance. Before you start, try and ensure your bathroom follows a theme. By that, we don’t mean you have to go for a Star Wars or Saturday Night Fever style, but you have to decide whether you’re going to go for a contemporary look, a modern style or something that hints of period elegance. Once that’s done, it’s a matter of following through to ensure your bathroom meets your ideas.

Colours

For some reason, bathrooms tend to lend themselves to the adventurous use of colour, although it’s probably wise to avoid this if you’re looking at updating your home for sale. In this case, it may be best to go with neutral colours so you lessen the risk of turning away potential buyers with your choice of hue. But for those of you that are updating your bathroom purely for your own purposes, you may want to consider something outside the standard ‘white-and-more-white’ that has remained in favour for so many years. If bright and wild colours are a little outside your comfort zone, you may want to consider a subdued hue of some sort (marine colours - blues and greens - are popular) or even a feature wall in a vastly different shade to the rest of the room, although you have to be aware that darker colours can tend to make you bathroom (or any room) look and feel smaller while lighter colours can tend to make it feel more spacious.

However, the choice of colour is just one consideration…and when it comes to painting your bathroom; it’s not the most important. What you first need to look for is a paint that is going to cope with the high levels of moisture build-up, condensation and heat that tend to make bathrooms one of the hardest rooms in the house to keep well-maintained, and you have to make sure it’s applied properly or you’ll find that it will cause problems not too far down the track with your paint starting to peel as the moisture takes effect. If you’ve already got problems with peeling paint, then you’ve really got no choice other than removing it all and starting again. From that point, you should begin by going over the walls and filling any blemishes to create a perfectly smooth wall. Follow that with a coat of primer and then add your colour of choice with two coats of waterproof enamel paint. Also remember, that if you’re undertaking other fairly major jobs in your bathroom, such as tiling a shower, or even moving a vanity unit or other items, painting will probably be one of the last jobs you undertake as you don’t want to damage any new paint as you progress with your bathroom improvement project.

Tiles & Wall Linings

It’s amazing how much difference you can make to your bathroom by replacing worn and aging tiles or vinyl with new tiles on your floor, or even on your walls. While, in most cases, this is not a quick job, it isn’t as expensive and difficult as many seem to think, and the results (if the job is done right) can be spectacular. In many cases, bathrooms already have tiles on the floor and, possibly, one course of tiles along the base to improve waterproofing but, if you’re confident, there’s nothing to prevent you looking at tiling your walls, tiling around your bath, or even tiling your shower if the layout makes it possible.

However, a large number of bathrooms have fully-moulded shower enclosures that make it impossible to lay tiles unless you remove the enclosure and completely redesign your shower…and that’s something that we’ll look at when we do our major bathroom rebuild in a later issue.
When it comes to tiling for practicality and appearance, then you should probably start by looking at your floor. If replacing sorry-looking vinyl, tiles can make a massive difference and if being used to replace existing tiles, then it gives you the option of using a different colour or finish to add another dimension to your bathroom. If you’re really adventurous, try mixing different types or finishes of tile, creating a unique theme or pattern.
To improve the durability of typically wet areas around a basin or the edge of a bath, it’s also possible to install a course of tiles in these areas, which also lends itself to using these in a decorative sense as well. For example, you could go for tiles featuring a print or pattern that ties in with the rest of your décor. If you really want to add a touch of luxury to your bathroom, consider installing an under-tile heating system, which will give off delicious radiant warmth under your feet when you walk into the bathroom.

If you don’t want to go to tiles on the walls or inside the shower, then there are a range of waterproof panel products that can be used for this purpose. Available in a rage of standard sizes, these products come in a variety of colours and finishes, including a number that are designed to replicate the look of tiles. There are a range of fixing options available but, generally, they’re fixed to the wall with adhesive so no fixings show, but they are joined with PVC jointers than can highlight where each panel ends. However, depending on the layout of your bathroom, it is possible to get away with some well thought out measuring and cutting of the panels that may allow all the joints to be hidden, making for a really clean, and crisp bathroom appearance. Inside a shower, the versatility and quick installation time offered by panel products can really make them an attractive option and, despite the initial indication that the individual panels are expensive, the costs are quickly put into perspective when weighed up against the price of other options as well as the speed of installation.

Water Water Everywhere

Moisture and excess water are real enemies in the bathroom, despite the fact that they’re constant hazards of this room in the house.
Taking the time to ensure that all waterproofing is taken care of can be one of the most annoying jobs when revamping your bathroom, and it my also be one that doesn’t show much progress on the surface, but it’s also one of the most vital if you’re going to ensure your bathroom stays up to scratch.

It doesn’t take much of a leak to create major rot problems in wall framing or even under the floorboards (if you have a timber, rather than a concrete floor), so it’s essential that you really take your time to ensure that every area where a potential leak may occur has been correctly sealed.

If using waterproof panel products in your shower, then you need to seal the joints between the panels, in the corners and along the base while sealant should also be used around vanity units, the bottom of toilets and around the edges of some baths.

These sealants come in a range of colours as well as clear, so finding one to suit your bathroom décor shouldn’t be an issue, but they also have to be applied correctly or you’ll likely find the annoying presence of mould in the sealant as time goes by…and it’s not that easy to get rid of.
One of the major reasons for this is people using their finger to smooth out the sealant rather than using a putty knife or other more appropriate tool. When you use your finger to do the job, microbes on your skin make their way into the sealant and then grow into mould as time goes by, and there’s nothing you can do about it other than replace the sealant.
It may seem like a fiddly task just to take a little mould out of the corner of your shower or around a vanity unit, but it’s amazing how much difference some crisp, clean sealant can make to the look of your bathroom.

Getting Steamed

If you want to prevent excess moisture building up in your bathroom and causing problems, a good way of doing this is to remove as much of it as possible before it manages to do any damage.

In the middle of winter it’s not unusual to see condensation on the windows of a number of other rooms in the home after someone has taken a hot shower, so it’s best to fix the problem at the source and remove as much of the moisture from the air as possible.

Opening the bathroom window can provide some of the answers, but the best idea is to install a ducted ventilation system that sucks up the steam from a shower or bath and vents it outside where it won’t play havoc with the paint finish on the walls in your bathroom or even affect other areas of the home if the steam flows out of the bathroom door and down the hallway.

A ventilation system uses a powered fan fitted in a length of ducting and typically has a grille that fits over the shower where most of the moisture is produced. At the other end of the ducting, a second grille is fitted on the exterior of house where it expels the moisture outside.

Some systems can be vented out through the wall, while others are fitted in the ceiling cavity and are vented out through the soffit. The latter of these systems can be a little fiddly to fit as it often requires manoeuvring in a tight space to get the ducting all fitted up correctly, but it’s essential that you do this correctly otherwise you’ll fill you ceiling cavity with moist air, creating all sorts of problems later on.

Some manufacturers offer combined exhaust fan/lighting/heating systems that can be connected directly into your existing wiring, but the problem with these is that they’re often not fitted where the moisture is being produced, so they’re not as efficient as something fitted directly over the shower. However, these combined systems are pretty useful when fitted over the vanity unit as they can suck away some of that damp air that can be produced  when someone is having a hot bath or by a basin filled with hot water, such as that used by someone shaving.

If you’re going for a specialised ducted venting system though, you may need to call in an electrician to get it wired properly into place.

Light & Heat

Stored Away

Well-designed bathrooms have plenty of storage - towel rails, vanity units, medicine cabinets and even towers or storage units for towels or other accessories. Vanity units are generally the most prominent storage item in a bathroom and come in a range of designs, sizes and styles to suit a remarkable number of bathroom styles but, unless your current vanity is desperately in need of replacement, or you’ve changed the colour of your bathroom so much that your current vanity doesn’t fit in, then there’s probably no need to go to the expense of replacing it, because they’re not all that cheap. However, you can complement your current vanity by adding a vertical tower unit of a similar style, which can not only improve the amount of storage in your bathroom, but can also do plenty to improve its appearance by adding an extra touch of style. If you don’t want to go to the extent of adding extra units, why not consider putting in an open shelf that does the same job. Towel rails come in a variety of types, from standard single horizontal rails through to heated, oil-filled, stainless steel types or even freestanding heated versions.

Heated towel rails are a blessing in winter when damps towels can be dried overnight or during the day and, if working to a budget, aren’t really all that expensive if looking at the lower end of the scale where you can get one in the $50-80 range. However, if you’re going for the real high-tech version with long rails and a stainless steel finish, you can pay more than $900.

If heating and drying your towels isn’t a consideration, you could consider going for a free-sanding timber towel rail that can really add something to the look of a bathroom.

Medicine cabinets are another consideration when rejuvenating your bathroom and can be chosen to fit with your existing vanity unit or to have an entirely different appearance that aims at creating a feature in your bathroom.

You can get a plain white cabinet with an easy-clean finish or you can go for a timber style with built-in lighting and mirrors, adjustable shelves and unusual sliding doors. Much depends on your budget and the styling look you want to achieve but, because cabinets are relatively easy to install (just by fixing them to the wall) it’s an easy way to give your bathroom a boost.

Reflections

In most homes, bathrooms are one of the smaller rooms so, by giving it a sense of space, it can really improve how your bathroom looks and feels.
One way of doing this is by choosing a light colour scheme that creates a feeling of roominess, but one of the easiest ways of achieving an air of spaciousness is by choosing a good-sized mirror (or two) to mount on the wall.

Most bathroom cabinets come with a mirror on the front and it’s unusual to find a bathroom without a mirror of some sort somewhere in the room, but a large mirror acts almost like a picture window, adding a sense of real space. By putting similar mirrors on opposite side of the room, you can create even  more out of the effect (although it can also create a rather unnerving sight when you can see reflections of yourself  repeating into the distance…almost a case of reflective ‘feedback’).

Mirrors are relatively cheap to purchase if you stick to the less-than-ornate types, but can become expensive if you go for something more decorative, but the effect even a plain mirror can have is quite outstanding.
The other option is to go for a couple of slightly smaller mirrors fitted side-by-side or one above the other, just to add a point of difference to your bathroom.

When mounting mirrors, it’s also essential to take care to ensure that they’re well fixed by using specialised mounting rails or well-secured mounting hooks. If mirrors are framed, this can add even more to their weight, making the securing of them even more important.
When looking at framed mirrors try and pick something that fits in with the theme of your bathroom. A mirror with a contemporary frame is going to look out of place in a bathroom with a country feel while an ornate Edwardian frame is hardly going to work well in a minimalist bathroom environment.

One of the most common problems with a mirror in a bathroom is the fact they’re constantly rendered near useless by becoming steamed up due to heat and moisture.

Often, the bathroom’s regular ventilation system won’t prevent this happening, so one option is to install a heated mirror demister that prevents the problem and ensures a clear mirror every time you climb out of the shower.

Spouting Off & Accessorising

This also allows the mixer handle to be fixed in a separate location to your spout, which can be quite useful, especially in a bath, where you can avoid interrupting your long, relaxing soak to add more hot water by using the tap handle that’s placed right at arm’s reach.

Styling is almost endless with a range of tap manufacturers offering a vast array of fashions, finishes or colours to match the individual ‘theme’ of each bathroom.

As far as shower heads go, these are a simple way to improve the performance of your shower. How many times have you used a shower where the water just dribbles out, making your shower a less than satisfying experience. Sometimes this can be caused by the outlet holes in the rose being jammed up with gunge and a simple clean, or a soak in a suitable cleaning product, can often remove the offending material, making for a much more pleasurable shower experience.

Alternatively, you can replace your existing shower head with something a bit more modern and performance-oriented that will give your shower a bit more ‘oomph’.

There’s also a large range of sliding, hand-held options that have a hand-piece which can be fitted in a fixed position or used by hand to direct the spray wherever you want it. This can be especially useful if there are children in the shower but, beware; children can often cause a mess of flood-like proportions if they get hold of the hand-piece.

For those of you that want to add the ultimate in extravagance to your existing shower, there are shower panels available, featuring multi-function shower heads, multiple body jets and other luxurious items, but expect to pay a fair bit for the pleasure.

Overall, costs can vary wildly for tapware, mixers and shower heads for your bathroom update, ranging from some pairs of taps for below $50 through to the most well-appointed shower panel for a couple of thousand dollars.

Even if your bathroom is looking a little under the weather, a selection of good bathroom accessories can do wonders for how it looks. Even something as simple as changing the handles on your vanity and storage cabinets can make a difference to how your bathroom looks.

A stainless steel basket mounted in the corner of your shower, a matching soap dispenser/toothbrush holder/soap dish set or a timber bathmat can do a lot to add some life to your tired-looking bathroom.

You can even look at areas of your bathroom outside those of practicality when it comes to improving the feel of the room.

For example, a set of designer blinds over the window can transform the entire room although, if your bathroom is already quite dark, be wary of reducing the level of light even further. Even with the slats of the blind tilted fully open, the fitting of a blind can further reduce the incoming light and darken it up.

Also, the fitting of timber blinds in bathrooms isn’t recommended as they tend to absorb moisture and warp, so go for an option created from a synthetic product that has a timber-type finish if that’s what you’re looking for. You can also go for strong colours if you’ve gone for a striking colours scheme.

Another accessory option, if you have the space in the middle of your bathroom, is to put down a mat of some description. This can have a dual purpose; as well as changing the look of your bathroom; it can also reduce the shock of cold tiles or vinyl under your feet if you don’t have the luxury of under-floor heating. However, go for a mat that is practical for the situation and won’t be too greatly affected by the moisture levels in your bathroom. For that reason, we’d suggest staying away from anything carpet-based but instead go for something made from a more hardy substance such as bamboo or, perhaps, even thin hardwood strips. Depending on bathroom styling, you may even be able to go for something manufactured from a synthetic product such as plastic or rubber.

Perhaps fit a couple of classy coat hangers to the wall or the back of the door, or even mount a timber robe rack to the wall so you don’t have to leave your clothes or robes lying on the floor.

For those of you that have a laundry hamper in the corner of your bathroom, choose something that fits in with the theme so it’s usable but doesn’t look out of place. There are plenty of options available and, just because, it’s a hamper, it doesn’t have to mean it’s unsightly.

Finally, while perhaps not classed as ‘accessories’ in he truest sense of the word, don’t forget  about the cleaning aspect of your bathroom as this can be a difficult area of the house to keep tidy.

For example, if you’ve got a shower with glass walls or a glass door as opposed to a curtain o plastic moulded shower unit, you can find water stains on the glass really make the bathroom look shabby, so investing in a good quality glass cleaner designed specifically for the shower area can make a world of difference to how it looks.

Get Planted

One of the real benefits of lifting your bathroom’s appearance with plants is that they typically tend to look after themselves due to the moisture that they absorb from the environment around them. However, you have to be sure that the plants you use are suitable for the conditions they’re going to be subjected to. Some plants can handle the heat, but don’t need the amount of moisture they’re going to be subjected to while others like the humidity but can’t handle the temperatures. Three plants that can really cope with being placed in the bathroom are all ferns - the maidenhair fern, the Boston fern and the bird’s nest fern.

You can choose to plant them in many ways - short, stocky pots near hidden by the plant cascading over the edge, or tall, thin pots that add a sense of height. Even consider putting them in hanging pots.

Potted nicely and placed carefully around the bathroom, plants can totally change the atmosphere of the room and add to the relaxing environment that a bathroom should offer.

Take Your Time

Before you embark on a major bathroom upgrade though, remember that these steps don’t have to all be taken at once…in fact, you may only need to complete one or two of them to get the look and feel that you desire in your bathroom. If you find that you’ve done one or two things but think you need to do more and more as you go on, don’t be pressured to get them all done at once. It can be time-consuming and expensive if you plan to undertake one upgrade job after another and it can quickly take away any enjoyment you may get from doing the job yourself. Pace yourself carefully and make sure you’re ready before undertaking the next step and, most of all, enjoy watching your bathroom undergo its transformation.

Material brought to you by Mitre 10 Projects Magazine.