Bathroom Decor

Decorating your bathroom is vital to exceeding the bland and generic stock bathrooms. With the help of this section, your bathroom will become personal and more comfortable. All the articles found here contain helpful information about bathroom tiles, creating a spa out of your bathroom, and choosing the bath tub right for you.

Creating Safe Bathrooms for Children

Kitchen and Bathroom Solutions

In a perfect world, everything that works for adults would work just as well for children. But the reality is that traditional bathrooms are specifically designed to function for adults. Toddlers and small children face a host of possible safety issues every time they enter a bathroom. Thinking about potential pitfalls of the bathroom from a small child's point of view helps to create a safe and enjoyable environment for the whole family.

Fixture Fixes
Children often have a hard time navigating sinks, toilets and tubs made for adults. Here are some easy fixes.

Hang it Low
Make it easy for the kids to use the sink by installing a wall-hung model several inches lower than you would for an adult. For added fun, choose a sink with a whimsical pattern.

Potty Training Made Easy
If you have a bathroom dedicated to the children in the house, install a toilet designed specifically for three-footers. American Standard's Baby Devoro toilet has a rim height of 10 1/4 inches making it perfect for toddlers as well as grade-school aged children. And it is compatible with standard plumbing so it can be easily replaced with a full-sized toilet when the kids grow up.

Step it Up
Place a step stool near the bathtub so little ones can climb in and out easier. Make sure the tub is slip proof and never leave children unattended while bathing.

Just Add Water
Here are some quick and fun ideas to build safety into bath time for any age child.

Safe Space
Give children a lower drawer or cabinet for their storage. Kids' towels and toys can be left unlocked for them to play with at bath time.

Smaller is Better
Refill small plastic bottles of shampoo so children can learn how to handle and pour their own shampoo with your supervision. Kids' soaps and shampoos are less likely to sting eyes and come in fun shapes and scents.

Pocket Storage
Many of today's colorful new shower curtains come with breathable pockets for wet toy storage. These mesh curtains are a great way to keep toys put away and mildew-free.

Safety Underfoot
Many popular bathroom flooring materials can become slippery when wet. Smooth tile or granite may look great and be easy to upkeep, but it can be dangerous under little feet. Choose a safer alternative like vinyl or textured tiles.

Don't Get Burned
To avoid scalding, water heating systems should not exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Check water heaters to retrofit an anti-scald device. Homes built after 1985 may have such a device already built in. For added safety, install a faucet with safety stops that offer adjustable settings and restrict how far the handle can be pushed toward hot.

The Great Lock Up
Some areas are just not safe for young children and should be locked when not in use. There are devices available that are inexpensive and easy to install for bathrooms, kitchens or just about anywhere in the home.

Toilet Seat Locks
Kids can drown in less than one inch of water and toilet seat lids can easily be locked with a plastic latch to keep this water inaccessible. Lids will lock automatically when shut and open with a swing lever.

Cabinet Latches
Locks for virtually every style of single and double door cabinet as well as drawer latches are available. Whether you have a knob or pull type of handle, these locks can secure any cabinetry.

Outlet Covers
There are several varieties of outlet covers these days, some that just insert into the outlet, some that cover the outlet while in use and some that swivel closed when the outlet is not in use. All of these covers keep children away from live outlets.

Doorknob Covers
These make round doorknobs hard to open for smaller hands. Adults have to squeeze grip buttons on either side to allow the doorknob to turn.

Cord Wind-ups
These devices keep dangling cords from hanging down to within a child's reach. The excess cord is coiled inside the plastic sphere clipped high on the blind's cord.

Choosing the Best Bathtub

Q. I would like to purchase a bathtub. Is there any difference between porcelain over steel, fiberglass or the ABS heavy-duty plastic tubs?

A. There are three primary types of tub and shower units - less cast or steel:
1. Gel-coated fiberglass.
2. Acrylic reinforced with fiberglass.
3. Acrylic backed with a structural composite.

Side by side, these products look very similar; however, there are important differences.

The gel-coat products, when constructed with high quality ingredients, can be very hard and durable. The manufacturing process is critical, as the liquid gel-coat must be applied evenly on the molds at the correct temperature. Gel-coated products if damaged or scratched can be repaired with great success. Repairs performed correctly are permanent and virtually invisible.

Acrylic units are usually constructed using large sheets of solid colored acrylic plastic. These sheets are heated so that they soften. The softened sheets are then stretched over a mold to achieve the desired shape of the shower or tub unit. This stretching process, however, sometimes causes the acrylic to be very thin as it stretches around corners. Those units with the highest percent of acrylic tend to offer higher performance levels. Repairs to these units are not always successful.

Many homeowners in the past were dissatisfied with the fact that the floors of these units flexed like oilcans. Some of the acrylic units backed with composites have addressed this problem. The other units often need to be set in wet plaster (five gallon pail of pre-mixed joint compound) or mortar to provide a solid base. This may be required or recommended in the installation instructions.

The care of either cast iron units or the alternatives is important. Never use cleansers that contain abrasives, as these can scratch both cast iron and plastic fixtures. If you simply make a habit of cleaning the tub or shower area every two weeks, you will avoid the heavy soap buildup that often necessitates heavy scrubbing. Virtually every manufacturer has a recommended cleaner that they strongly suggest you use. Follow these instructions and you will have a beautiful tub and shower area for many years.

Finally, if you do select one of the acrylic or fiberglass, you can keep it looking new by applying once a month, car wax. It just takes a few minutes and you use spray on car wax applied to the surface to the wall surfaces only. Never apply wax to the floor of the unit. Buff this wax out and it will be as shiny as new.

Blue Bath

One of the problems with many home decorating magazines is that they display photos of rooms in houses much larger and more elegant than anything an average reader will ever be decorating. Even for professional decorators, many projects involve improving rooms that are challenging, by being too dark, too small, or by having oddly-slanted ceilings.

The bathroom we've chosen is faced with all three challenges, and yet the decorator has created a bright, interesting room that really comes together.

Let's look at this room with the Sheffield Guidelines to Interior Design, function, mood, and harmony.

First, the principal function of a bathroom is clear: it's there to take care of one's basic hygienic needs. And in those terms, this bathroom clearly can do its job, with all the necessary facilities.

There is even an extra countertop and cabinet, in the left rear of the room, which is perfect for applying cosmetics, as the natural light from the skylight provides the right illumination, and the area is set off from the tub and sink.

• Tip: Whenever you look at the function of a room, try to seek out the more subtle functions as well. For many people, the bathroom also provides one of the only places in the home that assures utter privacy. While the kids are clamoring in the living room and the phone is ringing and the TV is blaring, this bathroom offers a pleasant place to hide and relax for a few moments.

That function of relaxation is evidenced quite practically in the tub. Notice, first of all, the choice to have a full bath instead of a stall shower. A stall shower would have provided more room, but then the luxury of the tub would have been lost. And this isn't just any tub; this one is complete with a pillow molded into the tub, promising ultimate comfort and relaxation.

Notice too, how the soft, natural light is used here, which not only speaks to the function of the room as a place for relaxation, but also speaks to the mood of the room. The mood is relaxed, tidy, and feminine without being fussy. The obvious source of the gentle light is from the oblong skylight over the commode, but the wall of glass bricks at the tub also lets in a huge splash of light without sacrificing privacy. This milky, filtered light contributes to the dreaminess of the room.

Finally, the room's harmony further contributes to the mood. The color choice of blue plays on the idea of the bath as being a place of water - and we all know the relaxing properties of water, whether you're sitting by the surf on a quiet beach, picnicking beside a waterfall, or soaking in a tub at home.

The tile floor, which continues up the side of the tub, the countertop, and the shower curtain all play with the shades of turquoise, and then the green plant on the counter provides yet another sea-side color, the deep green of seaweed. But notice, too, that while there is a subtle water theme here, it isn't over-played with a lot of knickknacks that would detract from the clean, almost spare look.

Overall, this room is a soothing, cooling retreat from the cares of the world, a bathroom to which anyone would be glad to retreat for a moment's peace.

Blue and Yellow Bath

We'll look at how the décor of this beautiful cheerful yellow and blue bath works through the Sheffield Guidelines to Interior Design: function, mood and harmony. These are the Guidelines we use for analyzing rooms throughout the Sheffield Course in Interior Design, and we've found they can be used to analyze every space, whether it's a formal dining room or a garden gazebo.

Let's look at the function of this room first.

We all know that the primary function of the bathroom is to help us attend to our basic needs, and this bathroom clearly has the facilities necessary for that. Beyond that, however, this room also serves the function of providing a "powder room," the section of the room in the foreground of this photo.

This is a room in a home that's used by more than one person, and therefore there's a need for the room to be able to serve several people at a time. Hence, the pocket door separating the powder room from the bath proper - with tub (to the left of the door) and toilet. And, in the powder room, you'll note there are two sinks, one to the left, and one to the right. Several family members can easily share this bathroom without sacrificing privacy or getting in each other's way as they get ready for work or school in the morning.

Of note, this room is also accessible for a wheelchair. See how there is all that space under the counter to the left? It allows a resident using a wheelchair to pull up to the counter, use the sink, and shave or put on makeup. If this house is later sold to someone who doesn't need the additional room to accommodate a wheelchair, it can be nicely used for laundry hampers or wicker storage baskets.

The lighting here also serves the function of the room. The high, bright ceiling lights, and the lights over the mirrors, allow for premium visibility, something important in the bath.

The mood of this room is clearly modern and cheerful. The white walls in both rooms add to the brightness, which in turns contributes to the cheerful feeling. Bright yellow and pale blue are the perfect seaside colors to combine to pick up the mood of any room, and here the colors look particularly good on the glossy tiles.

The fresh flowers to the right, and the bright, painted wooden ones to the left also add to the fresh, cheery mood.

Finally, we look at how everything in this room harmonizes. It's simple, in this room, as there aren't many furnishings. Here, it's first a matter of noting that the towel colors, the tile colors, and the flower colors all match. In addition, this is a modern bathroom; you wouldn't want an elaborate, scrolled ceiling lamp, for example. Here, the simple lighting fixtures, and the flat white cabinets with the simple brushed steel drawer pulls, fit right in with the rest of the room.

Finally, an important thing to notice is the tiled backsplash in the powder room; the designer has continued the tile from the bath proper, creating unity between the two separate parts of the room, and creating a cheerful, summery bathroom even in the depth of winter months.

Bathe in a Garden of Luxury

If you're planning to remodel your bathroom, designing a special place for small trees and flowers can transform this relaxing haven into a botanical setting.

According to the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), there are a number of display methods that can be used when incorporating plants into your bathroom remodeling project.

For instance, a free-standing display or bookcase type cabinet with glass shelves can be included against an unused wall. You may also consider installing poles across a portion of the ceiling for hanging plants, or employing wall braces. Vertical poles with brackets can be effective in a corner.

A plant shelf or greenhouse window can be included in a tub area if the space allows. If your tub will also be used for a shower, plan to install a second curtain or sliding door system. This will enable the plant area to be closed off when the shower is in use and will keep steam and flowing water from hitting the plants, which could damage leaves and scatter dirt.

Adding a skylight in your bathroom can add dramatic accent to the space, and can provide extra natural light for your plants. Remember to turn the plants regularly to give them light on all sides. Interchanging potted bathroom plants with others in sunnier locations throughout the house is also a wise recommendation.

The bathroom can be the perfect place for plants. Foliage plants in particular will do much better than flowering plants, since they do not require as much direct sunlight nor a carefully controlled moisture and temperature environment.

Professional bathroom designers with NKBA can convert your simple bathroom plan into a luxurious garden paradise.