If your bathroom is starting to feel a little drab, and you don’t have the budget or time for major renovations or updates, there are still some inexpensive and easy ways to give it a refresh. Here’s a look at five of them.
1. Clear out
As with any other room in your home, the first place to start if you’re wanting to refresh a space is to clear it out. It’s not the most exciting part of the process (certainly not as fun as strolling around Bed Bath & Beyond and checking out their latest bathroom wares ) but it’s a must. Set aside a few hours to go through your cabinets and drawers, and be ruthless about what you’re actually using — or will use — within the next few months.
2. Shower curtain
No matter whether your bathroom is big or small, one of the first things you’re hit with visually when you enter this space is the shower curtain . Switching it out for something fun is the easiest way to refresh the feel of your bathroom. If you’re someone who likes colour and print, the choices are many during summer months, and it’s a great place to experiment with something wilder than you would elsewhere in your home. If you’re after a more zen, spa-like feel, go for a soothing colour and relaxing print .
There are also a great number of shower curtains out there that are ideal for small spaces, or bathrooms that lack storage, such as shower curtains with pockets .
3. Soap dispensers
You don’t have to be a ‘matchy-matchy’ sort of person to appreciate a co-ordinated soap dispenser , soap tray and toothbrush holder. Updating these will give your bathroom an instant refresh, and the options are many. Try a fun colour or print or go for something more natural, like those made from stone or wood for a more relaxed feel. Providing guests with a lovely liquid hand soap is a small detail that’ll have them feel like they’re visiting a five-star bathroom.
4. Towels
Nothing says drab and depressing like worn-out towels hanging about the bathroom. Towels can range in price from reasonable to expensive, but investing in a couple of nice sets with matching hand towels can give your bathroom a high-end hotel feel. And you can’t go wrong with crisp white or those with a hint of colour .
5. Green lighting and faucets
Lighting is where most interior designers start and finish a job, regardless of what room we’re talking about, because they often believe it to have the single biggest impact on a space. In terms of the fixtures, are they modern or traditional? Simple or ornate? What about the lighting they provide? Some people prefer bright lights in the bathroom for better visibility when getting ready in the morning, while others prefer a more muted, soft light, that encourages wind-down and relaxation. The best scenario, of course, is to have a lighting solution in your bathroom that offers both, so look for dimming features.
Changing your lighting fixtures also allows you to switch to more energy-efficient options. Think LED lighting. And while you’re at it, consider applying the same green thinking to your bathroom faucets and shower heads.
“Changing out a faucet or shower head to one with water- and energy-saving features not only changes the look of your space but also impacts your water and electricity bill and saves you money,” says Alicia Carroll, spokeswoman for Ikea Canada.
Copyright Postmedia Network Inc., 2019
