1. Choose a bold color such as this tomato red to brighten up
a space. Or simply keep the wall a lighter or neutral shade, and choose
bold accent pieces.
2. Add a fabric-covered or built-in valance above the tub to
accentuate your shower curtain.
3. Wall sconces provide task lighting and serve as decorative
focal points.
4. In lieu of window treatments, a glass block window provides
both light and privacy.
5. Surprise friends and family with guest's towels monogrammed
with decorative touches.
6. If you don't have closet space in your bath, consider an
open storage unit for all your toiletries.
7. A built-in laundry hamper is a great feature to include in
a bath. It works to keep the room neat.
8. To give the floor a custom look, add a border of
contrasting tiles.
9. Glass-front cabinets have a lighter look than solid ones.
Frosted glass hides the contents.
10. Carve a storage niche from a wall near the tub. By adding
shelves between the wall studs, you can utilize additional space that
would have been wasted otherwise.
11. Hang a mirror above the tub. It will create an optical
illusion to make a tight area feel more spacious.
12. Leave the cabinet doors off the vanity to store towels and
make a design statement.
13. Hinge a mirror on your wall as a stylish replacement for a
cheap-looking medicine cabinet.
14. Stagger the joints for your wall tile. The alternating
grout joints will help make even the most inexpensive tile look like a
million bucks.
15. Incorporate a decorative mirror that will lend some style
to the room. A metal medicine cabinet can make the room seem even
smaller.
16. Choose a pocket door instead of a hinged one. A
conventional swinging door will encroach too much into an already tight
space.
17. In lieu of cabinet doors, skirt your vanity.
18. Create recesses between the studs in the walls for more
storage next to the vanity or in the shower. You'd be amazed at how much
storage a simple 16-inch cubbyhole can offer.
19. Decorate with lighter colors to create a larger feel.
20. If you lack storage space, but can't afford custom
built-ins, then consider bringing in a piece of furniture, such as a
chest of drawers or armoire. Furniture adds instant character and is a
nice contrast to sleek bath surfaces.
21. Small medicine cabinets offer little storage or style. An
oversize mirror gives a bath more pizzazz and can double as a makeup or
shaving mirror.
22. If you dislike the tile color in your bath, you can
minimize its prominence by focusing on a complementary color for your
walls, shower curtain, and accessories.
23. A tangle of wisteria vines outside the bathroom window
affords privacy in winter and summer, so soft sheer curtains are the
only necessary window treatment.
24. Monogram a hand towel with your child's name, and purchase
fun soaps to encourage hand washing.
25. Chrome-accented accessories--such as the soap dish,
toothbrush holder, and apothecary jars--provide a sleek look.