Bathroom Renovation

Bathrooms can be tricky places to renovate because often people can’t decide what they are actually meant to be.

Are they Zen zones where users will bliss out or activation zones where people shed the last vestiges of sleep and rev up to face the world another day?  Often, they are both.

• • Developing a space that is relaxing is discussed in our “bathing” specific page here, which also includes articles and tips on putting together an energising bathroom.

If you want to create a space that will work for both an uplift and for downtime, try these ideas:

• • In one of these combo-zones it works best for overhead lights to be cool energising colours while lower lights, for example, sconces, candles, lights are located closer to the floor, perhaps on table or counter tops and emit relaxing, warm light.
  • Pinkish colors on surfaces reflect light in a way that’s complimentary to all skin tones, so pinkish tiles (which does not necessarily mean PINK, many whites actually have a pinkish glow) can be good renovation choices.
  • Bathrooms can be expensive to redo, so think carefully before you commit. You need a bathtub somewhere in your home, if only for when young children come to visit or the occasional craft project.  A whirlpool tub is something that you might use happily for years, or just twice.

The main thing is, think about how you actually live, and be realistic about how you are likely to live, before you commit to new bathroom fixtures.