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New trends for your bathroom ~ but hey wait, I'm on a budget! |
| Reba K. Collins
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The new trends in bathroom design are certainly beautiful, elegant, and luxurious but for those of us on a budget it may not be reasonable to totally redo the entire room. There are, however, lots of things you can do to make your bathroom beautiful without spending a ton of money.
Today's trends in bathrooms lean toward relaxation and this can be achieved by thinking "Day Spa" for inspiration. Day Spas tend to use a lot of dark wood in contrast with neutral colors like beige and white. Some then accentuate with a deep color toned with brown for a color punch.
If you are unable to change the basic fixtures in your bathroom to incorporate cabinets that look like furniture pieces or a new stone tiled, glass enclosed shower, you're not alone. So here we're going to look at changing only the items that are not permanent to create the "spa" look we want.
First choose your color scheme and paint any textured drywall surfaces. Neutrals work well for this with white for window and baseboard trim. Using a dark color like black or dark brown on trim is also becoming very stylish. Painting is THE most inexpensive way to totally make a room feel different.
The shower curtain is the next thing to consider. "Classic elegance" is what you need to be thinking when you make this choice. A great way to get a custom look is to make a cloth curtain yourself and add a liner under it. This way you can take it all the way to the ceiling or install a cornice at the ceiling with the curtain falling behind. This is a very custom look and makes a huge impact to the room.
A rug on the floor is a necessity, however, don't choose your rug from the bathroom accessory aisle. Choose a durable room rug that is appropriately sized to add "classic elegance". And never, never, never, never buy one of those bathroom rugs that wraps around the base of the toilet, they are just plain – wrong.
Another thing your can consider to give your bath that "spa look" is to replace the mirror with a framed mirror. But if that's not possible, then add a frame to the existing mirror. You can get molding at Home Depot or Lowes. Just cut the wood to fit your existing mirror by cutting the corners at a 45-degree angel. Then attach the pieces together at the corners with brackets, paint or stain, and hang. You'll have a custom framed mirror that is gorgeous.
Lastly, add matching towels, candles and accessories and you'll have your very own "Spa Retreat" without having to leave your house.
Most everyone loves to come home to a warm and cozy house at the end of the day but often the beautiful home we envision in our minds is not feasible through our pocketbooks. Does that mean our homes can't be beautiful? Not at all, we just need to use a little more creativity and do a little more homework to get the finished product we can be proud to call home.
When working on a tight budget, the one thing that will give you the most "bang for your buck" is paint. In an instant, paint will add color, personality, and life to any room. It's cheap, easy to apply and will actually change the "feelings" of a room's occupants.
When choosing a paint color, be sure to take into consideration, not only the colors of items that will be staying in the room, but also consider what kind of mood you want to set. Do you want warm cozy colors or fresh, light colors? Color will influence the atmosphere so much that it will impact the mood and emotion taken on by the people who spend time in the room. For example, red is often used in kitchens, dining rooms and restaurants because it piques the appetite. Doing a little research on the internet can help you pick colors and color combos that will work in the room you are decorating.
The next thing that will totally change a room's appearance without spending any money is to change the arrangement of the furniture. Some rooms will lend themselves to multiple arrangements, others will not. Just be sure to consider the functionality of the furniture placement. Simple things like, being sure every sitting area has a table to set a drink on, or being able to move freely through the room are of major importance to ensure the room is comfortable.
Making a change to the floor or windows will have major impact to a room. Adding an area rug to a room or changing the curtains could be all a room needs to give it the "designer look" you want. Remember, these items can be really expensive. Consider checking out garage sales and thrift stores because with a little patience, you may find just what you want without spending much money. Also be aware that these items go on sale and clearance, again, patience could help you save a lot of money. Either way, new or gently used, be sure to watch for good quality and shop around for pricing as where you purchase could make a huge difference in the cost.
The last thing that can really add personality to a room without much cost is adding accessories. Pretty pillows can add a much needed "punch" of color. Vases, candles, picture frames and nick nacks can add sparkle. Art for the walls is a must but doesn't have to be expensive. Pick up old wall art from thrift stores and use the frames for your own art pieces. These frames can be painted, refinished or used "as is" and can make an art piece you painted look like an expensive original. Just be creative.
As you can see, there are many ways to add life and beauty to the living spaces in your home without spending a lot of money. Do a little homework, put on your creative "thinking-cap", use a little patience and get started turning your home into the beautiful and cozy place you've always envisioned.
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| About the Author |
©2006 All rights reserved
About the Author: Reba Collins writes about home decorating at her website, www.HomeDecoratingInsight.com. Reba's website is packed with info you can use to make your home the beautifully comfortable place you want. Learn about decorating, add comments, & read reviews of your fav TV shows & magazine. Come have fun!
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