Considering how much time, well at least women!, spend in the bathroom every day, it really should be attractive and clean and organized! I shake in my boots when I have to use an unsuitable bathroom, ugh, I would rather wait until I go home. I did that last week at a restaurant, okay it wasn't a house, but nonetheless I decided to wait!
Bathrooms can provide fun and easy "fixes" to the decorating bug! You can do a lot with $100, and in just a day or two.. Here are some ideas..
Paint, paint, paint...we all know it is the easiest way to redecorate and cheap. Go bold if you dare! I just read that, and now wish I had not gone the safe creamy tan route I did with the master bath..hey, maybe I will repaint it! I even suggest painting the ceiling. My guest bathroom is painted on all walls and the ceiling and I love it. It is this deep magical green, like dark golden moss.hmm.. sounds like I have some moldy room out in the forest!! But really, the color is gorgeous, set with brass and gold fixtures, mirror, etc..I love that little room--the Barbie classic old prints may be my favorite part.. Anyhow, get some swatches, think to yourself, what do you want to feel when you are in there, and pick a color--or maybe even 2..have fun!
I just read about paintable wallpaper you can get at Lowes. God it looks beautiful, like embossed plaster. I am not sure if I would do it all in that, but a wall or two..
Flooring..if you have carpet, rip it out, immediately! Who invented that! It is awful! That is as bad as carpet in your kitchen--and I have seen that, indoor outdoor I think it was. Seriouly I would rather have raw floorboard, and make sure the nails were bent down, than carpet--but that is just me, if I cannot stand something, it must go immediately!! But, if you have ugly vinyl, don't despair..I just read that you can PAINT vinyl--I had NO idea! Apparently you just prime it first, and then put 5 or 6 coats of polyurethane paint on top..sounds really interesting, and something I would love to see. Now I also recommend vinyl stick on tiles, I wrote about it earlier in the year..http://findingorganization.blogspot.com/2009/01/installing-vinyl-stick-on-tile.html
and I can swear by it--it looks great, inexpensive and can be done in a day--it does take longer than one would expect, but such a great improvement over ugly old vinyl--it goes right on the top of it! Okay, so NO carpet, vinyl is okay, of course tile, slate, stone,etc.. is my favorite, but much more pricey and time consuming, but if you can, do...in the meantime you can get vinyl stick on tiles that look like stone, for like $30 for the room.
Toilets..there is nothing worse that an old, run down toilet. Who wants to sit on that? Now you cannot put in a new toilet for under $100, so you might have to work with what you have. Get out your bleach, rubber gloves, of course! and clean that thing!! Pumice stones work miracles, my plumber actually showed me that! A new toilet seat is not expensive, $20+, and makes a huge difference! Maybe new hardware. PLEASE, try to keep all hardware and faucets and trims the same family--brass, chrome, rustic metal, whatever, but mixing and matching is such a no no for me..A clean toilet will go a long way as an improvement. And remember, the whole thing needs to be cleaned--not just a quick run through with a toilet brush!
New faucets..again this cannot be done for the under $100 cost, but they do make a huge difference, so do sinks. But if you must keep what you have, then make them shiny and clean. One thing you can do, for the vanity, is paint it, if it is tile. I did, so I can say it worked. I primed it first, and then used a paint that is a sandwash look, so it looks rustic, in a sand color. I am very happy with it. NOTE, you cannot paint a shower, it will peel off. But for a vanity, or even the deck of a tub, these areas are not getting pounded with water, so they are fine. I clean mine every week, just like normal cleaning, with a sponge and cleanser, and it does not peel off. Love it so much more than the shiny white tile I had.
Shower head..please have a decent one..I have been in so many places with awful showerheads--either the water hits me in the face, or feels like little pins hitting my skin, or is sending water all over the place except in the center, and on and on..shower heads are an easy fix. Again, keep it matching. I am NOT a fan of the kind that have the hose and you can remove it from the holder, I like mine stationary--those other kinds I have found hard to use and awkward--and I don't like hoses all wrapped up.
Lighting..make it bright! Nothing is worse, well next to a bad toilet, than bad lighting! Have you ever used a bathroom with like one 60 watt bulb--ugh! Light fixtures also won't fall in the under $100 budget, but you can paint them (I have!) you can clean them up, add nice bright bulbs, at least make the effort.
Towels and rugs..this is in the budget :) Even I could use some new towels..These get so worn, that after a year or so (unless they are really nice) they just look worn out and tired. Geez, I need new towels. I love the ones from Pottery Barn that are leopard, but of course there are tons of choices. Get something fluffy and thick. Rugs, don't throw old mats down, or things that don't match. Your toilet does NOT need a scarf and a hat (A rug that wraps all around it!) I just put a small square one in front. Honestly, I could almost do away with all rugs except by the shower/bath...but it is so cold here so often, and the tile is freezing! Now I was just in my bathroom and totally forgot about towel racks! This is an easy one. I prefer hooks (so they don't have to be hung evenly like a towel rack does..and don't those always feel like any minute will be its last and it will fall of the wall--for me it does..) so I like hooks. But whatever you do, hang them well (use the reinforcements in the wall in addition to screwing them in) and please make them all match--again not chrome, brass, whatever..all the same.
Bathrooms can provide fun and easy "fixes" to the decorating bug! You can do a lot with $100, and in just a day or two.. Here are some ideas..
Paint, paint, paint...we all know it is the easiest way to redecorate and cheap. Go bold if you dare! I just read that, and now wish I had not gone the safe creamy tan route I did with the master bath..hey, maybe I will repaint it! I even suggest painting the ceiling. My guest bathroom is painted on all walls and the ceiling and I love it. It is this deep magical green, like dark golden moss.hmm.. sounds like I have some moldy room out in the forest!! But really, the color is gorgeous, set with brass and gold fixtures, mirror, etc..I love that little room--the Barbie classic old prints may be my favorite part.. Anyhow, get some swatches, think to yourself, what do you want to feel when you are in there, and pick a color--or maybe even 2..have fun!
I just read about paintable wallpaper you can get at Lowes. God it looks beautiful, like embossed plaster. I am not sure if I would do it all in that, but a wall or two..
Flooring..if you have carpet, rip it out, immediately! Who invented that! It is awful! That is as bad as carpet in your kitchen--and I have seen that, indoor outdoor I think it was. Seriouly I would rather have raw floorboard, and make sure the nails were bent down, than carpet--but that is just me, if I cannot stand something, it must go immediately!! But, if you have ugly vinyl, don't despair..I just read that you can PAINT vinyl--I had NO idea! Apparently you just prime it first, and then put 5 or 6 coats of polyurethane paint on top..sounds really interesting, and something I would love to see. Now I also recommend vinyl stick on tiles, I wrote about it earlier in the year..http://findingorganization.blogspot.com/2009/01/installing-vinyl-stick-on-tile.html
and I can swear by it--it looks great, inexpensive and can be done in a day--it does take longer than one would expect, but such a great improvement over ugly old vinyl--it goes right on the top of it! Okay, so NO carpet, vinyl is okay, of course tile, slate, stone,etc.. is my favorite, but much more pricey and time consuming, but if you can, do...in the meantime you can get vinyl stick on tiles that look like stone, for like $30 for the room.
Toilets..there is nothing worse that an old, run down toilet. Who wants to sit on that? Now you cannot put in a new toilet for under $100, so you might have to work with what you have. Get out your bleach, rubber gloves, of course! and clean that thing!! Pumice stones work miracles, my plumber actually showed me that! A new toilet seat is not expensive, $20+, and makes a huge difference! Maybe new hardware. PLEASE, try to keep all hardware and faucets and trims the same family--brass, chrome, rustic metal, whatever, but mixing and matching is such a no no for me..A clean toilet will go a long way as an improvement. And remember, the whole thing needs to be cleaned--not just a quick run through with a toilet brush!
New faucets..again this cannot be done for the under $100 cost, but they do make a huge difference, so do sinks. But if you must keep what you have, then make them shiny and clean. One thing you can do, for the vanity, is paint it, if it is tile. I did, so I can say it worked. I primed it first, and then used a paint that is a sandwash look, so it looks rustic, in a sand color. I am very happy with it. NOTE, you cannot paint a shower, it will peel off. But for a vanity, or even the deck of a tub, these areas are not getting pounded with water, so they are fine. I clean mine every week, just like normal cleaning, with a sponge and cleanser, and it does not peel off. Love it so much more than the shiny white tile I had.
Shower head..please have a decent one..I have been in so many places with awful showerheads--either the water hits me in the face, or feels like little pins hitting my skin, or is sending water all over the place except in the center, and on and on..shower heads are an easy fix. Again, keep it matching. I am NOT a fan of the kind that have the hose and you can remove it from the holder, I like mine stationary--those other kinds I have found hard to use and awkward--and I don't like hoses all wrapped up.
Lighting..make it bright! Nothing is worse, well next to a bad toilet, than bad lighting! Have you ever used a bathroom with like one 60 watt bulb--ugh! Light fixtures also won't fall in the under $100 budget, but you can paint them (I have!) you can clean them up, add nice bright bulbs, at least make the effort.
Towels and rugs..this is in the budget :) Even I could use some new towels..These get so worn, that after a year or so (unless they are really nice) they just look worn out and tired. Geez, I need new towels. I love the ones from Pottery Barn that are leopard, but of course there are tons of choices. Get something fluffy and thick. Rugs, don't throw old mats down, or things that don't match. Your toilet does NOT need a scarf and a hat (A rug that wraps all around it!) I just put a small square one in front. Honestly, I could almost do away with all rugs except by the shower/bath...but it is so cold here so often, and the tile is freezing! Now I was just in my bathroom and totally forgot about towel racks! This is an easy one. I prefer hooks (so they don't have to be hung evenly like a towel rack does..and don't those always feel like any minute will be its last and it will fall of the wall--for me it does..) so I like hooks. But whatever you do, hang them well (use the reinforcements in the wall in addition to screwing them in) and please make them all match--again not chrome, brass, whatever..all the same.
I love my hooks, love them.
Accessories..in the budget! There are so many great things out there! I love Cost Plus and Pier One, they are excellent sources. Keep it simple, don't stuff your bathroom and don't put things in there without thinking about some sort of theme. Please always have tissue, I love the tissue box holders, or the designer boxes, but please have tissue. A vase with dried flowers, candles, small jewelry box, fun touches, all are great. I saw a wine bottle in one photo, I don't think I would have a bottle of wine in my bathroom, not as an accessory..PLEASE do not stack your counter with all your toiletries--store them under the sink, or someplace you can, mine are in baskets under the sink cupboard, and in the drawer, make up in little trays.
Artwork...so easy, take what you already have, maybe re frame it, or find some cute pictures in a magazine and frame those, put up your kid's artwork--again, not too much, but dress up the room. Painting frames for a whole new look is easy to, love spray paint for that.
Accessories..in the budget! There are so many great things out there! I love Cost Plus and Pier One, they are excellent sources. Keep it simple, don't stuff your bathroom and don't put things in there without thinking about some sort of theme. Please always have tissue, I love the tissue box holders, or the designer boxes, but please have tissue. A vase with dried flowers, candles, small jewelry box, fun touches, all are great. I saw a wine bottle in one photo, I don't think I would have a bottle of wine in my bathroom, not as an accessory..PLEASE do not stack your counter with all your toiletries--store them under the sink, or someplace you can, mine are in baskets under the sink cupboard, and in the drawer, make up in little trays.
Artwork...so easy, take what you already have, maybe re frame it, or find some cute pictures in a magazine and frame those, put up your kid's artwork--again, not too much, but dress up the room. Painting frames for a whole new look is easy to, love spray paint for that.
And the mirror...the place where you see you everyday. I love framed mirrors, they are so classy looking. I have the type type that is huge, glued to the wall, and I like that okay too, as it really makes the room feel big. Have a mirror, keep it clean!
I just looked at a bathroom online, and it was so girlified, it was horrible. Please do NOT do this if you are married/live with someone--no guy wants a bathroom that is all ruffles and pink and smells like powder--even I don't want that. Bathrooms to me should invoke peace and harmony and a space to begin or end a day, not something for show girls..
Have fun breathing new life into your bathroom!
I just looked at a bathroom online, and it was so girlified, it was horrible. Please do NOT do this if you are married/live with someone--no guy wants a bathroom that is all ruffles and pink and smells like powder--even I don't want that. Bathrooms to me should invoke peace and harmony and a space to begin or end a day, not something for show girls..
Have fun breathing new life into your bathroom!
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