Are you looking to refresh a tired looking bathroom but don’t know where to start?
Been thinking your bathroom needs help, but not sure how many changes you need to make to fix it?
A stunning example of the power of colour in this Caroline Andreoni Design. Paint really does have the ability to transform your bathroom refresh.
Well keep reading my friend as I’m going to give you options. As we all know there are many ways to fix a run-down bathroom, from the simple refresh to the full-blown renovation. Because of all the options open to you that’s often where indecision paralysis can kick in and can leave you dead in your tracks.
Let me help you by outlining what a designer would recommend to focus on for:
A bathroom refresh (the simpler changes).
(And in the next couple of blogs I’ll outline my recommendations for a bathroom makeover (more medium level changes) and then onto the full renovation)
1. Repaint walls.
If you have painted walls in your bathroom, consider repainting them to either create more cohesion with your wall tiles, or to add a beautiful contrast to other elements in the room. Think about the overall feel you are wanting to achieve and choose a colour that brings this to life.
2. Paint over out-dated wall tiles.
In the past it was a bit more hit and miss to attempt to paint over tiles successfully without smudges and scratches. Now there are great products on the market like Dulux’s Renovators paint range that means you can cover over tired tiles to make them look close to new. (Whilst you can paint over floor tiles, as it is a much higher traffic surface it will not last in the way that painting over vertical spaces will.)
Dulux renovator’s range is a great option for painting over tired tiles. This is absolutely up there in terms of a simple but transforming tip for a bathroom refresh.
3. Replace bathroom towels.
It’s here that you can add a lot of your personality to your bathroom by mix and matching different tones and patterns to suit your style. There’s also the fabric of the towels to consider from the ultra-fluffy to the thinner, light-weight waffle or linen towels. Go crazy with colour or keep your palette muted but either way fresh towels are a must!
Whether it’s using subtle textural towels like this image from Carlene Duffy Design, or something much more vibrant, updating your bathroom linen is such a simple way to refresh the space.
4. Replace vanity top accessories and add plants.
Another simple tip is to replace the vessels you are using to store your toothbrushes, soap and other items on your vanity. Swap them out with another colour or material (think marble, textured ceramic for example), and while you’re there replace your toilet brush and roll holder to bring some more of your personal style into the space.
Whether they are on your vanity or hanging somewhere in your bathroom plants are a must to bring freshness and nature into your refreshed space. Here is a lovely example by Emily Netz Design.
5. Repaint vanity & replace handles.
If you want a go a little further in terms of impact with your bathroom refresh consider repainting your vanity. This is a great option to help change the mood of your bathroom by either going light, bold or dark on your vanity. Changing your current hardware with the myriad of finishes available is also a no brainer. They say the hardware is like jewelry to your space so you can get as creative as you like here.
Repainting your vanity will do wonders for your bathroom. Yes it might be on the upper end of effort in terms of a refresh but for maximum impact it’s certainly something on my list. This beautifully painted vanity by House Seven Design is a sublime example.
6. Swap out bathroom mirror.
If there’s one thing that can revolutionise your bathroom it’s replacing your current mirror for one with a different shape, size or frame. This is an easy swap out if your current mirror isn’t fixed to the wall.
Think about incorporating a different shape into your bathroom through the mirror that you choose. If your mirror is fixed to the wall don’t fear as you can add a frame to this sort of mirror to add big impact.
This vintage mirror in the home of Ashley Upchurch photography shows how effective changing out your old mirror for something with more character in terms of shape, framing or size will make you feel like you should have made the change years ago!
7. Add some art
These days there’s no room in your house that you can’t introduce some art, and your bathroom is no exception.
Wall spaces like above your toilet or feature bath can be perfect places to bring some extra personality into your bathroom through artwork.
Equally wallpaper (make sure it’s suitable for bathrooms like a vinyl wallpaper) can be another way to bring interest to your space but just remember to make your choices cohesive with the overall style of your home.
Simple art hung in a pair like this example from Grit and Polish Designs is a sweet example of how bringing art into your bathroom is an instant win for personality and soul.
And there you have it, some easy tips to create an eye-catching bathroom refresh! I hope you see great results from these suggestions and feel more at home in your bathroom at the book ends of the day.
For some of you your bathroom needs more work to get it to the functional and stylish wet area you need it to be. I get that, which is why my next two blog will be full of tips if you are tackling a bathroom make over or renovation. So stay tuned.
If you need more individualised help with your bathroom, because let’s face it every space is unique with it’s good and not so good points, feel free to reach out to me here. I’d love to help.
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