Remodeling Your Bathroom

     Remodeling your bathroom does not have to be hard.  There are a lot of great ideas out there to help you with remodeling, so instead of feeling overwhelmed, you can look into some different trends and see which one fits you the best.

• The more light, the better.  People today want their bathrooms to be bright.  This may mean that you need to add windows to your bathroom for natural light.  Other options are skylights in your bathroom.  There are so many different lighting options for you, depending on what type of bathroom you are going for, from modern to traditional to country. 
• Steam baths are becoming popular.  Some people want to come home and distress using their bathroom as a steam bath.  Typically a steam room will take about 10-15 minutes to heat up.  The bathroom usually has to have a seat, a floor drain, a sloping ceiling in order to drain any condensation, tile or marble on all surfaces, and a vapor tight door. 
• Large and airy showers are in.  Many people are even tearing out their tubs in order to create an expanded shower.  The shower is then frequently surrounded by glass.  Hinged doors and heavier glass have become more popular than sliding glass.  People want to feel like they are living in luxury in their bathrooms, and in a sense, they are bringing the spa to their home. 
• Noisy Jacuzzis are going out of style, and soaking tubs are coming in style.  Many people want a quiet and relaxing experience in their tubs.  These tubs do not have jets and are usually deep and insulated.  They also do not usually have any decking like the Jacuzzi tubs have.
• Having two vanities in the bathroom is becoming popular.  Many homeowners want his and hers sinks as well as vanities, and this even includes small bathrooms.  With two vanities, each individual can have his or her own space, own storage, and own area.  The sinks involved are becoming more stylish as well, with sinks that rise from a base or faucets that come right from a wall or sinks that have their own legs. 
• Grab bars have become popular.  These are hand bars that are bolted into the walls in showers and above tubs in order to prevent people from falling.  These have become popular in a number of bathrooms.  One reason for this is the increase in the number of baby boomers who are reaching the age in which they want safety in their bathrooms.  Younger people like them now too, though, because they no longer look like what you might see in a nursing home or hospital, but are much more stylish. 
• Porcelain tile and stone tile have become popular.  Linoleum and glazed tiles are out.  You don’t need to spend a lot of money on marble for your walls or floor, but can go instead with stone tile or porcelain tile.  If you are considering selling your home anytime soon, you may want to think about using more natural tones, such as light browns, clear glass colors, or cool greens.  Consider making the flashy and colorful items the accessories that can easily be moved if necessary. 

• Giving the toilet some privacy.  Some people want the toilet to be more private.  This means that the toilet in the master bathroom has a private room or a privacy wall.  Moving the toilet may not cost as much as you think.  With PVC pipes, you can probably move your toilet for a couple of hundred dollars. 
• Putting a flat screen television in your bathroom.  Okay, so we might be getting just a little spoiled here, but the bathroom is a place where you can sit and relax in the tub, so why not have a television for entertainment?  This has become a popular trend as of late. 
• Vertical storage is a must.  Many people want more storage in the bathroom, but find it difficult with the way bathrooms are set up, and the vanities often do not provide much storage space.  Starting the storage at vanity level and then going up is a good idea because the items are easy to get to without having to bend down.  It is better to have it enclosed with a door so that you don’t have to look at the items inside the storage.  Another suggestion is to have a medicine cabinet or vanity cabinet that has an outlet inside of it.  This has a huge advantage, because now you can have your electric shaver, toothbrush, or curling iron put away instead of having it out in the open as clutter.
• Heated floors.  Yes, I agree, we want it all.  Who wouldn’t want heated tiles so that when you get out of the shower or bath your feet are warm?  There is a mesh that can be put under the tiles when they are set and can be connected to the thermostat of your wall.  It may not be as expensive as you think.  It can be done for just hundreds of dollars.  If you want a different option, there are also heat mat systems. 
• People are trying to be more green and energy efficient.  If you use a heated floor, attach it to a timer so that it isn’t working all the time.  Use a low-flow toilet that has two buttons.  One button releases a lot less water and very little is needed.  On demand water systems also have the ability to heat water without the need for a water heater.