Archive for the ‘Bathroom’ category

Looking Into Bathroom Renovation Ideas

February 20th, 2012



Bathroom renovation ideas depend basically on the size of the bathroom and the amount of budget you may have. With this in mind, you could then make a list of both inclusions and exclusions to your renovation project. A prime factor to consider in your bathroom renovation ideas is the people who will use the bathroom. The age groups of the users of the bathroom are essential in coming up with the general design of your bathroom.

When there are many members of the family and the toilet and shower is located in a single bathroom, it would be practical to construct separate enclosures for these two bathroom fixtures. This would create privacy while affording simultaneous use of the facilities.

The layout of the bathroom has to be determined in configuring the different bathroom renovation ideas into reality. It should be considered that there are several fixtures like sinks, toilets, and cabinets that undergo tremendous wear and tear due to its frequent use. You should make sure of having a good paint job in order to have a presentable bathroom finish.

The choice of tiles both for walls and floors is critical in creating a good presentation of the bathroom. The tiles to be chosen must match the existing and new fixtures and accessories to be included in the renovation project. While darker tiles may be appropriate for larger sized bathrooms, the lighter tinted tiles are ideal for the smaller spaces in bathrooms. Remember that in smaller bathroom configurations, it is best to have the same colored tiles both for the walls and the floor.

There are tiles made of ceramic and marble and it is up to you to choose your preferred type of tiles in different designs and styles. Some specialized designs would call for the use of special tiles made from either glass or even metal. The introduction of new tiles is a primary feature of bathroom renovation ideas.

Bathroom sinks experience constant flowing of water and therefore become depreciated with the passing of time. Changing the sink is also essential in bathroom renovations. Sinks and lavatories do come in different materials, ranging from ceramic, stone, and glass, to metal and cast iron, and other sturdy materials.

A lot of these sinks are so designed and constructed to be modular in nature allowing for easy installation under counter tops and wall brackets. Should your bathroom design use walls with granite finish, it would be ideal to match a sink or lavatory with similar materials.

Vanity cabinets are installed to keep your toiletries and other personal accessories. Make sure that the paint finish used is moisture proof or waterproof in order to last long. As a rule of thumb, these cabinets should be positioned away from the water sources otherwise you could use waterproof materials for you cabinets such as glass or porcelain. Lighting considerations are important in bathrooms just like in any other room in the house.

Planning Your Bathroom Tile Design, Pattern & Installation

February 20th, 2012



If you are planning to tile a bathroom by yourself, this article will help you plan your bathroom tiling installation in the best and cost effective way as well as giving you some tile design ideas. We will guide through your new bathroom tile design and installation planning step by step.

Attention – Note that planning your tiling installation properly is the most important step for smooth, easy going and problem free bathroom tile installation.

Remember a DIY bathroom tiling installation isn’t a quick job, so don’t miss the point and plan it right. All the time spent planning your tiling installation will save you money and headaches.

You have to plan your bathroom-tiling project carefully; choose the tile design and tile patterns, what materials you need and which tools you require.

Choose your Bathroom Tile design & Tile patterns

The tile patterns that you can create with different tiles are limited only by your own Tile design ideas. A large variety of standard tile designs, ideas and tile patterns are available. Some tile manufacturers may make special custom tile designs for you.

Choosing the tile design is obviously the first thing you need to do, with out deciding this you can not start planning your bathroom tile installation.

You can find a few basic bathroom tile design ideas & tile patterns, check it out.

For some Inspiration you can check Google pictures for some Bathroom Tile design ideas, there are over a million bathroom pictures here.

Tile suitability – Tiles are made in porous and non-porous varieties. When planning a bathroom tile installation, you should choose the non-porous ceramic tiles.

If your bathroom is small and the tiles have designs on them, you may have to go for smaller sized tiles as they have smaller designs. Too large tile designs may not suit small bathrooms so choose a smaller tile design for smaller bathrooms.

If you go for a plain color, the size isn’t that important, however try to follow the rule above anyway.

A good tile design idea is to choose contrasting colors for the floor tiles and wall tiles. Then have a skirting line the same color as the floor tile.

Another tile design idea is changing color at chest level, which will change the look of your bathroom.

Try to choose bathroom accessories that compliment the color of the walls.

Materials – How much will you need? – To calculate the quantity of materials that you need, you must take precise measurements of the total area that you wish to tile.

From the total area and the size of each tile, you can calculate the number of tiles required (you must know the size of the tiles you have chosen).

You must also remember to take into account the gaps between tiles when calculating the number of tiles needed, so make sure you include spacers appropriate to the tile size chosen.

If this equation becomes a little complicated, you can always use the table “Calculating your Tile needs” (link here) on this page.

When calculating consider more than half a tile as a full tile and less than a half tile as a half tile. If you have chosen a multicolored bathroom, calculate each color separately and note down the tile requirements.

Ordering tiles – Order the tiles on the basis of the measurements taken. Note that tiles are packed in boxes and the supplier is unlikely to sell tiles individually.

Remember to order extra tiles as you can be sure that some tiles will break during installation (even the best professional breaks tiles). In addition some of these extra tiles could be used in the future if any tiles need replacing. This is not only good but an advisable practice.

Always order additional tiles since the tiles you have ordered may not be available in future, and if you require replacement tiles, you will have difficulty finding a match.

Best tools for a good job – Make sure you choose the right tool for the job. It’ll make the job easier and safer too. You probably have a basic toolbox however for tiling installation you need special tiling tools.

Some of them are expensive but don’t waste your money buying professional tools that you won’t use enough to pay for themselves. Instead hire them. For some $$ you can have the best tools for a few days. And if you’ve done your planning properly you’ll only need them for a few hours.

Remember, that planning your tiling installation properly is the most important step for smooth, easy going and problem free bathroom tile installation.

I hope it’s been useful, happy tiling!

Bathroom Vanities Are An Efficient Use Of Your Space

February 9th, 2012



Bathroom vanities give you the most efficient use of space in your bathroom. Most bathrooms are small, and the space inside holds no more than a sink, a shower or tub, and a toilet. If you need storage space, however, a medicine cabinet appears to be all that will fit. This isn’t the case with bathroom vanities, however. Instead, the combination of a wooden cabinet, a sink with a small counter, and a mirror in some cases allows you a place to wash, groom, and store items ranging from towels and linens to shaving supplies and hair tools.

Traditional bathroom vanities have a wooden cabinet as the base. With several finish possibilities, this cabinet often has one or two doors that open to a large space. Inside, this space may even be equipped with shelves. But no matter the design of the interior, many items can be kept inside. Towels, hair driers and straighteners, makeup bags, trimmers and razors, bath products, and cleaning supplies can all fit inside.

On top of the wooden cabinets are a small counter and sink. The counter, made from real or synthetic stone, can support items as you use them. Additionally, many bathroom vanities come with a mirror.

Double vanities give your bathroom even more efficiency within a small space. Double vanities are characterized by two sinks on one counter. Between 60 and 73 inches long, these fixtures allow two people to use the space at once; if a home or apartment is designed with only one bathroom, the double vanity reduces wait time for getting ready in the morning. Additionally, the double design still has all of the traditional features, including a large cabinet or two smaller cabinets below and a counter with greater surface area.

Bathroom vanities come in two styles – contemporary and traditional. Traditional vanities have a wooden cabinet with a stone counter and porcelain sink on top, while most contemporary styles are made from a combination of glass and metal.

DIY Home Improvement