For many of us, the bathroom is the tiny, cluttered room off the bedroom where we rush to brush, shower and coif before racing off to the office. But what if it were a place to retreat after a long, hard day, a haven to soothe the soul and calm the nerves? It can be done – and within any budget.
Low-cost: Accessorizing
The key to making a room more inviting is to use what you already have.
“Play with the existing colours in the room,” suggests interior decorator Karl Lohnes. “If you have a gold toilet, tub and sink, make that part of your colour scheme.”
Matching dominant colours will create a more uniform and calming look. Bright colours that compete for attention tend to create a chaotic mood. Karl explains that he recently re-did a bathroom that had dark-brown mini tiles. He played up the colour by incorporating a chocolate brown canvas shower curtain along with some brushed nickel accessories for a streamlined hotel look.
Jacqueline Glass, interior decorator and owner of Jacqueline Glass & Associates in Mississauga, Ont., says white is the colour of calm. Multiple white towels are an inexpensive way to create a lush environment, and they'll look good against almost any wall colour. Stack them on a tray topped with a bar of lavender soap, which adds an inspiring scent. Pillar candles placed around the room add a romantic touch to evening baths, fresh flowers (even a single stem) add beauty, French hand-milled soaps offer a decorative touch, while a plush white robe and slippers are pure comfort. “There's nothing more soothing,” says Jacqueline. “It's what you do for yourself.”
