Make the Most of the One Bathroom in the House-Part 2

Now that we’ve addressed the storage solution in your one bathroom home, let's look at the walls, windows and tub area. 

I'll assume that everything is structurally sound and clean, but might not be as attractive as it could be. 

What can be done to make these hard surfaces look better? 

If painting the walls is an option, select paint colors after you choose the shower curtain because it’s the largest visible element. Paint stores are wonderful about helping you match colors. If you can't paint, select a shower curtain that complements the colors already there.

The shower curtain dominates any small bathroom, and, at the same time, provides an opportunity to be creative. Remember that the mirror over the sink usually reflects this large element, making it appear twice in the room.

Bath and home-decor stores like Bed Bath & Beyond sell ready-made shower curtains in a wide variety of styles and colors. Select one that pleases you, and buy a waterproof liner. From this choice, all other decorative decisions will be made, so choose carefully.

With your new shower curtain in hand, select a paint color or wallpaper that complements it, whether it blends or contrasts. It's a small room, and big colors will make it appear smaller. If you use wallpaper, choose one that can handle moisture.

Next, the window treatment. Privacy is paramount, so make sure that what you select maintains it. If you choose a natural fiber shade, include a privacy backing. The shade shouldn’t impede the function of the window - good ventilation prevents mildew. Some shower curtain manufacturers sell complementary curtains, so that might be a good option.

Towel bars and tissue holder are practical room jewelry and add a bit of sparkle. Include art on the walls to complement the overall effect.

Lighting is an important element. If you can change the fixture, select one that can be put on a dimmer switch. Guests don't need full light for their needs. And, of course, candles. They create a relaxing mood for your end-of-day bath and give your bathroom that “powder room” feeling for guest.

WHAT TO DO WHEN A FAVORITE ROOM LOOKS TIRED

Let's say you designed that special room 10 or 15 years ago. And it's lovely; just the way you like it. Always has been and always will be.

But, when you look at it objectively, you can see that it's a little tired; maybe the carpet has a trail worn in it from the door to the closet that no matter how many times you've cleaned it, it's still there. And the paint looks a bit dingy, especially around the light switches and doorknobs. And maybe, just maybe, overall it looks little bit dated.

It's counterintuitive to say that if you love a room and it needs to be refreshed that you should redesign it. There's no rule that says you can't just make the old look new with a fresh coat of paint and a similar carpet.

But taking a well-designed room that's tired and making it look new takes a bit more than just repainting it the same color and replacing the carpet with the same color and style. After all, the same hairstyle that you had 15 years ago may no longer be appropriate today. It needs to be modified, if only slightly, to look its best.

Look carefully at the room, and then think about rooms you've seen in magazines. Compare your room with what's in the pictures. For example, look at the scale of the crown moulding and the details of the recessed lighting. Notice the difference? These little details can date a room. But with a little bit of work, they can also refresh the look of a room without changing its design. It just updates it.

If you already have crown moulding, an updated look can be achieved with a new style of moulding that's larger and more in keeping with today's housing trends. It can be installed directly over the existing moulding. Any good lumber yard, Home Depot, or Lowe's has an expert who can guide you with what will look best in your home. Work with a good carpenter to make sure your design is installed properly. If you don't already have moulding on the ceiling, consider adding it. This change can make a huge difference in any room.

If the room has recessed lighting, the units installed in the mid-'90s probably have black inserts, called baffles. That was the style then. Now these inserts can be updated by removing them, painting them white with a heat-resistant spray paint, and putting them back in place. Voila, an update for the price of a can of spray paint!

If the room doesn't have recessed lighting, it's not difficult to add it for an updated look. Then think about putting in dimmers to give your room a totally updated look. Lutron is the maestro of lighting switches, so start on their web site for good ideas. Make sure to work with a licensed electrician as this is a technical job that needs to be done properly and meet building codes.

When you're planning on repainting the walls and trims, think about how to update this aspect as well. Use the same color on the walls, but by changing the trim color ever so slightly you'll give the room an updated look. If the trim is white, think about a different white - there are only about 100 variations to choose from. If you used a bright white then, now a softer white will reflect the change in decorating styles. For example, if you go to Benjamin Moore Paints' web site, they have a "Virtual Fan Deck" where you can look at all their variations of any color, including white. It's a small difference, but one that brings the house into the new century. And, for the wall color, if you don't remember what color you used or have a paint can in the garage or basement from all those years ago, they can make a perfect match from your existing color just by bringing a small piece of it to the store. It might mean taking it off the walls with a knife, but since you're repainting, you can do a small patch as part of the prep. Home Depot and Lowe's paint departments can also do this for you.

Finally, new carpeting. To match exactly what was a standard color when the room was designed, the new carpet might have to be custom dyed. Or, you can use this opportunity to choose a newer carpet that's more in keeping with today's home trends. Stay in the same color palette to maintain the good design, but select a carpet that's ever so slightly different. This might also be a good time to go "green" with a product that's more environmentally friendly. There are lots of choices out there; it just takes some research and working with a good vendor. A good place to start is "From the Floors Up," a blog site that's filled with useful information about carpet and flooring products.

Bottom line; for not very much money you can transform a well-designed but tired-looking room into a fresh-looking room with all its elements intact and updated with fresh paint, new carpeting and lighting, and current moulding. You can also use this time to put your plants in new containers and rearrange your well-loved accessories so they look fresh to you.

Good design always stands the test of time: it just needs a little help to stay good looking.