How to make the most of a small bathroom

For most of us our bathroom is the smallest room in our home and with houses now shrinking in size, bathrooms are getting even smaller. However, most of us dream of having one of those celebrity style bathrooms where space is not an issue and you can enjoy the ultimate bathroom experience. For most of us this dream is far out of reach and so we have to make do with our relatively small bathrooms. However, there are some useful tips you can try and follow to help maximise your bathroom space and create the illusion of space. We have put together a few tips which have been tried and tested and used in many small bathrooms.

• Colours – If you have a small bathroom space then the colour scheme you choose can either help to maximise or minimise the space. Dark colours are not ideal in a small bathroom as they will make it feel very closed in and will emphasise the limited space. Try to use natural and neutral colours as they will encourage a light and airy atmosphere and help to reflect any natural light within your bathroom making it appear more spacious.
• Lighting – Lighting is an important tool to use to create the illusion of space. If your bathroom has very little natural light then it is important to maximise the lack of light with artificial lighting. Spot lights in the ceiling are a great way to light a bathroom and give the impression of natural light and space. Correctly positioned, spot lighting can help to create a spacious feeling.
• Furniture – Bathroom suites vary in size but there is pretty much a bathroom suite to fit even the smallest of spaces. The key with a small bathroom is to be sensible. Don’t buy a suite that takes up all of your space, there are specialist bathroom suites available for small bathrooms. With modern shower and bath combinations as well as compact toilets and sinks that now come in a range of shapes and sizes. By choosing a compact bathroom suite you will increase the floor space available and make your bathroom seem far larger than it is in reality.
• Mirrors and glass – Using mirrors and glass in your bathroom will help reflect natural light and increase the spacious feeling. Try not to use a conventional shower curtain as this will automatically block space and create a divide. Use a glass shower divide and this will allow light to flow through the room and make it feel far more open and spacious. Mirrors are also a great way to enhance light and space within your bathroom but don’t go too crazy with the mirrors.

These useful tips can help you to make more of your bathroom and leave you with a more functional and useable space.

Five tips to enjoying a relaxing bath

Baths are a great way to help relax your tired and stressed body. A perfect bath can relieve you stresses and leave you feeling calm and mellow. Most may think that it is obvious how to take a bath and if you’re bathing simply to clean then I suppose it is. However, not all of us know how to create that perfect bath, that bath that takes you to another place, a place of serenity and relaxation. We have put together five handy tips to help you achieve the ultimate relaxing bathing experience. Follow these handy tips and you could find yourself taking baths more often!

Cleanliness

No matter how much of a clean freak you may be, it is always a good idea to give your bath a clean before you start to run it. Nothing can be less relaxing than lying in a bath with grime, dirt, fluff, hair or the worst case a spider! Stepping into a perfectly clean bath will help you to relax and feel at ease whilst you bathe.

Temperature

Many people often get the temperature of their bath completely wrong. Most of us either run a bath that is far too hot or is barely warm. Neither of these are going to be enjoyable never mind relaxing. If you’ve always thought you’ve hated having baths then temperature could be the issue. If the bath is too hot then it could leave you feeling nauseous, dizzy and weak but if it is too cold then it could leave you dithering and feeling like you can’t get warm. It is recommended that you get into your bath at a medium temperature. Test it with your forearm and if it burns then it is too hot. It is best to get into a warm bath and add more hot water if it is needed.

Bath scents & oils

Bath scents & oils can be a great way to help you relax. There are various aromatherapy oils and scents available such as lavender, chamomile, sandalwood, cedarwood, ylang ylang and rose, all of which can create relaxing scents in your bath to help calm and de-stress you. They can also be good for relaxing strained muscles or just everyday aches and pains.

Atmosphere

Creating a relaxing atmosphere is key to the perfect bath. It’s not going to be relaxing if the kids are running around or someone is nagging at you to quickly vacate the bathroom. Plan your relaxing bath for a time when nobody is around or make sure everyone understands you are not to be disturbed.

Try lowering the lighting or possibly using candles dotted around the room to give the feeling of a spa like experience. Candles or lower lighting is a great way to soothe tired eyes and will help you relax into your bath.

Why not pop your favourite cd or playlist on the i-pod player, something calming, slow and chilled. Chillout albums are great for listening to in a relaxing bath. They will remind you of a spa or being on a tropical beach somewhere.

Bath comforts

Buy yourself some typical bath comforts to aid you relaxation. No bath is complete without plenty of bubbles but not so much that they become an irritation. There are various bubble bath products now on the market that are aimed at relaxing and soothing you. Whether it’s aching muscles, stress relief or wanting to sleep better, there is a bubble bath to aid it. Finally to add to your comfort, buy yourself a bath pillow, these make relaxing so much easier and stop you from having to rest your head against a cold bath.

The latest shower crazes

In recent years, showers have become just as much an important part of the bathroom as the bath. Whether you have a shower over your bath or a separate shower, there are some amazing shower products available on the market to choose from to give you a modern look and finish. Modern showers have become all the rage for bathrooms and the great news is that they can be affordable too. Many people now actually prefer having a shower to a bath and some have even made the decision to remove their bath tubs altogether giving them the option to have the ultimate modern shower.

Monsoon Showers

Monsoon showers have become increasingly popular in recent years and they offer a relaxing feeling of standing under a waterfall. These amazing shower heads have been inspired by tropical monsoons and can be used for both walk in showers as well as shower and bath combinations. A monsoon shower head offers a truly luxurious appearance and is ultra modern looking just the part in a contemporary bathroom.

Monsoon showers are available in a variety of shapes and sizes depending upon the type of space you have for your shower. You can choose from both square and circular monsoon shower heads depending on your personal choice but both give fantastic results and create an enjoyable shower. You can even choose from a range of combination showers. You can enjoy the benefit of having a monsoon shower over head and a normal shower head below for those times when you just prefer a standard shower or for your children.

Shower Jets

One of the most recent showering must haves are shower jets. These clever jets can be ideally placed wherever you choose in your showering space to give a spa like massaging feeling. These powerful shower jets are designed to help you to relax and soothe your aching muscles. Most are adjustable giving you the ability to manoeuvre the jets into a position that suits your body and aches and pains.

These jets mimic the benefits you would normally gain from a hydrotherapy pool but in the privacy and comfort of your own shower. You can have as many shower jets as you like installed and they come in a variety of styles to suit your bathroom.

Wet Rooms

Wet rooms make a great feature in any home and if done to a professional standard they can add value to any home. Wet rooms can incorporate just showers or both a shower and a bathing area depending upon the space you have. Wet rooms are ultra modern but can be expensive to install so if you have a small budget then this may not be for you. A wet room adds a degree of luxury to your bathroom and can be an amazing experience. Removing the need for a bath or a shower tray, wet rooms are a simple and fast way to have a shower. With both waterproof walls and flooring as well as a sloped floor in order for the water to drain easily, wet rooms are easy to clean and bring a touch of a spa to your home.