Bathroom Countertops
Counter tops provide additional workspace in the bathroom. Wood is not recommended for bathrooms as it can be damaged by the moisture, so use synthetic material resistant to water, moisture and dampness for bathroom countertops. Bathroom countertops are generally custom made and can be tailored to your bathroom design in terms of color, pattern, size and shape. Thus, they usually take a back seat in bathroom decorating and are made only to provide a workspace near a major fixture such as shower, whirlpool, bath tub or vanity sink. Plastic laminates that are water resistant and are quite decorative are quite popular for bathroom countertops and come in many different finishes and looks ranging from low luster to metallic to high gloss.
Plastic laminated bathroom vanity countertops are generally available with recessed sinks with self rims and under-mounted bowls. However, plastic countertops can get damaged by excessive heat and can sustain scratches from sharp objects or damages from ceramic or abrasive things dragged across them and are not suitable for bathrooms that are accessible by kids. They are easy to clean using soft, non-abrasive cloth and a mild household cleaner but scouring pads, abrasive powders, steel wool and sandpaper can scratch their surface. They can be easily stained too and that too permanently by dyes and other staining products and one needs to apply self cleaning wax periodically to avoid such stains.
They are economical and may prove long lasting, if used very carefully but water seeping in the seams and under sink edges can cause the laminate to separate by damaging the substrate. Thus, they may prove cumbersome to maintain. Bathroom marble countertops look elegant, are functional and have wide range of colors and styles. Cultured marble and cultured onyx is quite popular for bathroom countertops. It has a rugged, hard, waterproof and stain-resistant surface. They can be easily repaired and a little sanding and polishing the countertop can make it glisten like new. The common problem with bathroom marble countertops was crazing or formation of hairline cracks, which has been solved by cultured marble option.
It is easy to clean and polish and a protective coat of wax provides the perfect finish to marble countertops. Avoid using abrasives and scouring powders on these countertops as they can dull its shine. Corian is one of the expensive options for countertops and is made up of an advanced blend of natural materials and pure acrylic polymer. It has a smooth surface, comes in variety of colors, is nonporous, is resistant to mold, mildew or bacteria and resistant to moisture and stains. Corian bathroom countertops are easy to clean and maintain, hypoallergenic, nontoxic and chemically non-reactive. It offers three countertop finishes - matte, semi gloss and gloss. However, heat-generating appliances or hot pans should always be kept on a hot pad or trivet or it can damage its surface.
Corian countertops are easy to restore to its pristine condition using an ordinary abrasive cleanser and a cleansing pad. Granite is quite popular for a high-end and elegant bathroom vanity countertop. Coarse grained pegmatite is stronger than sandstone, limestone and marble and is more difficult to quarry. Granite is very much durable and impervious to water but as it is a natural rock, it can be chipped and broken and is very difficult to repair. Any liquid detergent and warm water can clean granite countertops easily but abrasive cleaners may scratch its surface and dull the finish that can be restored by polishing and waxing the countertop. White marble bathroom countertops are more porous than granite and are easily stainable.
Vessel bowls installed on a glass counter look beautiful and elite but they are difficult to maintain, easily breakable and can often get blemished with fingerprints. They can be cleaned using any standard glass cleaner. Tiled countertops are of course custom made and ceramic tiles are installed on site. Their surface looks attractive and is best for countertops. They are durable, easy to clean, resistant to stains, heat and moisture and very easy to maintain. However, the grout between the tiles may crack and collect bacteria that can prove unhealthy but if tiled counters are properly maintained and sealed well, they can offer good service for a number of years. Counter vessels kept on beautiful countertops can steal the show in a designer bathroom.
Bathroom Color Scheme
It may look silly to you to pay so much attention to bathroom color but it can really make or mar your bathroom decor and experience. Red walls being reflected in the bathroom vanity, where you apply makeup, can fool your eye into applying too much red on your face and make you look redder than you want to. Bathroom color choices are a part of color therapy that influences your overall experience in the bath. Bathrooms serve as our refuge from our busy lives, where we can devote sometime only to ourselves, away from all the hassles of our lives and help us to relax and even do our creative thinking while lying luxuriously in the hot water tub.
Choose bathroom paint color according to the taste of the individual, his or her emotional state and the feel you would like in your bathroom such as feeling relaxed or revitalized, energized, formal and royal, cozy, casual, creative or artistic. While deciding the color, it is best to keep a color wheel to consult choosing colors for your bath. There are some color basics that help you in choosing the right bath color scheme. Warm colors energize and are invigorating. Cool colors have a calming and soothing effect. Analogous colors or colors that are next to each other on the color wheel will make bath space look serene and relaxing. Complementary colors or colors that are across each other will give creative, artistic and jazzy look to your bathroom.
Colors schemes with high contrasts such as black and white or white and royal blue make the bath look formal and spotless. Low contrast color combination such as beige and shutter green and mint green and forest green lend a casual look to your bath. Latest trendy bathrooms can change their color according to your mood or the time of day, energizing and invigorating you in the morning and soothing you and helping you to relax before going to bed at night. The fashion in bathroom colors is to create harmonious color palettes, using the principles of color and light therapy, to help you heal and live life at best. There are showers with fiber-optic lights in different colors that can be lit selectively according to the feel you want at the moment, mood lighting in the bathroom and light fixtures that can dim down at night or for relaxing mood but can be very bright when you want them to be can help you have the best bath experience.
Give our bathroom a professional finish by painting it in unique color themes. You may get the inspiration from Nature, art pieces, dresses for a color palette. Even eggshell and pebbles can inspire you for a soft bathroom color palette. If you are choosing a monochromatic color scheme, you can add a visual balance and variety using the accessories in contrasting colors. Choose towels and decorative pieces in a shade lighter or darker than your walls. Do remember that when you are doing makeup in the bathroom vanity area, the colors reflecting in the mirror can fool you eye, whether they are bold or muted. So, you may need to compensate them with other colors for a balanced and natural look.
Colors cast shadows on each other or highlight the contrasting colors. White with beige may look dirtier than white with black. Lilac with blue looks bluer than lilac with white. To balance rectangular or square tiles and countertops, add plants and greenery to your bath to lend asymmetrical and natural beauty and add refreshing accent color to your bath. Tiles on walls and for flooring can also add beautiful colors to your bath. Blue glass tiles recreate the feel of water and sky while earthy green tiles look great for Nature lovers. Use red and other dramatic colors sparingly and with other colors to balance them out for greater effect. They are best used as accessories and towels. However, if you still want to use red in your bathroom vanity area or powder room, choose shades of red wisely such as rose and coral.Bath Accessories
Classy and elegant fixtures and bath accessories can turn your bathroom into a personal retreat while adding a creative and fun touch to your bathroom and may increase your comfort level in the bath too. It is necessary that the bathroom always remains neat and clean and is germ-free. Master bathrooms in modern homes built on larger scale are a popular tend these days and they may be as large and luxurious as the bedrooms in the house so you should pay special attention to the basic bathroom accessories that define the look of the bathroom such as bathroom mirrors, towel holders, shower curtains, holders to keep tissue, shampoo and holders, toothbrushes and paste; soap dishes and lotion dispensers.
While pondering on how to choose bathroom and bathtub accessory, make sure that you do not buy too much or less and that you may keep as many bathroom accessories in luxurious bathrooms as you want, as long as you have enough space for them and bathroom does not look too cluttered or crowded. Do not overdo your bathroom accessories or you may have to compromise on the organized look of your bathroom. Bathroom accessories make bathroom environment more appealing and can be bought based on a theme that goes with your bathroom design and style theme. Right accessories can give a unique, creative and different look to your bath space. A simple bathtub accessory such as a rack that fits on one end of the bath can make the soap and bathing lotions easily accessible to you while bathing and is a good idea.
Replace bathroom furniture set that sits unutilized in the bathroom with functional bath accessories that help you to relax and add warmth and coziness to your bath. Fresh towels kept neatly on a nearby towel rack ready to use after the shower or hanging on a towel holder in the bathroom wall cabinet are just priceless. Bathroom accessories also include aroma extracts and essential oils that soothe you with their fragrances as you massage them onto your body can occupy a place on your bathroom counters. You can recreate the spat at home or add romance to the day and pamper yourself by having a bubble bath in the tub strewn with dried or fresh flower petals or colored soap beads that serve as bathtub accents.
Color coordinate bathroom accessories and towels and you may even use a family of colors such as blended reds, oranges or pinks, with green highlights and summer bathrooms bedecked with youthful yellows. You can find soap dispensers, soap dishes, toothbrush holders and tissue boxes along with other bathroom accessories that can be grouped together as a theme. Find the matching ones and use them to make your bathroom look more attractive. You can change the look of your bathroom every moth or change of season by just changing the bathroom accessory sets and coordinate the colors of bath curtains, towels, hand towels and items around the washbasin items such as candles and magazine racks to go with them.
Magazine racks are for people who love to read while soaking in the bath. Make sure that accessories you are using are easy to clean and maintain and can resist moisture and dampness. A shower massager can help you ease the tension and relax before going to bed and a fog free shower mirror will help you to shave better. Expensive designer baths are creatively planned and indulgent and can use crystal bowl washbasins. A stylish, contemporary but small bathroom can use top cabinets; space saving radiators that can be used as towel rails too and may be a built-in seat for a luxurious touch or comfort place for the elderly. A light, simple bathroom carpet in a neutral shade suits contemporary bath decor much more than a heavy and plush rug. Other types of bathroom accessory ideas include pillar taps, bath panels, floor coverings, bathroom cabinets, shelving, window treatments such as blinds and curtains, towel rails, bins and mirrors.
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