Start and end your day with calm efficiency – and a little splash of luxury. Next to kitchens, bathrooms top the list for home renovations that add maximum value to your home. A modern, well laid out, efficient bathroom also adds loads of value and comfort to your day-to-day life.
This year, bathroom design continues to trend towards streamlined modern elegance. And for good reason – with the help of smart design and technology, the contemporary bathroom is bursting with benefits! Check out the innovations and trends for these bathroom elements.
Floating Vanity
If you’d like more space in your bathroom without expanding its footprint, opt for a wall-mounted vanity. These units are often smaller than furniture-like vanities as they do not rest on the floor, thereby saving space. They install onto the wall, floating above the floor, giving the bathroom an overall feeling of spaciousness. And don’t think for a moment that you have to sacrifice any storage space. While traditional vanities are cavernous cupboards with maybe one or two small drawers, many floating vanities offer medium to large drawers with clever compartments for your necessities and grooming items.
Pair a floating vanity with the perfect companion – a recessed mirror cabinet to house things like toothbrushes, toothpaste, cotton swabs and razors. The vanity and cabinet work together to keep items off the counter and floor. So, wiping up after every use is natural, and with no obstructions, deep cleaning is a breeze. Have a large bathroom? Get your own zone with matching floating vanities.
Spa-Like Shower
Nowhere do fixtures matter more than in the shower – and the rain shower head continues to be a popular pick. The benefit of a rain system is the steady, light-pressure flow of water – like rain. It’s relaxing, not punishing, like the standard shower head that can make you feel like you’re either being pressure-washed, or entirely missed by the spray. Most rain shower heads include a shower neck extension, which helps ensure you’ll fit under the shower without having to constantly adjust your position to get a good soak. Or if you want the shower head in a fixed position, your plumber could install it on the ceiling for you. Some wall-mounted rain shower heads come with convenient handheld attachments that let you hand shower off when you don’t want overhead spray.
Aching muscles? Add body sprays or jets to your shower. These systems include three or more wall-mounted spray nozzles that are each designed to produce a different type of massaging spray. They are usually crafted to feel like they are spraying a lot of water without actually using that much.
To complete your spa-like shower, go door-less. Whether they swing or slide, glass shower doors can be cumbersome – and difficult to keep streak-free. So, skip the task. Create a shower space that you can walk right into. Make it “curb-less” without even a ledge on the floor, and you’ve created a shower with ultimate convenience and flexibility, no matter what your future needs may be.
The Wow Factor of Walk-In Tubs
Does your remodel include a new bathtub? Think past an ordinary one and consider the benefits of a walk-in tub. Sure, it has all the safety features: an easy access door and skid-proof bottom. The best part? It’s perfect for a hydrotherapy soak after a vigorous day of sports or if you have chronic muscle pain. With a walk-in tub you easily get in and out of it without additional strain. And since you’re seated chair height with proper posture, you can gain the maximum benefits from whirlpool jets that gently soothe and massage muscles and joints. Many come with upgraded supply and drain lines so your tub fills and drains fast, letting you spend most of your time enjoying the relaxing benefits of the bath itself.
Plus, with a walk-in tub you can save space! A standard tub is 60” long. Though some walk-in tubs have similar dimensions, many models are less than 55” in length, and some are small enough at 38” to still provide a bathing experience and only take up the space of a shower stall. Imagine what you can do with the extra space!
Chris Kehler from Coast Bathing Solutions says, “We work hard to find durable, quick-to-install units, but also visually pleasing products, accessories and building materials for our clients.” So, one thing’s for sure – progressive walk-in tub builders aim for quality, function and good-looking design.
Techie Toilets
Of course, no bathroom renovation discussion would be complete without an honourable mention about toilets – high-tech toilets, that is. With elongated style, antimicrobial seat, remote-control flush and soft-close lid, Smart toilets tick the boxes on dignified convenience. The typical Smart toilet also comes with bidet and dryer. With all these fancy functions, yes, it does need to connect to a power source. But the electronics are efficient, and since Smart toilets use less water than standard toilets (some are even tankless), they don’t consume much power or water. So, although a high-tech toilet is an investment upfront, you can have the benefits without breaking the bank in the long run. Cleaning is a snap too with its streamlined outer design. Despite technology, one of the best things about it is its soft-closing lid. If that is the most important wish, you can accomplish this by buying a manual, soft-closing toilet seat for under $50 at your local home centre.
Tile & Fixtures
With plumbing fixtures in place, turn your attention to tile. This sets the design tone for your bathroom. With various colours, patterns and materials to choose from, it’s a matter of preference. Remember though, the tile size you choose can affect how spacious your room feels. Larger tiles generally make a room feel bigger. With fewer grout lines, large tiles read as one clean, unified expanse. Interestingly, you can have nearly the same effect using small, penny-sized or mosaic-like tiles with grout in a similar colour. And you can’t beat the added benefit of texture and sparkle with those smaller tiles.
Classic colours for bathrooms such as light blues, soft grey, and shades of white give the bathroom a clean, airy look. If you’re fond of a strong tile colour or pattern, try using it on just one wall, like an accent wall in your living room. And, for the illusion of an area rug in your bathroom that will never slip out of place, use tile to create borders and outlines to frame in your space. Or for subtle but striking pattern, arrange plain tiles in a Herringbone pattern to add interest and texture without being too visually over-powering. When you have your flooring figured out, retire your old electric baseboard heater, and add an electric heat mat under floor tiles for a little luxury and loads of comfort.
The “jewellery” in a bathroom is the faucets. And gold-tones are back! Not so long ago we would have shuttered at the thought of putting brass fixture handles in our bathroom – now it’s in style – even more high-end looking than chrome or brushed nickel. Let light sconces glimmer in gold tones. Black or bronze faucets also give your bathroom a craftsman custom look.
For your next bathroom renovation or re-design, find fixtures with a bounty of benefits to help you feel refreshed and rejuvenated. With so many choices available at home stores and specialty bath boutiques, you don’t have to sacrifice form for function. You can have it all: a blissful at-home spa and a showpiece of your clean and clever design.
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