and to the splash of it on bare skin, both in the natural world and in the washroom. Increasingly, spas, Turkish baths and saunas are becoming popular places in which to unwind outside the home, and these days we naturally associate the bathroom with a place to relax. A bathroom also promises to be a private place, where we expect to shut the door on the world and be alone.
That's the theory, and in recent years an increasing number of bathrooms and shower rooms have been included in our homes. If space permits, it is considered de rigueur to have an en-suite bathroom off the master bedroom, if not one in every guest room. The bathroom now vies with the kitchen as a status symbol, with architects and interior designers churning out state-of-the-art designs. Yet it's a moot point whether such expensively kitted-out rooms - efficient as they are - actively promote relaxation. So take time to create a bathroom that is truly peaceful - a room in which washing is enjoyable is worth twenty trips to the spa.
Early on, define a mood - and look - that soothes you. Sporty, active individuals will relish a pristine, sparkling washroom, reminiscent of showers at the gym. Others may want a chill-out zone, a bathroom with a peaceful picture window onto a garden or space for a towelling-covered armchair. For some, it will be the back-to-nature simplicity of a stone-walled, wet-room shower that appeals. Everything you pick - from new sanitary ware to surfaces - should be geared to achieving that ambience.
First, consider the facilities already at your disposal. What must stay, what can be changed? A family bathroom will need to combine practically with simplicity, whereas an existing en-suite bathroom may be more explicitly tailored to your needs. The number of people using the bathroom dictates how self-indulgent the design is (or how great a financial investment you are prepared to make). If it's possible to design a bathroom from scratch as a result of adding a loft extension or creating a new-build house, this is the ideal opportunity to include special extras, such as computerized lighting and music.
Size needn't be an issue. Of course it's luxurious to convert a bedroom into a new bathroom with a central bath. But even the tiniest bathroom, cleverly conceived, can feel calm. Draw up a to-scale floor plan, with cut-out shapes of sanitary ware, and spend time working out the best layout. Replacing a pedestal basin with a wall-mounted style, or devising a custom-built combined bath/shower design, can make all the difference. Decide now on whether you want a bath or a shower, or both. Most of us have a natural preference. What's yours, what's your partner's? Look closely at your bath time rituals. Do you prefer to splash and dash or linger in the bath? If you are a shower person, it might be best to dispense with a bath altogether and invest in a full-size shower or a wet-room instead.
Efficient plumbing and heating are very important. As well as looking soothing, a bathroom must also be comfortable to be in (naked or clothed). If the room is chilly, add underfloor heating, and consider a heated towel rail (in a tiny space, this may be combined with a wall-mounted radiator). If the water pressure is frustratingly weak, fit a pump. Talking early on to a good plumber is essential: he will be able to translate your needs into practicalities and will save you money in the long term.
Source: ezinearticles.com