The bathroom: temple to hygiene and cleanliness;
warehouse for myriad products that we use to fluff, buff
and maintain ourselves; and a very personal room that
guests sometimes need to use.
If every square inch of counter space is occupied by a
combination of bottles, boxes and equipment (think hair
dryer, eye lash curler and electric toothbrush), guests
must navigate to the sink and not think about why you're
using this cream or that lotion. And they really don't
need to see your hairbrush.
How does one provide an appropriate facility for
guests, the euphemistic "powder room," yet keep a
semblance of privacy? How does one have a bathroom that's
both functional for you and attractive for guests?
That's the challenge of the one-bathroom home.
Imagine you're a guest in your own home. Walk into the
bathroom. Aha. See the problem? This little room is
telling everyone your hygiene and beauty secrets (and the
world thought you were a natural beauty!).
So let's start by taking everything that's sitting on
a flat surface out. Remove it from the room entirely.
This is also a good opportunity to clear the clutter of
items that haven't been used in more than six months and
whose expiration date is long past. Even makeup has a
life span, though it's not printed on the box. Toss what
you haven't used recently or no longer like. What's left
is what you'll want to keep.
Of those items that remain, which can go into a drawer
or on a shelf that's out of sight? Good. Now put them
there. If you have things left over, think about how
often you use them. If it's every day, we'll find a
convenient place for them. If it's less often, we'll keep
them nearby, but perhaps not as readily available.
Next, 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, the largest visible
element. 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
the shower curtain, making it appear twice in the
room.
Bath and home-decor stores 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 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.
Make sure the shade doesn't impede the function of the
window - good ventilation prevents mildew.
Lighting is an important element in any room, and 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.
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A bathroom that's attractive and
practical.
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Use interesting containers to
store bathroom products.
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Now that the large elements are done, let's revisit
the storage issue. This is where your creativity comes
in. Go to a store where baskets, boxes and other
decorative items are sold, and think about your storage
needs. Flea markets, antique stores and gift stores are
also good places for stretching your creativity. Gather a
combination of items that will work well together -
perhaps they'll stack. Think outside the box. Will an old
cigar box be a good place for makeup? Perhaps a silver
cigarette case can hold hair clips. Antique jars are
great for cotton balls, and silver toothpick cups are
perfect for Q-Tips. A set of stacking baskets can do the
trick, too. Put the things you use every day in the top
basket, and those you need less often in the bottom.
The towel bars and tissue holder can be considered
"room jewelry" for a bit of sparkle. Hampers can be
practical and attractive. Include art on the walls to
complement the overall effect, and with newfound space on
the counter, include a scented candle and fresh flowers
for when guests visit or you take a leisurely bath.
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