Bathrooms have come a long way in recent decades. Maybe you remember pink tile or blue Formica around the sink in your childhood home, or that time your curling iron burned a spot in the Corian countertop while you got ready for high school prom. Like us, bathrooms are now all grown up, with luxe materials and features that take the space far beyond functional. Here are some of the best upgrades you can do right now.
The advent of the “spathroom”
Especially since COVID-19, designers are including more and more features normally found in a spa — so much so that the term “spathroom” has entered the lexicon. For instance, saunas and steam showers, which have long been features in European homes, are now becoming more prevalent in bathrooms stateside. To accommodate a sauna or steam shower in an existing bathroom, you may have to borrow space from a closet or bedroom. There are both custom and prefabricated options.
Diana Blackman of The Blackman Group at Compass Real Estate walks through numerous bathrooms every day as she helps clients find their next home. “We are seeing bathrooms that are more spacious than ever, often in combination with the primary closet, and offering special amenities, like a coffee bar. Utilitarian purposes are being combined with a sense of luxury. The primary bath has become another place to unwind and relax.”
With relaxation in mind, homeowners are now incorporating sitting areas into bathrooms. For a recent project, designer Margaret Chambers of Chambers Interiors & Associates created a primary bath that exudes elegance, including a sitting area with antique chairs nestled against windows.
In addition to providing a spot to rest, a sitting area is practical — providing a spot to put on your shoes. Even a single chair tucked in a corner or under a vanity can be both beautiful and useful.
Options for a stylish tub and shower
For those who enjoy a long soak, stand-alone bathtubs continue their popularity. Whatever your aesthetic, there’s a style for you; these days tubs are practically a work of art. (Vintage Tub & Bath is a favorite source for Chambers.) And it’s not uncommon for tubs to be behind the shower glass in a “wet room” space.
In other cases, homeowners are opting to exclude a bathtub from their primary bathroom, using the extra space for an oversized shower with more than one showerhead. “Curbless” showers, frameless doors and showers with no door at all offer a sleek, streamlined look. Those who have safety in mind can choose from an array of decorative grab bars, like this square version in brushed brass or a stainless wave style.
If the primary bath does not include a tub, Chambers recommends that at least one bathroom in the house should have a tub, especially for families with small children.
Durable (and beautiful) bathroom floors
Stepping on to a cold bathroom floor isn’t a good way to start the morning. Fortunately, heated flooring has become more affordable as well as more durable.
Wood floors are also an option for bathrooms, thanks to polyurethane sealants such as Bona, which makes wood both an attractive and waterproof alternative. If tile is more your taste, consider choosing a textured tile or laying tiles in a pattern, either geometric or one that resembles a rug. (No need for wall-to-wall carpeting to make a comeback in the bathroom.)
Light, bright color palettes
Tearing out and replacing tile and countertops in a bathroom is messy, inconvenient and expensive. For that reason, Chambers recommends using a color palette and materials that will withstand the test of time, aesthetically speaking. Natural stone, such as quartzite or marble, or manufactured quartz work well in any bathroom.
“Keep it lighter, brighter and simpler,” Chambers advises. “Neutral materials for floors and countertops are always a good choice and can be complemented by wallpaper, fabrics and paint that are easier and cheaper to change when you are ready for a new look.” Swapping out faucets and hardware is another simple makeover that can make a bathroom feel updated.
As bathrooms have become a new spot of respite in the home, the number of suppliers for faucets, flooring, lighting and accessories has grown exponentially. “The choices,” Chambers says, “are endless.”
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