No Cutting Corners - Using Corner Sinks to Spice Up the Bathroom

Too often, when it comes to home renovations, many homeowners think that there is not much room for creativity. With small spaces and bulky, set pieces of furniture, bathrooms can seem somewhat limited in terms of overall design. However, for homeowners who are willing to think outside the box, there are plenty of options to both maximize the space as well as giving the room a distinctive flair that is sure to breathe new life into an old space, as well as increase the value of your home.

One way to redefine a bathroom is to consider a corner sink. A sink is a staple in any bathroom, from a first floor water closet to a spa-inspired master bath. While many people may consider the different styles of bathroom sinks, from pedestal units to modern basins units, it is also important to remember that a sink can be chosen not only for its style and material, but for its placement as well.

A corner sink may be an unconventional choice, but there are many reasons that some homeowners may discover that it is the smartest choice for their space. The first reason to consider corner sinks is that it is an efficient use of space. Some bathrooms, especially in older homes, are exceptionally small. In some extreme cases, it is actually nothing more than a converted closet, which is obviously very small and leaves little room for creativity in the design. Because of this, fitting in all the necessary components can be a difficult task, leaving homeowners with an awkward layout and no room to maneuver. By choosing to use a corner sink, homeowners can use their space in a way that opens up the floor, which can make even the smallest bathroom seem a little bit larger.

Another reason to consider using a corner sink is for purely stylistic reasons. Since bathrooms often have prescribed items to go in the space, such as a toilet, sink, and bathtub, finding ways to set the room apart can be difficult. By opting to use a corner sink, a bathroom will have a more custom look, making it both space efficient and stylistically memorable.

Since corner bathroom sinks are not as common, there may be a smaller selection for homeowners to choose from, but it is still possible to find one that fits in to any decor. From pedestal sinks positioned on an angle, to more custom looking vanities, and even units installed floating on the wall, it is possible to find the perfect unit to light up the corner of any bathroom.

By Derek Farley

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Create a Rustic Bathroom With Bathroom Accessories

When you're searching for bathroom accessories to add into your "blank canvas" of a bathroom, your options may seem endless. In some cases, homeowners create a neutral bathroom so that they can easily change the décor whenever they'd like without having to worry about investing time in a full blown remodeling project every time they decide to update the look of their bathroom. This is an extremely smart and efficient strategy, but can often leave the homeowners drawing a blank as to what direction they should take their bathroom in decoratively.

Bathroom décor doesn't just cover soap dishes and tooth brush holders. There are tons of tiny details within your bathroom that can easily be replaced in order to create a fully coordinated look within the room. A popular style that can be found in many modern homes is the rustic look. Creating a rustic look within your bathroom gives you the opportunity to give the look of a beautiful, old-fashioned space, but with a touch of elegance and luxury. For bathroom's, luxury is often a decorative element that is concentrated on since the bathroom can be seen as somewhat of an "escape" and gives it's user a moment to relax. By adding rustic products into your neutral bath, you'll create a traditional, beautiful look without having to spend a ton of money.

Adding decorative elements into the bathroom can be a tricky situation in general. Since many bathrooms are notoriously small, space is always an issue. Counter, floor, and wall space are all extremely important and cluttering them with decorative pieces can be extremely impractical. Simple changes, like new cabinet hardware in the style of your choice, can give your room a major decorative boost. In our rustic example, simply by replacing your generic cabinet pulls with antique rustic cabinet knobs can cause an immediate spark in the look and feel of the room. Although they are relatively small, cabinet knobs and pulls are a major element within every bathroom and make a much bigger impact than many assume.

Coordinating other vital elements in the room with your newly installed bathroom cabinet hardware will allow you to help create that coordinated and organized look that gives every homeowner a sense of accomplishment and harmony. There are other accessories in your bathroom that can easily be replaced with more decoratively interesting pieces. A great example would be giving your towel bars a decorative boost. By choosing rustic style bathroom hardware over the generic ones you have installed now, you've quickly and easily changed two items within the room and coordinated them perfectly. Without having to hire a designer or spend a ton of money, your room is looking professionally designed. When you're dealing with such a small space like the bathroom, even the smallest details can make the biggest impact on the room. When you ensure that all of these small elements are working together flawlessly, you can create an organized and beautiful space without having to undergo a remodeling project.

If you choose to take your coordination project even farther, considering upgrading elements like bathrooms faucets and even curtains to your rustic style can give you a beautiful finished product. Instead of trying to find things that not only fit in your bathroom, but coordinate with your theme - take the route that's been right under your nose the whole time. The details in your bathroom are begging for the attention they deserve. By giving it to them, you won't believe just how amazing your space can look. By taking our bathroom's to their full potential, we're ultimately improving the look and feel of our homes as a whole. By taking it room by room, you can have the home of your dreams in no time.

By Jonathan

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Bathroom Basics Feng Shui Style

Recently I have had some questions from readers about bathrooms. I thought it would be a good time to talk about the smallest room in the house. Well now-a-days it isn't the smallest anymore. People are turning their bathrooms into meditation spaces, gathering spots with sofas and chairs and in some cases they are becoming palatial spaces. But for most of us the bathroom remains a humble place to take care of very human needs.

When planning a new house or major renovation that includes the bathroom there are some things to consider. One of the most important is where to put the bathroom. Here we can think of some common sense rules. The bathroom is prone to smells, bacteria, leaking pipes and excess moisture. These are all things we want to avoid in the rest of the house. If you put your bathroom into the middle of your home it opens up the whole house to these problems. If it is in the middle you will not likely have an exterior window to open to release smells and moisture. If this is the case then you must be sure to have an efficient ventilation system.

You also don't want to have your bathroom next to the front entrance or in view of the entrance. Not only is it unsightly and potentially smelly, you don't want your guests to be greeted in this manner. For the same reason you don't want to see the bathroom from the kitchen. Having a bathroom on the second floor over the kitchen is also a no-no. If pipes leak you can imagine this would not be a good thing.

I have talked in the past about the elements fire and water. They are in opposition to each other in a controlling relationship. Your stove is fire and the bathroom is water. So avoid placing your bathroom on the other side of a wall with a stove. As the "vibration" from toilets flushing or showers running creates a disturbance energetically as well as in sound, do not place your bed against a wall opposite the bathroom.

We start and end the day with a visit to the bathroom. Keeping it clean and hygienic is extremely important. As in any room of the house you want to avoid clutter. Piles of wet, dirty towels or shelves overflowing with cosmetics and cleaners need to be avoided. Even the bathroom closet should be kept as neat as possible.

The current trend is towards master bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms. This may be the fashion but from a feng shui standpoint it is not desirable. Often the closet separates the bed and bath. This traps moisture from the bathroom leading to musty or even moldy conditions in your clothes and closet. Even if the entry to the bath is direct from the bedroom that just moves the problem to your bedroom. You can place some moisture loving plants in the area to help alleviate the problem. Bathrooms should always have a door on them!

By Diane Kern

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