Helpful Planning Tools - Bathroom

Get the Most Out of Bathroom Storage

Whether you are designing a master bathroom, a family bathroom, or a hallway powder room, chances are that one of your top concerns is storage. The sheer numbers of towels, washcloths, toilet paper rolls, shampoo and other products that jostle for space in most households call for some attention when building or remodeling a bathroom. The good news is that with some forethought and creative planning, even a small bathroom can go big on storage.

Zoom	Master Bathroom
	Today’s master bathroom designs are often patterned after spas. To keep a calm and collected bathroom that is visually pleasing, you’ll want both open and closed storage areas. Open storage—like floating shelves, pigeon holes, wine-rack type cubbies, and cabinets with glass doors—offers attractive display space for luxurious towels, perfume atomizers, jars of decorative soap, or natural elements like plants or fresh flowers. Tall cabinets, base or wall cabinets, deep drawers, and appliance garages provide abundant closed storage for bulky items and extra supplies, while spice drawers and drawer dividers neatly corral smaller items like combs, face cream, razors, and nail polish. When designing the layout of your master bathroom, take time to think about where you will use the items being stored. For example, put your towel storage in arm’s reach of the tub or shower. Install a hinged stainless utensil tray at the front of the sink to store a curling or flat iron right where you use it. Add a divided knee drawer to the front of a dressing table to organize makeup and jewelry. And if you have room, include a base cabinet with pull-out ironing board for last minute touch-ups as you dress.
Zoom	Family Bathroom
	A family bathroom is one of the hardest-working rooms in a home, and the right storage options can turn it into a powerhouse. A mirrored medicine cabinet controls prescriptions, toothbrushes, and each child’s mouthwash. Drawer organizers keep hair accessories, nail clippers, cotton balls, and bath toys easy to find and grab. Top-hinge wall cabinets keep cleaning supplies or other potentially hazardous items out of kids’ reach. Base cabinets with pull-out trays eliminate wasted space and fumbling for items at the backs of cabinets, and a pull-out wastebasket and pull-out clothes hamper make for easy in-out access on garbage day and laundry day.
Zoom	Powder Room
	A hallway powder room or guest bathroom is often the smallest room in the house, as well as one that visitors are likely to see—which means it has to stay clean and organized. A base vanity pull-out pantry maximizes storage for cleaning supplies, handsoap, and toilet paper. A wall cabinet installed above the commode requires minimum real estate but creates storage for extra guest towels. And a pair of floating shelves flanking the mirror opens up a bit of space to display a few personal treasures. No matter the size of the space or the number of people using it, an organized bathroom is more attractive, easier to use, and easier to keep clean.

Create a Custom Bathroom Without the Custom Price

Spa-styled bathrooms are popping up everywhere, from celebrity homes to swanky hotels. If you’re thinking of remodeling your bath—or you’re building—you want a bath that suits your lifestyle and design style, and maybe one that tucks in a few luxuries. But if you’re on a budget, how can you create a dream bathroom without overspending?

Prioritize

First, give yourself ample time for researching and planning. Consult with a professional bathroom designer to learn your full range of options. Make lists of the must-haves and the would-be-nices—and don’t forget the details like storage options for high function. Then you can decide if, for example, you want a semi-custom vanity with all the storage accessories but can live with a standard vanity top; or if you are willing to give up the heated floor if it means you can get that custom vessel sink. When you prioritize, you give a designer or builder the information he or she needs to produce a room to your exact specifications, without going over budget.

Incorporate Accents

When you’re prioritizing, remember that it’s the little things that give a room that custom feel. Leave some room in your budget for a few “extras,” such as cabinetry accents like crown molding, corbels, or turned feet. And select decorative hardware that coordinates throughout and enhances the room’s style. Just think of the difference between a plain unframed mirror and a framed beveled mirror topped with crown molding—those are the details that take a room from functional to fabulous.

Add Color and Texture

Color and texture are huge components in a room’s overall style. Think about the personality you want to convey. Light-colored paint can make the walls recede and the room seem larger, while darker walls create a warmer, more intimate space. A monochromatic scheme is serene while contrasting colors generate energy. Choose a few textural elements to complement your color scheme. A tile backsplash creates visual interest. Rugs, curtains, and towels soften the expanse of porcelain and wood. Plants, rocks, shells or bamboo window shades introduce natural elements and are often found in spa-inspired designs.

Personalize

Finally, personalize the space for the ultimate custom interior. No other bathroom has your family photo or heirloom on display! Plate racks or shelves or pigeon holes that coordinate with your vanity or other cabinetry are the perfect place to display one or two personal pieces. Just be sure that they are moisture-proof so shower steam won’t harm them, and keep them high enough that elbows toweling off won’t knock them to the floor.

With careful planning, you can have a beautiful, functional, and custom-looking bathroom—without the custom price.

Create Your Shower Experience

What is your ideal shower experience? A place to be invigorated at the start of the day? A place to unwind at the end? Does it include jets or a waterfall for a spa experience, a seat, a handshower option? Is water conservation a concern?

When remodeling a bathroom, you will have a choice between upgrading your existing shower or completely renovating it. Either way, there are a lot of options to consider—so we invite you to visit our friends at Delta Faucet. These shower experts will walk you through the types of shower experiences, planning considerations, and how to select products that suit your personal needs and design style. Learn more at deltafaucet.com.

Recommended Bathroom Vanity Surfaces

Bathroom Vanity tops come in everything from laminate to ceramic tile to natural quartz or granite. Your choice of bathroom vanity surface depends on many factors: budget, whether you need a stock bathroom vanity top to fit an existing vanity or want something custom or semi-custom, the type of sink you prefer, your design style, and more. How do you choose?

Merillat is pleased to recommend DeNova Surfaces for your bathroom vanity top needs. They offer standard and semi-custom vanity tops in natural marble, natural granite, natural quartz, and solid surface. Their website has lots of information to help you compare options and decide which one is best for your bathroom project. Visit DeNovaSurfaces.com to learn more.