One of the first decisions you should make when you are planning to renovate your bathroom is what type of flooring you should choose. No matter the time of the year, a bathroom remodeling project can help to transform your home as one of the most-used rooms in the house.

Choosing the right flooring requires that you plan ahead. While there are multiple available flooring options, some work much better for bathrooms than do others. Here are some tips you should keep in mind when you are trying to decide which flooring to install in your bathroom.

Avoid solid wood flooring or carpet

There are some obvious flooring choices to avoid in your bathroom, among the carpet and solid wood. Bathrooms by their nature have a lot of moisture. Carpet soaks moisture up, leading to potential problems with mold and other issues. Likewise, tongue-and-groove or parquet wood flooring can easily become damaged and warp when they are exposed to moisture and water. Both should thus be avoided.

If you love the look of wood, think instead about engineered wood varieties over laminate flooring. Engineered wood flooring has better water resistance because of its sturdier plywood base. You should still not use this if there is a lot of water exposure, however, but if you really want the look of wood, it’s better than the other options.

One budget-conscious choice is sheet vinyl or vinyl tile flooring. One thing to consider is that vinyl tile squares will have seams through which water will be able to penetrate, potentially causing damage. Sheet vinyl has a minimal number of seams and will be better over the long term if you are thinking about vinyl flooring as your option.

Think about tile

Tile is the classic choice for bathrooms. You can choose from a variety of options, including ceramic and a number of different natural stone materials. If you choose natural stone tiles such as travertine, marble or granite, you’ll want to make certain they are professionally sealed as they are porous. Sealing helps to improve their water resistance.

People who want the feel and look of natural stone but who are budget conscious may want to consider porcelain tile as an option. Porcelain is water-resistant and prevents moisture from penetrating.

Make sure to choose grout lines that are tight

High-moisture areas like bathroom features such as your shower or the area surrounding your tub work best when you use grout lines that are tight. Even sealed grout will eventually start letting moisture seep in, undermining the ability of the mortar to hold to the underlying concrete board. In addition to tight grout lines, choosing a grout that has additives that work to improve the grout’s ability to resist moisture penetration is smart.

People who love the look of wood but who don’t want to risk the potential water damage may also want to find out about designs that provide the look of wood flooring without the issues that come with it. There are certain tile designs that can be used to accomplish this.

It is important for you to make certain you think about both your budget as well as the design, look and functionality of your bathroom flooring. For your own project, you’ll want to speak with professional designers to learn more about the best type of flooring you should consider. Give our professional team a call today to learn more about what will work best for your bathroom.

When you’ve had a long work week, heading to a spa can provide your mind and body with an unparalleled feeling of relaxation. When it gets colder outside, however, most people don’t want to go out any more than they have to, instead preferring to stay in where it’s warm. No matter what the weather might be outside, you can create your own personal sanctuary inside of your home by transforming your bathroom into your personal spa. In order to do so, you’ll need to simply add a few extra details to lend the type of atmosphere you find in spas. It is not necessary to have a sauna or a Jacuzzi or even a large bathroom. It’s the small details that can give the room a soothing appeal by incorporating input geared towards your senses.

Appeal to your sense of sight

The first impression you have when you enter a bathroom is its visual appeal. This makes the visual elements key for creating an initial spa-like impression. You’ll notice that many spas take a minimalist approach, allowing the simplicity of the decor to open the room and allow serenity. Here are some ways you can give your own bathroom that comfortable spa-like appeal:

● Choose Earth tones for your color scheme

Most people head out into nature to enjoy the scenery and beauty. You can bring that sense of nature into your bathroom by choosing Earth tones for your room’s color scheme. Muted greens, grays and browns can all lend a natural feel. If your bathroom is small, choose shades that are lighter so it doesn’t feel cramped, such as light beige, pale green or a mist-like gray.

● Install dimmable bathroom lights

Nothing can lend a sense of romance to your bath than installing dimmable lights in wall scones or recessed ceiling lights. This helps you to get a soft glow when you just want to relax. Since this type of installation requires a high degree of electrical knowledge, it is important that you get the help of a professional.

● Add faux wood floor tiles for an added feeling of warmth

Wood provides the natural ambiance of outdoors, but it is not a good material to use in moist areas. Faux wood tile made out of porcelain or ceramic tile has the natural textural appearance of wood with a much better resistance to water.

● Rid your counters of old toiletries and clutter

Cluttered rooms make people feel stressed. Consequently, spas keep their toiletries stashed out of the way and orderly. With small bathrooms, it may be impossible to hide all of your toiletries. You can still toss old, outdated ones as well as those that you do not use. This can help clear out space in your vanity for some of the toiletries cluttering your countertop. For those that you use a lot, try storing them in glass jars. This can make them look like just another piece of your room’s decor.

Appeal to your sense of touch

Hydrotherapeutic facilities at your preferred spas are obviously expensive. You can still add the following amenities to give yourself that sensual feel:

● Trade in your old tub with a soaking tub that is small and deep

There are many tubs available on the market that have a length of five feet or less but are deep enough for you to enjoy a good soak. Consider a Japanese soaking tub. They are a lot deeper than are other smaller tubs and let you submerge your entire body. Many of these also are equipped with built-in seats for added relaxation while you soak.

● Trade in your shower head for a massaging one

If your bathroom is small enough that a soaking tub is not an option, consider trading in your old shower head for one that is massaging. This can give you with that relaxation you want. If you need to do so, get rid of your existing bathtub entirely and upgrade your shower.

● Add towel warmers

There’s nothing quite like stepping out of a warm and relaxing shower or bath and wrapping up with a heated towel. Towel warmers are available and have become very popular in current bathroom renovation trends. These mount to your walls so they don’t take up too much room as well.

Appeal to your sense of smell

One of the first things you probably notice when you head to your favorite spa is the wonderful smells inside. Aromatherapy has been shown to improve people’s moods and overall health. In the morning, you might be able to heighten your senses better with peppermint scents. At night,jasmine and lavender can help relax the cares of the day away. Scents can be added through your personal care products as well as through adding diffusers or scented candles. If you tend to be forgetful, choose oil diffusers over candles as they are safer.

Appeal to your sense of sound

Try to avoid wall-mounted televisions in your bathroom as they do not lend to a feeling of tranquility. Instead, think more about using a waterproof Bluetooth speaker to pipe in your favorite meditative music.

Appeal to your sense of taste

While thinking about taste while bathing may sound odd, consider enjoying a long, relaxing soak while also sipping your favorite wine or champagne. When you use a tub tray, you can do just that. Tub trays are available at most home improvement stores.

It is not difficult to transform your bathroom into your personal at-home spa retreat. By incorporating your senses and paying attention to the small details, you can turn your bathroom into a sanctuary you can enjoy over and over again.