10 Small Bathroom Trends You Can’t Afford To Ignore

10 Small Bathroom Trends You Can't Afford To Ignore

When you are working with a bathroom that has a tiny layout, deciding how to best remodel it may be challenging. By incorporating some smart design strategies, you can still make your small bathroom look beautiful while also improving its function.

At Flemington Granite, our professional designers work with our customers to help them visualize the bathrooms they would like to have. We help them with creating floor plans that can bring the results they want. Here are some ideas that can transform your small bathroom into a beautiful and more usable space.

1. Install mirrors across entire walls

When you add mirrors covering an entire wall, your small bathroom can instantly look as if it is twice its size. This works especially well above your bathroom’s vanity or across the side of a bathroom that is narrow. Because of their reflective properties, they also provide your room with more light from your windows or existing fixtures.

2. Install wall-mounted toilets

Wall-mounted toilets have toilet tanks built into the walls of bathrooms. If your walls have room, installing a wall-mounted toilet can give you additional needed space in which you can move. If wall-mounting a toilet is not possible in your bathroom, adding above-tank shelves can provide you with the added storage to meet your needs.

3. Remove your bathtub

A bathtub takes up double the amount of space than showers do. If you are able to remove the tub in your small bathroom, you’ll add significant space to the room. Showers are also great for guests, adults and elderly people. Adding hand showers can also allow you to easily bathe your pets. If you have small children that require a bathtub for bathing, choosing a tub with a lower profile will open up your bathroom while also making it easier for them to get in and out of the bath.

4. Install frameless glass shower panels

Shower curtains cordon off around a third of a small bathroom. They are also difficult to clean. One idea to take care of both issues is to rid yourself of them. Instead, consider installing frameless glass panels for your tub and shower. This can visually open up your room and reduce the problems of keeping shower curtains clean. Installation is fairly straightforward. You can either hinge glass panels so they swing or you can fix them in place. Hinged panels can be swung inwards when no one is using the shower. You do not want to choose sliding glass panels because of their cleaning difficulty.

5. Installing curbless showers and continual flooring

Curbless showers are among our favorite design ideas for small bathrooms. Getting rid of the curb around the base of the shower can allow you to install flooring that extends directly into your shower for a seamless look. This is a terrific choice when you are using natural stone, tile or concrete for your flooring. Infinity-edge or concealed drains can add to the effect.

6. Installing floating vanities and small sinks

Another great way to save additional floor space and open up your bathroom is installing wall-mounted sinks. When storage is needed, you can choose to install wall-mounted floating vanities to get the storage space that you need. There are thin-edge and narrow washbasin designs available to maximize the space.

7. Adding shelving and cabinets on the walls

Instead of taking up floor space for clunky vanities with storage, try thinking about installing open shelves and cabinets on your bathroom’s walls. You can install recessed cabinets in the walls with mirrored fronts. This can give you the storage you need while also making the room appear larger. Use towel bars or hooks on the back of the bathroom door to add more space.

8. Installing pocket doors

When you install a pocket door on your bathroom, you’ll save the room required for a door that swings into the room. Installing one will require your opening up the wall to make the pocket. While the installation may be tricky, doing so can give you an additional 9 feet of useable space that wasn’t available to you before. It will also allow you much more flexibility when you are trying to decide where to place your bathroom fixtures.

9. Lighten up the walls

Dark walls can make small bathrooms feel even smaller. Using light colors for your wall palette will help by reflecting additional light and making the room feel larger. If you must use dark colors, save them for your floor. Matching shower tiles to wood floors in the bathroom can help by not drawing visual attention to the smallest area of your bathroom.

10. Creating an accent wall

If you really want to add some color in your bathroom, try adding an accent wall for the back of the room. This can include adding color across the entire wall or just a band of it. You can do so with paint or with tile. Keep the remaining walls neutral to increase the visual drama.

It is possible for you to transform your bathroom into a beautiful and more functional space even if it is small. To learn more how the professional design team at Flemington Granite can help, we invite you to call us today to schedule your appointment.

Key Tactics the Pros Use When Choosing The Perfect Bathtub

Key Tactics the Pros Use When Choosing The Perfect Bathtub

Cleansing the body used to be the primary purpose of having a bathtub in the home. Over the years, manufacturers have transformed the boring standard bathtub into one of the most luxurious features of the entire bathroom. Unwind at the end of the day with a relaxing full-body soak in the comfort of a contoured tub. Or you could choose a more powerful, invigorating whirlpool to alleviate nagging aches and pains. Take the time to do the research and make decisions that are going to enhance your bathing experience and benefit your lifestyle.

5 Rules to Follow When Deciding on a Bath Tub

1. Measure the Space

Wait to begin the looking for the perfect tub until you accurately measure the exact dimensions of your available space. It’s not good enough to simply estimate because you could end up disappointed when you’re faced with installation problems. Once you know the size, it’s easy to narrow the types of installations that you could use in the bathroom.

2. Weigh the Pros and Cons of Different Material Types

Until you begin shopping, you probably don’t realize how many different options there are for bathtub surface materials. Consider some key factors of a few popular materials before selecting the right tub:

  • Acrylic
    • Naturally warm, easy to maintain, and very durable.
  • Porcelain Coated Steel
    • Low cost, glossy, durable, easy to clean.
  • Enameled Cast Iron
    • Very strong, durable, and high gloss finish.
    • Heavy, cold to the touch, limited sizes/shape options, and difficult to clean.
  • Fiberglass
    • Inexpensive, light-weight, and many sizes/shape options.
    • Susceptible to stains, short lifespan, susceptible to mold and stains.

3. Make Sure It’s Comfortable

Decide which member of the household is going to use the tub the most and cater to their needs and preferences. It makes the most sense to try out a few options to make sure the size, shape, and features meet the expectations of this person.

Consider these tips when shopping for a bathtub:

  • Choose a model that features a backrest to add to the comfort of the bather.
  • Get inside to make sure that they can also extend their legs fully when reclined.
  • Select a backrest with an accommodating slope and height for the user.

Make Sure the bathroom is Comfortable

4. Put Quality Over Price

A low quality product might look similar to more expensive tubs on the outside, but inferior products aren’t going to last. Tearing out and replacing a bathtub isn’t easy, and the best thing that you can do is invest in a bath that is going to last.

 5. Add Features that Increase Luxury

If the bath is going to be used for long, relaxing soaks, then why not add some enhancements? Pamper aching muscles and wash away tensions with one of the following massage systems:

      • Jetted Bath
        • Similar to a heated spa, jetted systems offer a more direct massage through a series of pressurized streams.
        • These tubs are not a high recommendation because water gets trapped in the system and only clears when it is being used later. Algae and bacteria accumulate and create a nasty slime that is difficult to fully disinfect.
      • Air Bath
        • This system pulls in and heats air before releasing it through jets near the bottom of the tub to create a bubble massage.
        • Automatic drying after every use prevents water from settling in the system so that everything is clean and hygienic.
        • Pressure is distributed evenly and settings can be adjusted to make the bath more relaxing or energetic.

Types of Tubs

Sizes and shapes vary greatly from the ordinary corner tub that is set against a wall of the bathroom. Unless there is a size constraint, there’s no reason to settle for a shower/bath combo that offers very little in the way of relaxation. Don’t be afraid to be bold by selecting a type with more personality and luxury features based on the primary use.

Features to Consider

Options and accessories are available to enhance the bathing experience from a basic personal hygiene practice. Bubbles and jets are a popular request when it’s time to upgrade because they help circulate heat and provide exceptional relaxation. Chromatherapy is an LED system that projects underwater to set a relaxing mood. Underwater speaker panels are another accessory that works through the water to create a full experience of sound and vibrations. Consider installing digital controls to customize temperature, jet flow, music, and any other add-one from the convenience of a touchpad.

Submit your information through the contact form so that we can help you through the process of finding the perfect bathtub based on your needs, desires, and any space constraints.