| Making Changes |
|
If you haven’t already tried this, here’s a way to help decide whether a facelift is your bathroom’s best option. Go get a couple of cardboard boxes and load everything from your bathroom in them that isn’t nailed down. That includes anything on the lavatory countertop, linens, bath rugs, wall hangings, and whatever. If a mirror is hung (rather than mounted), remove it. Next, get out of the room without stopping to analyze what it now looks like. Take a break before returning. In a few hours, slowly walk through your house to remind yourself of its personality or theme (or what you’d like it to be). Finally, enter the cleared-out bathroom and use your imagination to project the home’s mood into this room. If you don’t think your home has a personality, or you’re trying to change it, stand in the bathroom and consider what touches might make it more comfortable and relaxing. Think of what colors make you feel more relaxed. Remodeling Safety Before starting any bathroom remodeling project, know where the main and branch water disconnect valves are located in your home. Just as you shouldn’t work on electrical wiring with the power on you shouldn’t work on plumbing until you’re certain that the pressurized water line is closed and water removed. Finally, make lots of notes. Then take some photos as long as they can truthfully capture the room’s current colors and lighting. This is your canvas, your starting point. You now can begin building and implementing a vision, a design, that draws out the desired moods. You may want a cheery bathroom that is primarily used in the mornings for the day’s preparations. Or you may want art deco for a guest bathroom to impress others with your sense of color. Or you may opt for easy-to-clean surfaces in neutral colors for the childrens’ bathroom. Remember, some paint and wallpaper, maybe a new sink or cabinet, and some decorative touches may be all your bathroom needs to give it a new life—at least until you can afford a major remodel.
|
