Choosing the right bathroom style for any number of your bathrooms involves careful financial planning and a flair for details. Where bathrooms are concerned, poor planning is often very conspicuous. Like your kitchen, this is one area of your home where you don’t want to skimp on quality materials. Some themes can run more expensive than others, especially when it comes to cutting-edge designs.
Bathroom Style Options
Bathroom styles vary and can be easily customized, but here are a few of the more popular schemes:
- Farmhouse/Cottage
- Contemporary/Modern
- Traditional/European
- Spanish Villa or Mission Style
Though there is actually a disparity between the farmhouse and cottage styles, those who prefer a rustic and natural feel will gravitate toward either of these. Moreover, the contemporary also differs from the modern in that the feel is more Spartan; both pose a heavy contrast to traditional and European styles which are more ornate and refined in appearance.
You’ll want to research the aforementioned styles thoroughly before making a choice because each is tempting in its own way. Some individuals enjoy mixing and matching household themes, but the easiest way to gravitate toward a bathroom style decision is to keep in mind a few key factors.
Renovation Costs
For most, cost is at the forefront of stylistic decisions. The majority of listed styles can be executed conservatively by using a few key pieces effectively and relying on small details to establish an effect. However, transforming a previously traditional bathroom into the Spanish Mission variety involves a complete overhaul of your home’s structure.
Smooth Transitions
Secondly, the elegant decision almost always involves working with a theme that matches the overall decor of your entire home. If your bedroom displays a strong traditional theme, a modern bathroom with exposed piping will constitute a direct contrast. Though you may enjoy both styles, utilizing them together won’t land you in Better Homes and Gardens.
The Importance of Space and Time
The harsh truth is that some design schemes work better with space than others. For example, you can easily capture the minimalism of a contemporary bathroom style using small spaces. In fact, contemporary and modern themes tend to open up rooms, allowing your bathroom to appear more spacious. Country-inspired cottage and farmhouse themes can also be carried off with just a few key pieces.
But if you’re trying to pull off a heavily ethnic or period-focused theme, there is often an emphasis on small pieces and accessories that can crowd spaces.
Hiring a Decorator
You can hire a professional decorator to work in tandem with your contractor to ensure that your ideal bathroom style reflects the space and household theme desired, and, most importantly, the finances available to you. This may add some expense for the short term, but the results will literally live with you for a long time to come.