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Throw in a bit of décor, some light, a splash of colours, some imagination and a fair amount of care and lo! Your dull looking bathroom turns into a cheerful space. By Sunita Chelam

THOSE minuscule cubic squares that make for bathrooms in most urban houses! They can get oh so boring and staid! Don’t you sometimes long for a spacious, spa experience?

What you actually miss is the experience of a luxurious bath. Worry not! For that can be done with ease. Yes, regardless of the size of your bathroom.

Here’s the low-down on giving your bathroom a simple, yet stylish facelift:

Renovation To The Rescue
Flaking paint, chipped tiles, patchy walls and rusty faucets. If that describes your bathroom pretty well, then that is reason enough to remodel it. And, if your budget is looking good, too, what are you waiting for?

First, think design. Not decoration, just plain design. That’s what the Mumbai-based architect and interior designer Pramod Gupta says, “It is the design that encompasses utility. Keep in mind everyone using the bathroom (for example, if you have kids, use non-slippery tiles and not flooring like granite) and choose accessories that do not clutter.”

The walls can run on a theme. Deepali Shah, interior designer, echoes this viewpoint. “Themes work very well to create space and aura. Decide a theme for your walls, say floral, geometric or Mediterranean and use appropriate decor”.

Corian, a material made from high performance acrylic resins (also known as methyl methacrylate) combined with natural minerals and pigments, is the latest entrant in the market. It is chemically non-reactive and thus, blends with whatever it is paired with. Plus, it can be moulded into any shape.

Colour Power

If renovation isn’t possible, try a few creative tricks to jazz up the wall. A wash of colour can do the magic. Match your paint colour to the tiles. Next, add matching (or even contrasting) curtains.

A tip : Use pastels and aquamarine shades to soothe, yellow and orange to enliven, and pinks for a feminine touch. Deepali’s advise: “Use lighter shades as dark shades stain easily. Soaps and conditioners have moisturisers that tend to make grease stains very obvious on dark walls.”

Lend your bathroom personality by using frescoes. You can even draw designs on the walls using stencils. “A bathroom door can be used to add to the beauty of the room,” says Deepali, “Work up a mural or collage on it, using vinyl or wallpaper. These are beautiful and also not expensive.”

Creating Space
Lights, when used imaginatively, can give the impression of space. Says Pramod Gupta, “Don’t use too many lights in the bathroom — they generate heat and look unnatural. As far as possible, have your shower area near the window for natural light and ventilation, and cordon it off using shower curtains.” Mirrors offer another great way to create artificial space. According to Gupta, mirrors on light walls provide depth, and enhance lighting. Use the existing space in your bathroom for both utility and glamour.

As Deepali Shah says, “In smaller bathrooms, the only space is on the walls. So, make a ledge high up all around the wall, and place curios or artificial plants on it to add value to space. This looks good and it also serves as storage space.” Create space by replacing ceramic sinks with wall mounted freestanding glass sinks (they come in various shapes and sizes).

Clear The Clutter Space management is an important part of the décor. The thumb rule: ‘Clear the clutter’. Your bathroom may just be collecting empty shampoo and lotion bottles, old air fresheners, unwanted soap dishes and worn-out brushes. Do away with all of them.

GOT COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? E-MAIL US AT femina@timesgroup.com WITH ‘BOUDOIR — WANT A BATHROOM OR A GLAM ROOM?’ IN THE SUBJECT LINE