Creating a Relaxing Bathroom for Under $100…

Creating a relaxing bathroom for under $100…

First a good all round scrubbing to start with. Clean the bathtub until it sparkles and get all the scum off the shower walls. And, if necessary, wipe down the bathroom walls also.

Next, think about color. A soothing blue, an elegant black with gold accessories, sunny yellow with white wicker. Let your imagination go wild for a moment. You might paint just one wall or all the walls. Consider a border at either the top of the wall or midway down. This is best if you have a large bathroom or you can place the border in the water closet (room just for the toilet). In a small bathroom you might have moisture problems with a border. Personally, I prefer a white/off white wall color so I can accessorize by the season with various colored baskets, towels and other accessories. If you go with a border, buy an extra roll in case you need to replace part of it at some point.

Now, go through your house and closets and look for unusual baskets, racks, and the like. In one bathroom, I have a green wrought iron wine rack which normally holds three bottles of wine. Instead of the wine, it holds two rolled up white towels and the top "bottle" area holds a white hand towel. In addition, I have a green bath towel on one rack, a matching hand towel on the "by-the-sink" rack and another bath towel folded in the tub rack. Over the toilet I have a print of a large red rose and a bathtub topper I made years ago (at another house) from Waverly's green ivy print fabric on white. There is a tall green candle in one corner of the countertop. At Christmastime, the towels in the rack change to red guest size hand towels, the candle gets lit when guests come by and two little glass angels hold slim red tapers. Voila! An entirely new look.

If you go to flea markets or yard sales, look for possible accessories there. I've gotten baskets for as low as under a quarter sometimes. I also line baskets (sell them at craft shows) with various fabrics to match pillows, a certain room's colors, etc. If there is enough room in your bathroom, you might buy a small desk, bureau or similar object to refinish and use as a table or cabinet in your bathroom. Right now I have a six-drawer lingerie cabinet in my bedroom ($35 at a yard sale and it matched by off white with gold trim bedroom set). At some point, I'll change that corner of the bedroom to a seating area and move the cabinet into the bathroom-there's a perfect spot just wide enough for it-to fit between the two closet doors. Oh, by the way, it holds my sheets, not lingerie.

Take the racks and baskets your gathered and look them over to see what might work in the bathroom you're changing around. My master bathroom's water closet has a hot pink wicker wastebasket I've had for 10 - 12 years. There is also a print of a European beach scene with dark blue and hot pink flowers in it to tie everything together. A leftover goblet with no matching goblets, is perfect to hold tiny guest soaps, bubble bath beads or potpourri.

If you have a boring ceiling light in the bathroom, go check out some of the big box stores. You'll find a wide selection of different globes (by this I mean the glass "dome" or "globe" which fits around your light bulbs.) you can buy to replace the globe that is there now. I've seen these as low as $12.99. Choose chrome, gold, silver, nickel, or brass frame to match your new look. Likewise, see if there is an inexpensive light rack with different shapes you'd like better than what you have above the mirror now.

You might also go look at the various shower heads that are available. I've seen several of them priced under $30. It's pretty simple to remove and replace them. It's great to take a shower with different types of spray and volume to play with. You might also purchase a shower radio and a fog free mirror to hang up. A nice chrome or plastic rack will hold your soaps, shampoo and razors neatly. (And look so much better too!)

Next, go out and buy some decadent looking soaps and lotions to put around your bathtub - I have wide corner ledges so I have three bottles of bubble bath and the like on each side. I'd suggest using plastic bottles to prevent glass breakage if they fall over. An unwrapped bar of soap, or a handmade soap bar and a loofah will complete the look of a spa/relaxation area. I also added a long handled wood brush which hangs from the bathtub faucet. You can also get a tray to go across the tub to place these items on. I choose the colors in the bottles to match/contrast the colors in my bathroom(s).

Clutter - remove it! Less is more. All I have on my master bathroom's countertop is an angel candlestick holder with a dark blue taper. I have plastic baskets of various sizes in all my drawers and cupboards to hold my makeup, hair dryer, towels, etc. Oh, often there is a bottle of perfume in one corner of "my" sink-it's a decorative bottle.

Then, towels. Buy the best you can afford - fluffy and large equals luxurious. Fold them up to hang and tie the bath with ribbon or raffia, etc. around the middle. I change the colors of the towels and the ribbon at Christmas time to reflect the season - in my master bathroom I use blue, gold and silver with a bit of red for accent. If the bathroom you're redoing is also used as a guest bath, remember to get some nice looking guest or hand towels to match your new look. If you lack closet/drawer space for your towels, consider a deep basket and roll the towels up inside. This basket can be placed in a corner, under a table, even in the tub if you need to.

If necessary, buy an over the toilet rack to hold some of your towels - folded and arranged artfully, they'll look great. Add a few accessories to finish off the look. A large sea shell, a pretty basket with guest soaps or potpourri, a potted plant (silk is great).

I love candles and every bathroom (I have three, sigh) has candles. I hardly ever light them - I just love candles in every scent and color imaginable. They're an inexpensive way to decorate and their scent is wonderful as you walk into the room. I use vanilla in my bathroom. Hint - the dollar and 99 cent stores are great for cheap candles.

There for less than $100, your bathroom has a new look and some relaxation products to enjoy the next time you have time to luxuriate in a tub bath.