Popular Bathroom Remodel Trends for 2008

Bathrooms are a necessary function of every day life, however, they are usually the most tight and cramped rooms of our house. The goal-setting trends of 2008 is to create a bathroom oasis. When you walk into your bathroom, you want to feel like you are walking into a high-end, luxurious spa. Organic colors and textures as well as natural stone and wood are among the most popular trends. Remodeling your bathroom allows you create a relaxed atmosphere that connects you to nature.

As I discussed in my article, Popular Kitchen Remodel Trends for 2008, you will most likely want to hire contractors unless you are knowledgeable in this area of construction and prepared for the challenge. And once again, in my previous article, I mentioned setting a budget and planning out what you want and what you can afford to do before jumping into a major remodel.

For a bathroom remodel I would suggest visiting a local spa to get the look and feel of what you can bring into your home. Clipping pictures from a bathroom or spa magazine can give you more ideas, as well as an inspiration piece.

Now that we have some of the basics down, lets talk about trends. I know that sometimes the word "trend" can be scary because trends can become outdated. However, the trends that have developed over the past few years are tasteful as well as timeless.

Asian influences have become popular in creating a Zen atmosphere in bathrooms. HGTV explains the two most important functions of a Zen bathroom, balance and simplicity. To create a balance, you want to use just a few contrasting natural materials. The goal is to feel connected with nature. Consider using natural wood, stone and metal in your design to give your bathroom a sense of harmony. Bamboo is extremely popular and gives a sense of serenity when used in bathrooms for shelving and storage cabinets. (Source: HGTV Bath Design)

Rain shower heads are possibly the fastest growing trend in bathrooms today. Rain shower heads give you the assumption that you actually showering in the rain. Not only are they soothing and relaxing but they connect you with a naturalistic concept.

Wall faucets are also a popular and more expensive trend. Rather than having your faucet connected to your sink, consider a faucet that comes directly out of the wall for a more modern, chic look. I have seen some quite extraordinary faucets; there are some that give the illusion of a waterfall that once again, connects you with nature.

When you are considering a new sink; think of the space you already have. If you have room for two sinks, by all means, put in two sinks. Many people that are looking to buy homes are in desperate need of two sinks. If you only have room for one though, consider a pedestal sink rather than a big, bulky cabinet sink. If you do choose to do a cabinet-type sink, you do have to option of a glass or stone basin. Rather than having the sink placed inside the counter, the basin sits on top of the counter and adds color and texture.

It is becoming extremely popular to adorn you bathroom with technology. It is not uncommon to see televisions placed behind mirrors and speaker systems hooked up in showers. You can even go as far to have heaters placed in the floor to warm the tile on cold mornings. Also consider towel heaters, refrigerated medicine cabinets, and sinks that signal water temperature. (Source: HGTV Bath Design)

If room allows, separate the bathtub and the stand up shower. The bathtub should be over-sized, considering space available, and have jets as well as temperature control. The stand-up shower should have clear glass; when you can see right into the shower it gives the illusion of more space.

Glass tiles, as I mentioned in my article, Popular Kitchen Remodel Trends for 2008, are incredibly popular. Glass tiles would fit perfectly around the walls of a bathtub and are the perfect opportunity to add more color!

Lights, another important factor in determining the mood of your bathroom. It is important to have a lot of light in the bathroom; I would suggest investing in a dimmer. This way you can have a lot of light for applying make-up or for guests who aren't familiar with the layout of your bathroom. It would also allow for you to dim the lights for a relaxed soak in the tub after a hard day at work. It is increasingly popular to find multiple lights in bathrooms rather than just one light. Place lights above the shower, toilet and mirror. Recess lighting works best for the shower while sconces work better for lights on either side of the mirror. A hanging light above the toilet is also a popular, contemporary trend.

Color is an extremely important choice for your bathroom. Stay away from wallpaper as it has become outdated and tends to peel from the amount of humidity found in bathrooms. When choosing a paint color keep it light and airy. Organic colors, such as browns, creams, blues and greens are among the most popular colors for a calming and relaxing bathroom. Stay away from bright, bold colors or deep, dark colors; this can make your bathroom seem even smaller if too much is used.

For more information on simple or complex remodeling ideas for bathrooms, check out the DIY section at HGTV Bath Design.