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Create a New Bathroom for Under
$50
Courtesy of
SticknStile.com
Some call it the second most important room in the house after the
kitchen, but for many of us, it's number one. The bathroom gets a lot of
use, and having an attractive and well-designed one can make your daily
routine that much more pleasant.
But many of us live in houses where the bathrooms are sorely outdated.
Remodeling costs are high, and a lot of us don't have the time or skills
to do it ourselves. But you don't have to tear it up to improve it. Here
are some easy and inexpensive ideas for updating your bathroom from
bgh.com, iVillage.com and Environmental Graphics.
* Add some new towels. You don't have to buy a whole new set. Just buy a
set of hand towels or washcloths in a new color that will complement
your existing color scheme. You could get a mix of colors or just one
shade. Try rolling them up and keeping them in a basket for an
attractive decorative accent.
* Add tile appliqués. "Too often people think they are stuck with the
tired old tiles in their bathrooms," says Todd Imholte, president of
Environmental Graphics, a company that specializes in decorative
products for the home. An easy fix is provided by Stick'n Stile
decorative appliqués, which can be applied to bathroom surfaces such as
tile, fiberglass or mirrors. They come in a fun array of shapes and
sizes from whimsical butterflies to contemporary geometric squares to
tropical leaves. You can create your own design to fit any color scheme,
and the adhesive-backed appliqués are easy to apply and remove.
* Frame your mirror. Make a plain mirror more decorative by creating a
custom frame. Cut your choice of molding to fit around the mirror and
paint it, using neutral colors or a brushed gold or silver. The frame
can be attached to the mirror with liquid glue.
* A new paint color is always an easy way to update a room. Have fun by
choosing a color that complements your existing tiles, but is a bit
unexpected. For instance, if you have 1950s green tiles, try pale
yellow. Or if you have black or white tiles, highlight them by painting
the walls sage green. If you don't want to go beyond white, update your
color with tone-on-tone neutrals like ecru, oyster, almond or biscuit.
Then you can add colorful touches with towels, soaps and candles.
* Get a new shower curtain. For under $20 you can find a distinctive
shower curtain with interesting shower hooks that will make a big
difference in your bathroom. If the room is small, a clear shower
curtain or one in the same color as your bathtub will create the
illusion of a bigger bathroom.
* Get rid of an outdated medicine cabinet. You can make a dramatic
difference in your bathroom by replacing an old cabinet with a simple,
wood-framed mirror. Once the mirror is in place, you may want to add a
matching, free-standing storage unit or small table.
* Change your hardware. An easy way to alter the look of your room is to
update details like drawer pulls, towel bars, shower controls, robe
hooks and soap holders. You could even splurge on a new faucet. If you
just want to change a few things, mixing metals is perfectly acceptable.
Courtesy of Sticknstile.com
For more information on decorative products for the home, including
Stick'n Stile appliqués, visit
www.sticknstile.com. They are also currently available at most Bed
Bath and Beyond stores.
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