Bathroom Accessories

by Sarah Van Arsdale

You're sick of your bathroom. In fact, you've started looking into what it might cost to remodel the whole thing, and you've been fantasizing about a newly-tiled floor, converting the tub into a stall shower for more floor space, and installing some cute new cabinets to increase the storage space.

And then you checked the cost of all this. And then you checked into how long it might take, and you decided that you really couldn't stand living with the in-laws until next October.

That's a bit of an exaggeration, and this is not to say that a bathroom remodel won't lift your spirits and even boost the selling price of your home. But if you just want a brand-new look in your bathroom, without going to the trouble and expense of a remodel, consider how easy and affordable it can be.

First, determine what color scheme and what style you'd like. You could go for something lush and verdant, complete with a couple of steam-loving ferns hanging in the bathroom window, and tropical colors of reds, deep greens, and blues. Or you could go for a Mediterranean look, with bright yellows, blues, and reds. Or you could opt for a classic black-and-white, with just a splash of red here or there.

In choosing the color scheme, you may want to consider the colors you now have. If your newest set of towels is maroon, let that guide you toward a color scheme, so you don't have to start completely from scratch. Likewise, if your tiles are a lovely shade of pink, you may want to consider accessories in a complementary color, no matter how badly you may want that orange chiffon shower curtain.

Tip: Begin building your new look with the shower curtain. A cloth curtain will be more expensive, but it will also look better, adding a truly classy note. Next best will be a nylon/cotton curtain. Either of these now come in a variety of styles and colors. The curtains we advise you stay away from are those made entirely of plastic. They look cheap, and they don't wear well. It may seem like fun to have a map of the world or a school of fish in the shower, but it will be hard to develop an entire bathroom theme around this - at least, it'll be hard to develop one you won't tire of in a couple of months. Likewise, a clear shower curtain will just scream "tacky."

Next, just use the same guiding principals for the bath that you use for other rooms in the house. If you have a multi-colored curtain, choose new towels and bathmats in colors that echo those in the curtain. Or, you may find matching towels sold in the same store.

If you choose a striped shower curtain, don't only get the matching striped towels, or the room will be overwhelmed. Instead, also get some solid towels in coordinating colors.

By spending about a hundred dollars - a little more, if you insist on high-quality towels - you can give your bathroom a whole new look, without having to move in with the in-laws.