After kitchens, bathrooms are the most commonly remodeled rooms in the house. That makes sense, since for many of us, the bathroom is the only place we can escape for some private time. You can shut out the kids, the pets, and the spouse, at least for a while.

Whether you enjoy reading by candlelight in a scented bath or just like the feel of hot water pounding against achy muscles in the shower, the bathroom can be a little oasis from the hectic activities in your house. At least it can if you’re willing to put a little work into creating a sanctuary. Your standard toilet, sink, and tub/shower aren’t that exciting in themselves.

So, what are some of the things you can do to turn your ho-hum bathroom into a luxurious place for relaxation?

Many people immediately think of big, jacuzzi bathtubs with lots of frothing jets and bubbling water. Not only are jetted tubs expensive, but they involve a lot of labor to install. Aside from the time, cost, and aggravation of ripping up your bathroom, you would likely have to replace your water heater, since those massive tubs take much more water to fill than a standard model. And at the end of the day, most people don’t use their tubs that often–despite the ohs and ahs people voice when they first see them.

So, what are more economical bathroom improvements that can pamper you just as much?

If you want a daily treat, a new showerhead is a good way to go. You can get models that hang overhead and rain water down on you, as if you were standing under a waterfall. If that’s not your cup of tea, how about a handheld shower nozzle? These showerheads let you direct the spray wherever you want, and most can be mounted on the wall when you want your hands free. You could also opt for double showerheads that massage your body from two different directions. Even inexpensive models with numerous settings may be an upgrade if you’ve got a standard shower. These let everyone in the family get just what they want.

If you want to go a step further, you could install a floor-to-ceiling shower enclosure. This lets you turn your average shower into a steam bath. Even after the water is turned off, you can sit in the warmth of the cubicle and let the hot air soothe your muscles.

Speaking of sitting, you’d be surprised how handy a folding shower seat can be. If you’re tired, you can sit while the water beats down on you, or maybe you just want someplace to prop your foot when you shave your legs.

Now that we’ve talked about ways to make shower time more luxurious, what about when you step out of the water? How about a towel warmer? You can get heating racks or warming drawers that turn your towel into something toasty to wrap around your shoulders when you’re done.

Enjoy some aromatherapy in the bathroom while you’re there. You can burn candles or incense, if that’s your preference, but there are more subtle essential oils and perfume sachets that can offer just a hint of your favorite aroma too.

If you do want to splurge and do a little more extensive remodeling, consider a new floor with radiant heat instead of a jacuzzi tub you’ll rarely use. You can get programmable heating systems, so you can set your bathroom floor to warm up a few minutes before your alarm goes off. On a cold morning, there’s nothing like a little warmth seeping up from underfoot to wake you up gently.

For more ideas on perking up your bathroom sanctuary, visit the bathroom remodeling section of the author’s home improvement site.

Share This

Remodeling on a budget doesn’t mean sacrificing your dream of having a luxury bathroom. If you have a weekend and the know-how, changing the look of your bathroom without breaking the bank can be seamlessly achieved. The money saved in not having to hire a contractor will free up funds to spend on other bathroom additions such as replacing the bathroom suite. The rich confluence of newly painted walls, some updated bathroom accessories and a new bathroom suite can all be attained by anyone working with moderate finances.

The main ingredient in transforming the bathroom and bringing character into the space is the installation of a new bathroom suite. Homeowners choosing to upscale their bathrooms now have a broader selection of bathroom suites to choose from featuring contemporary and traditional designs. Modern bathroom suites have a minimalist look with clean chic lines, while traditional bathroom suites carry a European flavor with all the influence of Victorian times. With some imagination, a creative design, you can give your bathroom a crisp clean inviting look.

Shopping for a bathroom suite

Shopping around for a bathroom suite that accommodates your budget and taste is an essential element in creating a balanced look. Contemporary infused with traditional styles can bring back old-world charm; pedestal basins fashioned with decorative basin mixers taps provides a look of antiquity, while deep-set corner baths add panache for that modern look. One primary reason for the correlation of the two styles is to allow for bold hues and textures to be incorporated into the bathroom in the form of tiles, paint and wallpaper, but also the fusion of the two bathroom styles won’t date itself in a year’s time.

Finding a bathroom suite to suit your taste

Partnering historic classics with modern amenities such as a claw-foot roll top bath embellished with a Victorian hand-held bath and shower mixer, brings in all the characteristics of the bygone eras and evokes a vintage disposition within the bathroom. Modern frameless backlit bathroom mirrors and wall-mounted towel heaters, produce an elegant and airy atmosphere providing both practical functionality and lasting beauty. Creating a blissful retreat begins with choosing a bathroom suite that is practical and efficient. Most bathrooms are shared between family members, therefore the design of your bathroom must address the requirements without forsaking comfort. Bathroom suites are mainly comprised of the basin, cistern and bath.

In selecting your bathroom suite, the bath requires the most attention since space and usage are the primary factors. Superdeep acrylic baths provide ample bathing space for all family members and withstand time. Whether your design goal is for a simple and unencumbered look or the brilliant balance of contemporary and traditions styles, bathrooms should compliment your lifestyle, it is where you begin and end your day, so take the time to shop and compare to ensure all your expectations are met.

Written by Shelley Murphy on behalf of www.victoriaplumb.com an online retailer of bathroom furniture, steam showers, shower enclosures, whirlpool spa baths and bath related products serving the United Kingdom.

Shelley Murphy brings with her over 10 years of Search Engine Optimization and e-marketing strategies to web based businesses. Holding two BA’s in English and Journalism Communications her writing skills have been a great asset for both onsite writing and monthly newsletters publications.

Share This

Many people feel that sleep is a waste of time. They have busy lives with work and families so they try to squeeze every minute out of every day. They finally surrender to sleep when they are absolutely exhausted. The problem they are not recognizing is that when you are sleep deprived, you are forcing your body to work at a disadvantage. An exhausted body cannot work to it’s full potential, mentally or physically.

Sleep studies around the world have shown that the lack of sleep affects your physical, mental, and emotional life. A study at the University of Wisconsin showed that sleep deprivation can cause a number of health problems such as depression, heart problems, and alertness while performing important tasks such as driving.. Another sleep test reported by the magazine “Science News” reported that when 48 volunteers were deprived of sleep for a period of two weeks, it reduced their mental abilities. This included alertness, reaction time, and memory.

Sleep is natures way of allowing our bodies to rejuvenate. There are two stages of sleep. REM (rapid eye movement) and non-REM. During REM sleep the body is able to experience complete muscle relaxation, this allows us to wake up feeling physically refreshed. REM sleep is also the time when our blood pressure and heart rate lower, and the time when our brain secretes a hormone called cortisol. Without cortisol our bodies will not have the sufficient means to combat circulatory diseases. This REM sleep is also when the circulatory system rests and this helps to avoid cardiovascular disease.

Sleep is also the time when our bodies combat and metabolize free radicals. Free radicals are the molecules that are said to increase the aging process and even cause cancer. Sleep deprivation is also linked to the lack of production of white blood cells. We all know that we need these to fight infection.

Sleep can seriously affect our appetite. Our brain interprets lack of sleep as hunger. While we sleep our bodies secrete a hormone called leptin. Leptin is what tells our brain that we are full when we eat. When we are awake for longer periods of time our bodies do not have the opportunity to produce leptin. This, in turn, causes us to feel hungry and crave carbohydrates. Thus, sleep deprivation can easily lead to another health problem, obesity.

Sleep deprivation is not just a problem here in the United States. In Portugal three out of four people report that they go to bed after midnight and still get up early and go to work. The Japanese seem to sleep the least, over forty percent report that they get six hours of sleep or less. In fact, a report on sleep deprivation from Japan reported that tests done on those who only got four to five and a half hours of sleep each night did poorly on tests that measured memory, clear thinking, and the ability to pay attention. The Australians, on the other hand, are in bed around ten o’clock and get around nine hours of sleep each night. I think they have the right idea.

Article by Christine Darrington - Researching nutritional solutions that boost the immune system for optimum health. More nutritional articles found at: http://effective-immune-system-boosters.com

Share This