When you’re building or renovating your bathroom, you should start thinking about the different essentials to stock up on. Not only will this make your bathroom functional but look beautiful as well! Wondering what you need to invest in? Read on as I show you the bathroom essentials every household needs.

The Nine Essentials Your Bathroom Needs

  1. Water Heater

You wouldn’t want to wake up with an ice cold shower, wouldn’t you? Having a water heater (I recommend tankless!) is a luxury that has you warm up and get ready for the day (or loosen up after a stressful time at work). Confused about what type of heater you should get for the bathroom? I recommend that you read up on reputable tankless water heater reviews to learn more.

  1. Durable Bath Mat

You should get a bath rug and a non-slip mat to ensure that you’ll get out of the shower safely and be able to dry your feet. It’s way better than your wet feet stepping on the cold ground, which ruins the feeling after a hot shower!

  1. Nice Mirror

You should also get a right mirror, which helps you with touch-ups while bringing in better lighting in your bathroom. Plus, it has the room look larger and brighter than what it seems to be. Get a large mirror with a design that matches the bathroom’s style.

  1. Cleaning Supplies

Of course, you’ll also need to make sure that you have everything cleaned in your bathroom, which is why it’s best to have cleaning supplies to ensure sanitized toilets, clean counters, and showers free from mildew. Also, have a deodorizer in hand just in case nature calls with a lousy stink!

  1. Shower Curtain

I would recommend a shower curtain the most to prevent any spilling outside the shower area. You wouldn’t want to have someone slip or feel icked out from the wet floors when they go in a shower. Get one that has a beautiful design and will be able to keep your floors dry and protected.

  1. Hand Towels

You shouldn’t let your guests dry their hands with your old wet towels! Make sure that they have their guest towels to make them feel at home and to give your bathroom a fancier touch. Your guests will appreciate it, and you won’t have to share your towels.

  1. Trash Can

This is a must-have in every bathroom, otherwise where else will you be throwing your used tissues, sanitary napkins, floss, and other miscellaneous trash with ease? Get a cute one that matches your bathroom’s style, and that has a cover to avoid any stink.

  1. A plunger and Toilet Brush

You never know what may happen when nature calls, and it may be embarrassing having to deal with a clogged toilet! Fortunately, you can save yourself from the embarrassment by having a plunger in handy, as well as a toilet,  brush to clean the mess.

  1. Window Curtains

And lastly, having coverage or curtains by your bathroom windows is another necessity because you never know who may be peeping. Get one that will be able to cover the outside without hiding the light your bathroom needs to appear bright and airy.

Wrapping It Up

And there you have it! Through making the right investments for your bathroom, you won’t have to worry about not being able to clean yourself safely and adequately. So don’t wait any longer and start finding these essentials at your local home depot today.

If you have any questions or would like to share tips on styling your bathroom, comment below. Your contributions are much appreciated

Your home is your sanctuary.

After a long day’s work, you just want to put your feet up and spend time alone or with family. Your home is a place that should renew your spirits and rejuvenate you when your energy has been zapped from doing things outside.

The setting in your abode must then be perfect. It should give you a sense of calm, security and joy. There are many factors that contribute to this ideal environment, and one of these is proper home lighting.

See the light

Light, whether natural or artificial, has many benefits. Sunshine has restorative powers for the mind and body, over and beyond giving people a healthy dose of Vitamin D. Lighting fixtures beautify and add radiance to a home. It can also be a helping hand in providing security to your property.

It is only natural that you would want to maximize these advantages. Here are some tips to shed more light on how you can do so:

1. A sunny disposition

Architects and designers will most likely recommend that you incorporate lots of natural light in through windows, glass doors, skylights, or even sunrooms. This is because aside from aesthetics, it also has several other advantages.

Letting the sunshine in creates the illusion of space by making it appear larger. It also keeps mold and mildew growth at bay, keeping you and your family healthy.

When speaking of health benefits, regulated sunshine exposure has been found to lower the risk of depression among adults and children alike. Since it has also been found to help people become healthier, happier, calmer and more productive, sunshine has been used to regulate some conditions like Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

2. Mirror, mirror

You might not use it to look into the future, but mirrors play a good role in enhancing your home’s interior lighting. Aside from checking if you still look good, mirrors also have functional and decorative purposes.

Hanging a mirror to reflect natural light in the sunroom, for instance, can make the room look brighter. You can also place a huge mirror at the end of a hallway, thereby creating an illusion of a wider, more spacious area.

Strategic placements of mirrors in the house can also be used to view another room. This is just like how they did it in the past, when smartly placed mirrors are used as a spyglass of sorts to check who’s at the front door.

3. Kaleidoscope

It is a common misconception to bathe your rooms in bright lights all throughout. Expert light consultants suggest utilizing multiple sources of lights in a room. You need to consider the various uses of an area so you can decide what types of lighting fixtures to fit.

Proper selection of light sources and knowing how to diffuse them can contribute to a well-lit room. Opt to layer and blend your light to improve the look and functionality of a home space.

As a basic guide, you can follow these recommendations:

  • Ambient lighting:  For general illumination (e.g. chandeliers or recessed canister lights)
  • Task lighting: Designed for specific task at hand (e.g. LED strips for kitchen under-cabinets for easier food preparation or a lighted makeup mirror)
  • Accent lighting: Focuses light on a specific area in a room to create drama or attract attention (e.g. sconces, track lights, flood lights, or LED downlights that may be used to highlight art and other artifacts or light a stairwell or hallway)

Fifty shades

Dimmers are a non-negotiable option, according to home lighting experts. Aside from helping with energy consumption, they are necessary to adjust the brightness of the light fixtures in a room.

Multi-purpose rooms benefit greatly with the use of lighting dimmers as it allows you to set the mood for a specific activity. You can turn it up when you’re sewing, for example. Then you can turn it down for a more subdued feel when you’re entertaining guests for dinner.

A light bulb moment

Not all bulbs are created equal. Understanding the different types of bulbs and their wattage will considerably help you decide where to use them.

Consider the function of the room and choose the corresponding lighting fixture. Is it your home office? A bathroom? Designers nowadays shun fluorescent lights, saying that they can lead to off colors and can cause fatigued eyes. Instead, they suggest using dimmable LED light bulbs or the like.

You can take note of the following color temperatures and lumens:

  • 2700K and 3000K are warm white (yellow); 2700K is warmer (more yellow)
  • 4000K – Tinge of yellow
  • 5000K – Pure white
  • 6000K – Tinge of blue

Note that:

  • For general use at home, 3000K (warm white) is recommended while 4000K or 5000K are recommended for bathrooms and laundry rooms.
  • If you’re looking for brightness, bulbs with around 600 lumens can give off light comparable to that of a 60-watt incandescent lamp.

Out of the dark

With a plethora of options in the market, choosing the appropriate light for your home is not a problem. Proper consultation with your interior designer or a home lighting advisor can do wonders for home illumination.

Impeccable lighting choices can literally light up your life, making your home the ultimate dwelling for rest and relaxation. It is time to step out of the shadows and embrace the positive vibes that good interior lighting can bring.

modern minimalist dining room 3108037

If you have been living in the same home for years, it’s time to move on without having to move out. 2018 is here, and so are the hottest interior design trends. You can create a focal point in your room or simply give the walls some serious punch; there are endless ways to create or recreate your dream living space. Here’s the first option to start with.

Stone-washed carpets

Stone-washed carpets can create a beautiful statement and inspire elegant living in any space, big or small. The carpets sit beautifully beneath your furniture and provide a contrasting backdrop to make your room stand out. The best part is stone-washed patterns can camouflage dirt, by virtue of which it looks clean and tidy for a long time. Also, you do not have to worry about the finish being eroded – even if it does, it won’t make any difference to the original pattern anyway.

Small Dining tables to fit any room

A family that eats together stays together. Small dining tables are a perfect fit for a small family. They are lightweight, minimalist and can be stored in the corner when not in use. Small dining tables allow you to sit closer to the person you have your meal with. As it follows, delicious food and endless conversation can go hand in hand.

Farmhouse kitchen island with traditional lights

Farmhouse kitchen island is all the rage in 2018, and you, too, can go with the flow by making little changes to your wooden countertop and suspended luminaires. You can accentuate your kitchen island with weathered countertop and matching cabinets to complete the look. Choosing suitable chairs and upholstery is also important. Also, replace those contemporary lights with traditional suspended diffusers to spruce up the kitchen like a farmhouse.

Coffered ceilings

Coffered ceilings can transform any room into an architectural masterpiece instantly. The recessed patterns catch the attention and elicit compliments galore. You might want to install minimalist light fixtures to accentuate those recessed sections even more. Coffered ceilings may be a big investment, but rest assured that the returns will be even bigger.

Aluminium Doors

Glass doors with aluminium frames are no longer exclusive to shopfronts. They can be a great addition to your home as well. You can use these doors in your kitchen or balcony. They not only blend in with all types of interiors, but they also provide a clear line of sight across either side of the door. The best part is aluminium doors are cheap and require little-to-no maintenance.

Bathrooms with mixed tiles

It’s time to break the monotony in your bathroom. If you are planning to renovate your bathroom this year, using different tiles in different areas can create a unique style statement. Mix and match different colours and patterns to wow yourself every day.

Frameless mirrors

Create a reflection of an elegant home with an array of frameless mirrors. If you are not a fan of art or paintings, frameless mirrors can fill the void on your walls and make an effortless style statement. You can also integrate these frameless mirrors with your vanity unit and in other parts of home in various innovative ways. We leave it to your imagination.

It is imperative to plan out a budget beforehand so that you get off on the right foot and achieve desired results with minimum errors. Good luck for your new interiors.