You are thinking about a bathroom remodeling and are still pondering what is possible and what you might want to avoid. There are five rules that you should know before you start your bathroom remodeling project.

Bathrooms have evolved and so have the elements that make up a typical bathroom. The bathrooms of the past with footed bathtubs are mostly gone unless you like retro style, the sinks have taken a whole new artistic look… Today’s bathrooms are considered a vital room for our well being, a place of relaxation and renewal. To bring about this atmosphere it must be equipped properly.

1. Bathtubs

Once bathtubs had one standard size, today we have many option when the standard size does not fit our bathroom remodeling. A standard bathtub is 5 feet long, if you simply want one that is a little shorter you could order one for mobile homes which is 4’ 6”. If on the other hand you want to reclaim some floor space you might consider a square bathtub, or round bathtub or a corner bathtub. Round bathtubs are available in several sizes with or without water jets. Styles are varied and so are materials, you can even find a half circle bathtub. Prices are rather high ranging from around $1000 to several thousands.

Corner bathtubs are also available in a large selection of colors, sizes and designs. Some will have a rounded front while others will end up with 5 sides. If you are planning to buy a corner tub it is very important that you measure your available space carefully in all directions.

2. Showers - Sinks and Toilets

Many people today have a shower separate from the bathtub, others are getting rid of the tub altogether in favor of a the new highly technical showers that have come on the market. If you want the look to be more open you could opt for an Italian shower which does not have any shower tray. These are very trendy across Europe and are getting more common in the US as well.

There such beautiful vessel sinks today that many are works of art. The variety in shapes, colors materials and sizes is so wide that it is impossible not to find the one that will work for you. Vessel sinks can be wall mounted or placed on a vanity, or even on console. The style of the bathroom will determine how you install your sink. The space you need for the sink will depend on the size of the sink and whether you use a single or double, when using a double sink you should plan on having 30 inches between the two sinks. You should have about 30 inches of clear space in front of the sink for moving about comfortably.

The minimum space that you should set aside for the toilet is 15 inches from the center of the toilet to any obstruction on either side. Being able to allow 36 inches instead of the minimum 30 inches is highly recommended. If you have a small bathroom you can opt for a toilet for small spaces which will require less floor space, but remember that these may not be very comfortable for large people.

Good lighting in the bathroom comes from three sources: in front of the mirror, a central ceiling light and mood lighting. When standing in front of the mirror you need a strong light to illuminate your face, but it cannot blind you of be too aggressive. Halogen lights are really good to replicate natural light. Place the light not too high to avoid shadows, not too low or you will look like you have a long nose. The ideal placement is around the mirror as shown in the Hollywood make up scenes. A general source of light is needed to do every day cleaning. A ceiling light will do the job just fine. You could also used recessed lights, if your ceiling can accommodate them they are more discrete. Mood lighting is important in a room that we use to relax. To help in your winding down color LEDs can be used, or you might enjoy scented candles.

4. Space Between Elements

A bathroom does not have to be big to be comfortable, but to ease your movements it is important to respect certain spaces. In front of the bathtub you need about 3 feet to move about, bend without bumping against something. However if you can get more space then you will feel even better, specially if you must share the bathroom with a spouse. 2 feet in front of a toilet are sufficient.

5. Safety Rules

Finally you must be aware of safety rules before starting any remodeling of the bathroom. Nothing is more important when bathroom remodeling than to be aware of safety. Water and electricity are not compatible yet we need both in a bathroom, it is then imperative to respect safety rules to the letter to avoid accidents. These rules depends on where you live and are subject to governmental regulations. If you need to, you should consult a professional on this matter.

Bathroom decor is no longer something we can ignore. Today’s bathrooms have become a very important room in our lives. Not only is the bathroom the first room we go to in the morning, and the last we visit before retiring for the night, but we can spend a considerable amount time relaxing and taking care of ourselves in the bath. After a long day’s work most people look forward to some time in the bathroom and the decor should be pleasing and relaxing in order to maximize the benefits.

However bathroom decor has become very expensive and it is a challenge to do something that is charming, elegant and still stay within a limited budget. In this article I am going to outline a way you can redo your entire bathroom, for a very small cash outlay and amazing results.

With these tips you will end up with a bathroom decor with the look of yesteryears, and if you like shabby chic decorating this could be the bathroom for you. If you don’t find happiness in a nostalgic period this is not what you want to try.

The first thing to do is to paint your wall with a faux marble finish. What you want to accomplish is a perfect imitation of marble. That would give your bathroom a sophisticated look and that is not what we are trying to do. Again think about shabby chic style that does not try to hide imperfections or age but accentuates it. Here the same is taking place. All your new decor furniture can be found in flea markets and redone to fit in with the style.

You will want to add a molding at the top of the wall and paint it in faux marble as well but in a contrasting color. Since you are painting the molding you can buy a cheap polystyrene. Use the same background color to paint floor moldings, doors, and window frames. (Without the faux marble of course).

You can buy an old mirror at a flea market or any second hand store, and paint it. You have several options to finish the mirror frame. Again I would keep in mind that it is not supposed to look new. If the frame is in fairly good condition, it may not even need any painting.

A bathroom decor is not about wall and floors it must involve a tub and a sink. For the tub you can pick up an old bathtub and paint it to match your wood  trims.

One important factor to your new bathroom decor and to the way you look in it is the bathroom lighting. You can keep with the nostalgic frame of mind by adding a chandelier with a lot of drop beads. This will not give you sufficient light for make up or shaving, so you will want to add a couple of sconces on each side of the mirror above the sink.

For accessories you can paint an old box in faux marble to match the walls, get an old chair if you have space for one. Simply look around in junk shop and ideas will come to you for a new way to look at the old. As you can see this could be a low cost redecorating project, unless you need to redo your bathroom floor, or change your bath vanity.

The little slide show can give you an idea of what is possible in that style. Now it is up to you to make your bathroom decor original and exciting and still keep it in your budget.

Bathroom lighting defines space!

Light plays a very important role in the bathroom, that is why you will really need two sources of light: a general overall light, and a localized light source near mirrors above the sink.

General bathroom lighting

The ideal bathroom is where the principal light is sufficient to see in the entire room. This uniform lighting is important and can be achieved with a central ceiling light, and an halogen ceiling light might be even better than an incandescent light. Halogen light while more expensive to operate and less friendly to the environment offers a light that is closer to daylight and therefore lights better. During the day when you can benefit from natural light you should. If you are starting your bathroom project you might consider installing glass blocks as part of an exterior wall. They will give you a lot of natural light without taking away any privacy.

You can however get lighting almost as good, if you have some powerful wall bathroom fixtures, providing they are not blinding (they need to be placed at the right height).

There are a few important rules that should always be respected

• Light bulbs should always be protected from steam and condensation.
• Electric wires should be hidden in the walls and never exposed.
• Unless you really know what you are doing, electric work is best done by a professional.

Localized bathroom lighting

After you have achieved a suitable room lighting, with your general lights, you must bring light to some special areas of the bathroom. This is complementary lighting that allows you to have sufficient light where you need it, to see without straining your eyes.

You can locate these fixtures above the sink, or you can add bathroom lighting sconces on each side of mirrors, the use of spots light is as functional as it is esthetic. One tip is when using lights around or near the mirror, point the light at you not the mirror. We do recommend however to avoid light above the mirror as much as possible, to protect you from having unsightly shadows under the chin, eyes, and nose.

Just as it is for ceiling lights there are several types of lights for around mirrors : halogen, incandescent, and fluorescent.

Lighting will be localized on one or several elements, like mirrors, sinks, vessel sinks, in order to illuminate them.

Halogen bathroom lighting gives off a white light that adds sparkle to your bathroom. It can be recessed or it can be a spot light mounted on a rail on the ceiling or wall. It can be a fragile light and requires a fairly modern installation. (old wiring should be replaced). Today you can find halogen spot lights where the large bulbs of a few years back have been replaced by small G8 and G9 bulbs, making them more attractive and just as powerful.

Incandescent light is the result of slightly colored bulbs, bulbs are usually well protected and the fixture is waterproof. They are available in countless designs, forms, arrangements in tubular or linear formats.

Fluorescent lights are the least expensive to operate, the bulb cannot be bare as they are very strenuous for your eyes. They are also the least flattering.

If you can only have one point of light in your bathroom, you should find one that lights well without blinding you, in that case the best type of bathroom lighting for you would be halogen.

Bathroom mood lighting

The bathroom is a room where you tend to your well being and relaxation. It is no longer for a quick bath and a shave. Today we find baths for two where a certain conviviality takes place, we enjoy a relaxing time in the bath at the end of the hard day's work. To facilitate this, you should not neglect having some form of ambience or mood lighting. LED with colours can be set into the floor, or anywhere you want. There are even LEDs showers and faucets that light up the water. Remember that for a bath a soft low light is more relaxing, you might consider installing a dimmer, or use scented candles.

Bathroom lighting fixtures

Bathroom lighting fixtures come in all shapes, colors and most materials. There are however strict safety regulations in most countries as to what kind of lighting fixtures can be used in a bathroom. It is not the place of this article to spell them out as we could never cover all national and regional norms, that is why we recommend that you buy your bathroom lighting fixtures from a reputable company and have it installed by a professional.

The style you choose is going to be very personal and will fit not only within the bathroom itself, it will tie in to the overall style of the house. Whatever style you choose you should ensure to follow the rules of safety and good lighting as explained before. Bathroom lighting sconces can be found in many building supply stores like Home Depot but you will find a wider choice in a specialty shop, however lights in a specialty shop will normally be more expensive as they tend to carry more exclusive designs and higher quality products. Online specialty shops will offer the best prices. So whether you are looking for a retro bathroom sconce, or contemporary bathroom lighting you will be able to purchase it online.

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Modern lighting has done much to change the way we illuminate our homes and our lives has changed, modern lighting is based on well planned and implemented lighting throughout the house.

Let's review the basics of lighting :

• It is better to replace the ceiling light with many light areas in a room.
• Create ambient light by using several lights arranged just about anywhere around the room.

Lighting Room By Room

Bedroom Lighting

In the bedroom you need to think about 2 types of lights. The first should be a warm diffused light by which to get dressed. For this purpose you need a floor lamp or a lamp on a vanity, or on another piece of furniture. You could also use a ceiling light with a soft low level power. For the second type of lighting in the bedroom, you need reading lamps, above the bed or on a night stand. These should light only the area of the bed where they are placed.

In a bedroom lamps are used to create a mood, an ambience intended to comfort and relaxation, so you should plan to have a good wireless light in the closets so that you can see what you do and avoid some unpleasant surprises.

IHA advice - for a modern lighting effect place a large mirror in a corner of the room, behind which you have hidden a floor lamp. Effective and dramatic effect.

Bathroom Lighting

In this room you should prefer to have ceiling lights or wall mounted lights on each side of the vanity mirror or on the sides. You should use incandescent bulbs because they make you look better. You should avoid spot lights that would not flatter you.

Remember to keep electrical components to a safe distance from water sources.

Kitchen Lighting

Lighting in the kitchen is a utility type of lighting, it is therefore important to plan it carefully. Priority should be accorded to lighting the workspaces very well, but not too much.

Fluorescent lights are to be avoided as the light they produce is often too harsh. It is better to have spot lights hidden behind a strip or recessed along the length of the cabinet in particular over the stove unless you have a hood. Place a beautiful pendant light from the ceiling for a striking modern lighting look.

It is really functional to add lights inside cabinets and drawers.

Dining Room Lighting

It is important to choose good lighting for this room. Halogen lamps give the best results but have fallen out of favor with the ecology crowd, however they do provide the best color renditions over a dining room table. They can be used at low power to preserve the appetizing color of food. A subdued lighting, even if too low, will not be detrimental to the taste of your food, whereas a light that is too strong could.

Remember that you can get special dining table lamps and that candles that light a table with enough glow can be very warm and pleasant. Even a casual eating area deserves good lighting.

Living room Lighting

Preferred lighting system in this room go to indirect mood lighting, with lamps in strategic locations, splashes of lights hidden behind a plant , or an object. These touches of hidden lights create a magnificent effect in corners or where there are angles, they put forth the textures of furniture and wall color reflects the light in a soft way, giving your place a refined atmosphere of well being.

If you have art pieces or paintings that you want to accentuate by all means you should. Use spot lights making sure to only buy bulbs that will not damage your collection.

When you have several sources of light you can choose the intensity of the lights in the room according to the activities that are taking place, reading, TV viewing, or chatting with friends. For a softer more intimate ambience, use candles also in varying locations everywhere in the room. If you have a ceiling light in your living room, you should use a dimmer to be able to change the level of lighting quickly.