Saturday, December 25, 2010

Why You Should Use Bath Rugs In Your Bathroom

Your bathroom is not only a functional room, it's also a place where we spend a great deal of time creating a relaxing in an atmosphere we've create why we soak in the bubbles or have a long relaxing shower to unwind from our busy day. Candles, decor, and flooring all play an important role in creating the atmosphere. Here's why you should use bath rugs in your bathroom.

Change the color

If you are tired of the look of your bathroom and you want to give it a make over you can use bath rugs to help. If your walls are a neutral color your job is easy. Choose bath rugs that fit your new color scheme, buy some complimenting towels and accessories and in under $150.00 your bathroom will have an entire new look. You can even find full sets in your local department stores that come with everything to complete your whole bathroom.

Make your bathroom cozy

Most bathrooms have either linoleum or a tile floor which can look very good but is can be cold to the feet. A bit of a shock after crawling out of the tub or shower. Bath rugs can be strategically placed in front of the tub or shower and compliment the existing flooring while providing a warm and soft place for your feet.

Change the look

Modernize your bathroom or turn it into an antique haven. You can do a total character change. Choose rugs that a fun and funky or traditional Victorian for your room. Make a few other small changes to your decor and for under a $180.00 your bathroom can have a total makeover. Excluding the purchasing of a claw foot tub or jet spray tub.

Make a safer floor

Bathroom floors can be slippery when they get wet. Bath rugs can give you a level of safety when stepping out of the tub or shower while at the same time playing an important role in your room decor.

A Spa At Home

Calgon take me away. We've all seen those commercials where a woman is relaxing in her spa tub while the worries of the day disappear. Why not transform your bathroom into a luxurious spa where you can get away from it all. Imagine that deep plush pile bath rug in a rich jewel color, scented candles burning, lights dimmed, soft music playing while you soak away your days worries in your favorite scent. Under $75.00 and your room will be made over.

Fun for the kids

Is getting the kids to brush their teeth, wash up, or have a bath a chore. Are they constantly fighting you because there are other things they'd rather do? Then make your kid' bathroom a fun place to visit. Decorate with bath rugs from their favorite characters, add a matching shower curtain, some toothbrushes, and cups. You can even buy soaps that follow the theme. The only fight you'll have on your hands now is who gets the bathroom first. Under $75.00 and you'll have a kid friendly bathroom.

The most important thing to remember when choosing a bath rug is that your bathroom deserves the same attention you would give to any other room in your home. Start by deciding what you want to accomplish in your bathroom, then choose colors and go shopping for the right bath rug.

Think outside the box, try not to choose those traditional bathroom rugs everyone sell. Rather try something different like a braided rug, a Sisal rug, or an oriental rug.

Of course there are few things that are important to keeping bath rugs sanitized and looking fresh and new. Be sure to wash them regularly and don't choose rugs are susceptible to mold or mildew because of the high moisture content in a bathroom. Make sure the rug you choose has dyes that are firmly set. A rubber backing is great to prevent rotting and slippage. But remember a rubber backing will be ruined by the dryer so you'll need to hang to dry. If the rug does not have a rubber backing you can easily attach a piece and the benefit is it can be removed when you wash it.

Bath rugs are an affordable method of giving your entire bathroom a face lift. Just add some accessories and everyone will think you've been working really hard!

About The Author
John Murray makes it easy to go through the carpet buying process and provides tips to keep your carpet lasting long. To learn more and receive your free mini-course visit: http://www.carpets-guide.com.

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Thursday, September 23, 2010

Aquatic Bath Tubs:- More Than Just a Dip

Bathing is an important part of a decent living. For thousands of years, various cultures and societies have given attention and significance to the experience.

Nothing compares however to the experience of soaking in an aquatic bathtub after a long day. It is a perfect combination of luxury and quality, of leisure bath and healthy water immersion.

What Is an Aquatic Bathtub?

The aquatic bathtub provides for a more relaxing and soothing experience than any ordinary tub out there. It is like having your own spa in the comforts of your home. It is all about hydrotherapy.

What Is Hydrotherapy?

Hydrotherapy is one method of treating a disease through the use of water. It is deemed to be used by ancient Greek doctors.

This method is more commonly known now as the spa therapy. They are very popular now.

Hydrotherapy or spa treatment can be used to address various problems. The warm water can relax spasm, very useful in alleviating sprains, muscle sprains, fatigue and backache.

Sitting in hot water alone, or a sitz bath, is effective in treating swollen hemorrhoids.

Physiotherapy is another area that makes use of water. The buoyancy of water allows an ailing limb or strained muscle to be moved or exercised, as there is less pull of gravity when immersed in a tub of water.

What Is a Whirlpool Bath?

Whirlpool is a special feature in most bathtubs to have an effective hydrotherapy experience. It is water spinning in a circular motion around a central area.

Heat is used together with this whirlpool bath, to effect a stimulating treatment or massage in an aquatic bath.

Additional Features to Consider

In deciding over an aquatic bathtub, there are hundreds of selections to choose from, with more than 1,500 distributors worldwide. There are premium designs that come with many luxurious features. There are the economical ones that will provide the basic needs of a spa treatment.

1. Two-Person Bathtub

A roomy bathtub will definitely spell comfort. Spacious bathing will dispense with unnecessary adjustments.

2. Support Features

Seek an aquatic bathtub that has raised seats, arm rests and lumbar support. These features should be secured to enjoy a long soak.

3. Neck Pillows

Neck jet pillows and shiatsu back jet system are some of the most sought-after features. Hydrotherapy jets are installed to provide also the ultimate massage experience.

4. Lighting

Chromatherapy lighting will add more than to the aesthetics. This is a desirable bonus to the hydrotherapeutic experience.

5. Continuous Waterfall

This adds to a peaceful ambience as one rests in a relaxing bath. The sound makes the bathing the ultimate calming experience.

6. Remote Control

Since this bath is about relaxation, some manufacturers have already provided for floating remote control. Any features of the aquatic tub can be turned off and on without having to move from the relaxed stature.

The selection provides a wide range of style and sizes. The features are made even more user-friendly now. Anyone can configure the features to focus on a specific area of discomfort.

With these features to watch out for, getting an aquatic bathtub is really a must. It is like having a hot spring in the confines of the household. Anyone can take a dip, any time of the day.

Just do not miss out on the aquatic bathtub experience. Whatever it is that may be discerned by the budget and by the desires, make sure to get one. Get a quality one, in keeping with the true hydrotherapy purpose of getting more than just a dip.

About The Author
Claire Bowes is a successful Webmaster and publisher of bath tubs & bathing. Claire provides more information on her site about Aquatic Bath Tubs that you can research at home.
cbowes999@yahoo.com

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Sunday, February 24, 2008

ViVid Bathroom Vanity Lighting The Most Inexpensive Way Of Improving Your Bathrooms Decor

Because the bathroom vanity is used the most in the daytime, allowing natural sunlight will help in saving money on your energy bills. If your bathroom design is built with an outside wall then chances are you have a small window and have natural light already. To add more light you can add a bathroom skylight or a high cluster window. Another way is to enlarge the small side window. Direct sunlight is generally bluish white and the benefits are that the light reflects off surfaces that are in the bathroom. A bathroom design which has indirect sunlight will pick up the colors of the bathroom tiles or bathroom vanity. Although sunlight is great the problem may arise that on glossy or textured surfaces you will get glare. You can control the sunlight and the surface glare problem by several means. Using fixed or movable diffuse panels like window blinds or window coverings on special window shutters will help in reducing the scatter of the direct sunlight. On the outside you can use the benefits of sunshades or awnings that will cut sunlight altogether.

Artificial bathroom vanity lighting

There are twice other basic artificial bathroom lighting sources that your bathroom vanity can use. First there are the incandescent lights. They are small, bright, and generate heat as well. An example would be recessed lighting, surface mount and suspended types. The other is the fluorescent bathroom light fixtures which emit very little heat but look more cumbersome because of the ballast that is needed to run them. Generally bathroom lighting which ever style you use should provide relatively uniform with no shadows lighting over the entire bathroom decor.

Bathroom vanity Lighting Tips.

· Try avoiding glare with exposed light bulbs especially eye level.

· To make a bathroom decor seem larger, use soft even lighting with light color schemes.

· Low bathroom ceilings will do best with a flat light color or the use of recessed lighting fixtures.

· High ceilings give you the choice of using larger suspended bathroom light fixtures that will enhance the room volume.

· Small light sources create a sharp shadow where as the large light sources give more of the diffused shadows.

· The color of the bathroom lighting should flow with the bathroom décor colors and not clash against them.

· Bright lights will stimulate the bathroom whereas soft ones will have a calming effect.

· Using light warm colors will create a cheerful feel whereas the light cool colors are restless.

· Light levels that are low and the use of somber colors will make the bathroom depressing.


About The Author
Daryl plaza is the owner of http://creativebathroom.com a website that is designed with resources and reviews that will help you with ideas for your bathrooms décor

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Thursday, December 13, 2007

Finishing Touches Make the Difference Between Drab and Fab

Three thousand parts. According to the National Association of Home Builders, that's what the typical home contains. And when you're building a home, you're faced with hundreds of decisions regarding those 3,000 parts. One or two car garage? Carpet or hardwood floors? White or oak cabinets? Paint or wallpaper? Chrome or polished brass fixtures? And the list goes on and on.

While these questions may seem overwhelming at first, it's important to take your time and closely consider each decision you make. And it's not just the major choices that matter when building a home. Equally important, if not more so, are the smaller decisions, such as accessories. Items such as lighting, towel bars, glass shelves and more can make all the difference in a room's décor.

These items make a significant difference in particular areas of the home, especially the bathroom. According to Eric Jungbluth, vice president and general manager of Creative Specialties International, a leading designer and manufacturer in the bath accessory marketplace, "A bathroom is a reflection of a homeowner's personal style. Our research shows consumers truly seek an emotional benefit from their baths ... a sense of comfort, serenity, and of style. The right accessories and finishing touches can add these feelings to the bath in an instant."

But, how do you know where to start? Do certain accessories match a specific decorating theme? What accessory options are available? Read on as we explore the world of accessories.

Accessories 101

We all know that an outfit isn't quite complete until you add the finishing touches. A vintage belt, stylish glasses or brand-new necklace can tie an ensemble together and give it a unique style. So, why stop with your clothing? The right mix of accessories, combined with a splash of creativity, can really make a house a home and show off your own unique style.

But how do you actually accessorize your home? According to Sherry Ruggieri, host of HGTV's Design & Decorating program, "Accessorizing is the art of placing and arranging objects to enrich the style of a room, add personality and most important, create visual interest."

Whether accessorizing a bath or an entire home, a recent survey found style is extremely important to Americans when decorating. The research conducted by Creative Specialties International and Rooms of America, a consumer research organization, determined 74 percent of those surveyed believe style is "very important" to "extremely important" in their overall decorating decisions.

In terms of specific style preferences, the survey found consumers typically decorate in three primary thematic approaches: country, casual/contemporary and traditional. Thirty-eight percent of the population decorates in a casual style (also referred to as contemporary); following closely behind, 35 percent of consumers choose a traditional style of decorating; lastly, 27 percent of Americans decorate in a country theme, which includes secondary themes such as Shaker, Country French and Mission.

Accessorizing the Bath

Once you have a style chosen for your home, how do you translate that into the bath? Where do you start? And what types of accessories should be chosen?

An important tip, according to Jungbluth, is to remember there are no rules when it comes to accessorizing the bath. "If your family room and kitchen are decorated in a traditional theme, it doesn't mean you necessarily have to accessorize your bathroom in the same style. It's a personal decision -- experiment with different looks and determine which style combination works best for your home."

In terms of accessorizing the bath, where should you start? Recently, on HGTV's Web site, host Joan Kohn asked two well-known designers for their "words of wisdom" when it comes to creating different looks in the bath, simply with accessories. According to designers Jean Zoller and Nancy Redifer, it's as easy as "1, 2, 3":

The first design decision to be made in any bath is the type of tub to be used, since it must be installed before the walls and windows go up. The color chosen for the tub will affect the rest of the color choices in the room.

If neutral colors are chosen for the large elements that form the background in the bath -- walls, floor, fixtures -- it's easy to change the room's looks, simply with accessories.

Accessories for the bath include candles, towel rings, plants, mirrors, robe hooks, glass shelves and more. Color can also be used as an accessory, with deeper colors being more traditional, while lighter colors have a more contemporary feel.

Jungbluth offered a final tip when choosing accessories, "Think of traditional accessories in untraditional ways. Try placing a grouping of different accessories together on a wall -- perhaps a towel bar, glass shelf and robe hook. The combination of the varying sizes and textures can add an interesting flavor to a room."

Choices Abound

Until recently, chrome or polished brass were the only finish choices in the bath accessory marketplace. Fortunately, the industry has changed dramatically in the last decade, and manufacturers now offer dozens of finish and style options in bath accessories.

"The bath accessory marketplace has really come to life in the last few years," added Jungbluth. "Consumers today have more choices than ever before. From 'retro' styles in oil-rubbed bronze to contemporary designs in brushed chrome ... dramatic wrought iron finishes and even accessories made in maple and oak, homeowners have a wide variety of new and innovative design options for the bath."

With all of the new options, Americans still hold true to a traditional finish. According to the aforementioned survey, chrome is still the most popular bath accessory finish, but consumers' second choice, brushed nickel, is on the rise. In addition, other finishes, such as oil-rubbed bronze and wrought iron, are also increasing in popularity with consumers. In fact, non-chrome finishes now represent almost half of bath accessory sales.

Relying on this extensive research, Creative Specialties International recently introduced four new bath accessory collections designed to reflect the styles used in today's bath. Sold under the Inspirations brand, the Kelsey, Vernini, Sienna and Westbury collections each fall into one of the three design categories -- traditional, contemporary/casual or country.

Featuring a distinctive retro flair, the Kelsey collection offers a unique look that combines simple curved lines and soft details. Perfect for a bath with a casual style, its design features a round base with ceramic accents and curved posts.

For those looking for a bath accessory with contemporary style, the Vernini collection is the ideal choice. Drawing from a modern European look, it offers a crisp, decorative style for the bath. What sets this collection apart is its sophisticated, architectural elements including geometric-shaped posts and finials.

The Sienna collection brings a fresh, new look to wrought iron, making it more style-oriented and updated in appearance. With a dramatic black finish that highlights the collection's handcrafted workmanship, it works in many design contexts to make a bold statement in the bathroom.

To enhance a country feel in the bath, the Westbury collection features the warm look of decorative wood. It brings classic bath accessory design elements to a wood collection offering a streamlined, clean appearance. Like fine furniture, it utilizes metal accents for an updated look and is designed to match today's popular cabinetry finishes and is sized so it does not overwhelm the bath.

Final Thoughts

Congratulations! By this point, you should be completely comfortable with adding the finishing touches to your home through the world of accessories. You know what accessorizing is, how to select a style, and carry it through to the bath. The room has been well planned and includes your own personal stamp.

Whether you're building a home or simply redecorating, we can all see the dramatic effect accessories can have in creating your home's style. Remember to keep the style consistent, and have fun in trying new things.

The best advice? "Experiment and try different techniques," added Jungbluth. "Decorating with accessories is a cost-effective way of changing the look of a room in a matter of minutes."

For more information on bath style trends, or accessory products available from Creative Specialties International, write 25300 Al Moen Drive, North Olmsted, OH 44070-8022, call toll free (800) 321-8809, or visit their Web site at www.moen.com.

About The Author
Courtesy of ARA Content, www.ARAcontent.com; e-mail: info@ARAcontent.com
Creative Specialties International, a division of Moen Incorporated, is a market-leading organization that provides creative and innovative solutions for today's bath. The company designs and manufactures a complete line of fashionable bath accessories in a wide assortment of styles and finishes. Creative Specialties International manufactures four brands of bath accessories. These include: Inspirations, Moen, Donner and Home Care.
Moen Incorporated is an operating company of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE: FO, www.fortunebrands.com), the consumer products company.

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