If your bathroom is typical of 75 per cent of those around today, it’s small, dull and in need of  renovation. But when you look in home improvement magazines, all you see are large, luxurious bathrooms, bigger than the living rooms in most homes. Where do you get ideas for remodeling  that small bathroom? Make use of the design concepts in those showcase bathrooms, says a  leading manufacturer of plumbing products.

Select the ideas, color schemes and products you like and incorporate them into your plan. There are seven basic elements that go into a practical, functional and beautiful bathroom, no matter what size it is.

The first is a good plan. Getting the most bathroom for your money is simply a matter of making the best use of available space. Begin with questions only you can answer. Who will use the room—the entire family, adults only, children only, guests? How many persons must it serve at peak periods such as getting the family off to work or school? What extras should the room provide—whirlpool bath, hair washing center, off-the-wall hand held shower, compartmented toilet and bidet, bathtub with built-in safety features?

 

Once you’ve determined whom and how the new room will serve, it’s important to know what’s available in plumbing products and accessories. That’s step two. Toilets are available with a variety of features. Some will not overflow. Some are wall hung for off-the-floor convenience. Some are less than 19 inches high; counter tops can extend over the back of the toilet for additional storage space. And some use 30 per cent less water than conventional toilets. Ideal for cottages, farms and other homes dependent on wells and septic tank systems, as well as for use in  areas of expensive water and sewerage rates.

Bathtubs for the smaller bathroom range from extra long for stretch-out comfort, to extra deep, like the Steeping Bath, 20 inches deep for soaking comfort, but only 5 feet long to fit the tub recesses found in conventional bathrooms. Bathtubs in enameled cast iron have the textured bottom that helps keep wet feet from slipping. Some tubs are also available with safety grip handles. Lavatories today do more than just hold water. They’re shampoo-grooming centers with plenty of room and convenience features like swing-away spout, shampoo hose and spray, soap-lotion dispenser. And they’re self rimming for neater, quicker installations. Color coordination is the third basic element, and it’s even more important for the smaller bathroom. Plumbing products are available in such attractive colors they almost beg to be the starting point of your color scheme.

Choose from bold accents like Tiger Lily, Blueberry, Antique Red or Sunflower. Use bright colors like Pink Champagne, New Orleans Blue, Fresh green or Harvest Gold. Mix or match. Open up a small room with light, bright colors. Easy maintenance, the fourth basic element, is as important in the bathroom as it is in any other room. Begin with quality fixtures, those with finishes of glass, hard vitreous china or durable enameled cast iron. Complement them with quality single control or twin handle fittings, faucets with chrome or gold electroplate finishes and handles without dirt-catching corners. Consider vinyl wall coverings for both decorative effect and easy maintenance. Use non-abrasive cleansers to keep the whole room clean and bright. The fifth element is adequate ventilation. It’s an item easily overlooked in bathroom remodeling. Depending on the extent of renovation, ventilation can be added under the floor—a recent development—or through the wall or ceiling. Ample cabinet pace and adequate lighting are the final elements in proper bathroom planning. Counter top lavatories and low silhouette toilets help gain storage space.