Home Improvement and Small Bathroom Design

The bathroom is the only room in your house that you can guarantee everyone is going to visit sooner or later. It's not a luxury it's a necessity, everyone has to go. It's the only room in your house that your guests will ask directions to.

It makes a lot of sense then, when you are making improvements to your home, to consider the bathroom as a very important target on your list because potentially it can make a very big difference.

To my surprise it seems that many people don't put the bathroom top of their list when planning home improvements. This could be because they think that it's too big a job or their bathroom is too small to do anything with. This isn't necessarily the case.

Remember that improving a small bathroom doesn't have to be about its physical size but more about it's apparent size and how you give the illusion of space to your visitors. Choosing light colours, adding lighting around the edges of the bathroom and carefully placing a mirror or two are all inexpensive and relatively simple things you can do that can make a lot of difference in a small bathroom.

Reasons for improving your home

The main reasons that most people undertake home improvements fall mostly into the categories below:

Repairs
Improving your living standards
Increase the value of your property
Energy efficiency
Just because you can

Lets take each of these and see how they apply to your small bathroom.

Small Bathroom Repairs

Repairing leaky faucets, broken mirrors and cracked bathtubs are all things that you should be doing no matter what the size of your bathroom. The fact that the room is small might mean that there is less to go wrong but it also means that it could be more awkward to fix. There is no doubt that making repairs in the bathroom will improve your home to the benefit of your family and increase the value of your property.

Improving your living standards

Adding and improving the features in the most used room in the house can make a big difference to your living standards. Make the bathroom a place that you are happy to spend time in.

Increase the value of your property

This is a very important reason for creating the best small bathroom design that you can. When it comes to selling your property an impressive bathroom can make a very real difference. If you are planning to sell up soon then you should pay particular attention to your bathroom.

Energy efficiency

With a little thought with your small bathroom design you can make some energy savings and do your part for the good of the planet. By installing an on-demand water heater in the shower and taking showers instead of baths you can reduce your electricity and water usage. Replacing your toilet for a dual-flush type can also save water.

Just because you can

Some people just like a change and there isn't anything wrong with that providing you have the money and the time.

Remember that redesigning a bathroom no matter how small can make a big difference to your life.

Going 'Green' with Environmentally-Friendly Home Improvement Products

Over the last few years, buying environment friendly products for the home has become an increasingly important consideration for homeowners looking to make "green" improvements to their living space. To address this growing need, products such as flooring, lighting and paneling, as well as materials like paint and varnish are now readily available for virtually every remodeling project and every room in the house.

Numerous States have now also adopted legislation that limits the use of products that contain harmful fumes or chemicals. The good thing about this is, other than the obvious Green benefits, that many of the products that adhere to the new legislation are also becoming more affordable and are therefore more likely to be found on the shelves in our local hardware and home improvement stores.

See The Light! And Still Save on Energy Bills

It's no secret that energy prices have soared and if you are planning a home improvement project, one of the simplest ways you can protect the environment - as well as save money - is to use less electricity.

Lighting and major appliances consume the most electricity; simply by switching to fluorescent bulbs, you can save up to 30% a year on your electricity bills. You can save a noticeable amount of money on your lighting costs by painting walls a lighter color, thus distributing light more effortlessly as well as making rooms appear brighter.

Leaking ducts can account for a surprising amount of wasted energy - up to 30%. If you are planning to caulk around ducts, vents and windows be sure to use a product that complies with recent regulations concerning the use of less VOCs in its manufacture. These are volatile organic compounds which contain pollutants that damage the ozone layer, and also contribute to producing smog.

Paint may be your biggest cause of concern if you are planning a home improvement project. Read the small print on the tin to make sure it complies with VOC standards - almost 30 brands are now readily available. Typically, lighter colors of paint tend to contain fewer VOCs.

Tip-Top Countertops

Kitchen countertops are an area where it is possible to help the environment. A recent innovation is a countertop made entirely of recycled paper and water-based resin. You can also install countertops made of paper and cement so that the production involves no quarrying that damages the land.

The bathroom is one of the most important areas where you can help protect the environment. Around 75% of all water used in the home is used by the bathroom shower, toilet and sink combined. Low flow or adjustable showerheads are easy to install and a dual flush toilet - offering a full or half-flush - can potentially lower a typical water bill by up to $75 a year. An estimated 4 trillion gallons of water would be saved every year in the United States if every household installed a dual flush toilet.

The Japanese are well known for their inventive labor-saving and technologically advanced devices. One of their latest innovations may soon be commonplace in the United States - an ingenious combination toilet/bathroom sink - you wash your hands in water that is then used to flush the toilet.

Get Floored! In The Utmost Style of Course

And one of the biggest trends in home improvement? Many people, especially those moving into a new home, consider installing a new floor covering as one of their most important projects. Cork, bamboo and reclaimed wood flooring all have a strong visual appeal as well as helping the environment, and in recent years, these alternative materials for flooring have become popular.

Cork flooring has excellent insulating qualities and can save on energy costs; it also reduces noise and can help keep a home free from allergens. What's more, it is surprisingly tough as well as being water resistant.

And one other thing to keep in mind if you are "going green" when remodeling or improving your home. Always dispose of old or unwanted materials safely - many materials can be donated for people to reuse, or otherwise recycled. If in doubt, check with your county recycling program.

The next time you are making improvements to your living space be sure to do your bit to protect our precious planet... Go Green!