How to Make a Luxury and Elegant Bathroom: 4 Items to Consider

Lighting — Everything

You've probably had this experience: you spent a good time preparing to go out and felt great. You head to where you're going, still feeling fantastic. You peek into the bathroom at an event and realize you look like a monster from a 1000-year-old cake, and start wondering how you even left the house in such a state. What's the key element? It's lighting.

Lighting is what makes cheap motels in movies still look somewhat poetic; it's the difference between a good-looking soap opera and regular people on the street. It can also make your bathroom cheap or luxurious.

The first lighting rule is that natural light is always better (it's more diffused and has the right balance of brightness and warmth. It's also good for your health). This creates certain problems with the bathroom since you don't want neighbors to see inside. If your bathroom wall faces private property, you can choose larger windows (but even then guests may not want to use the bathroom if someone on the street can see them).

You need something that prevents visibility from outside without blocking sunlight. Consider frosted glass or glass with slanted panels, which make it harder to see inside. You can maximize natural light even through small windows by placing a mirror opposite them.

The second lighting rule is that not all bulbs are equal. Warm light creates a cozy, warm feeling but can be too intense and change visibility. Cool light gives a fresh, clean feel, but too much of it results in a clinical effect. Finding this perfect balance may take several tries, but it's worth it.

Also, you should think about light placement. Having light directly above your head creates unpleasant shadows (and makes applying makeup a bit absurd). If you're going to do things like eyebrow removal, facial shaving or makeup application, you need light coming from the wall with a mirror. This will provide enough light for correctly seeing what you're doing.

Find Your Accent: The Tub

In high-end interior design, one tested approach is to choose a decorative element and make all other decorating decisions around it. In most bathrooms, the tub is usually central. A quiet afternoon soak in a large tub may not be key to happiness, but it does help. When choosing a tub, focus on size first. How much space do you have? How many people do you want to fit in the tub at once? How deep should it be for full immersion?

After choosing size, start looking at various brands and materials. A classic tub with legs is no accident, but there are also really beautiful modern stone constructions that may be of interest. Consider Catchpole & Rye, which specializes in designing and manufacturing luxurious copper tubs. Check out their collection of copper tubs or request a brochure through their website. They ship worldwide too. Whatever you choose, make sure to consider the item's weight and safety measures needed during installation.

Tiles and Stone

The floor and tile of a bathroom should not be chosen based solely on appearance. This is because bathrooms are often wet, and therefore materials must withstand water like other parts of the house. For luxurious bathrooms, tiles or stone become favorite options. These choices come in all kinds of designs, colors and patterns; they last long and have a wonderful advantage — can be combined with heated floors. Heated flooring can make you feel like a royal family member on cold mornings.

Air Dryer

Although a built-in or tabletop dehumidifier might not be what you think luxury in the bathroom, you will definitely notice the effects of its absence. Bathrooms are often filled with moisture, which can lead to wet towels, drywall or paneling. Mold and mildew love damp things and will start growing, giving even the most luxurious bathroom a bad smell and appearance; they also represent a serious threat to your health since mold releases spores that promote respiratory issues when inhaled. In addition, moisture streaks on walls cause two-tone painting, and accumulated humidity can shorten the lifespan of most bathroom elements.

To prevent reduced lifespans of fixed components you've chosen and to make your bathroom less humid and dirty, you should purchase a quality air dryer. You can install it in a built-in way (you usually can add a switch to turn it on with the light). If you don't want to cut into your ceiling or walls, a floor-standing dehumidifier that plugs into an outlet is also available. Both options will help keep your bathroom clean and fresh.

The above tips will help you elevate the decor of your bathroom to a new level. Remember that your bathroom is a place you use frequently, so it should be durable and comfortable. There's nothing wrong with slowly making decisions as they arise; you can explore ideas online or in design magazines to gather inspiration.