Fixing Up Your Bathroom

Feb. 21, 2001 -- The bathroom isn't just for washing up anymore: What was once a utilitarian necessity has evolved into an oasis, a place to wash away the cares of the day.

In 1997, the average cost of a bathroom renovation was $9,000. This year, people are laying out an average of about $12,000 on bathroom makeovers.

And there are some distinct trends going on in household bathrooms. Bathrooms are growing in size, to the point that they are as large as other rooms in the house. Some people are adding dressing areas, and vanities.

Bathrooms are also getting more high tech. Showers are more elaborate, with multiple heads, side jets and more opportunities to control the ebb and flow of water. You can buy toilets with warming seats. A lot of newer bathrooms now include stereo and TV equipment.

And at the same time, there's a move toward simpler, natural design, marked by the use of such mediums such as wood and stone in the bathroom.

"I think the feeling that people are looking for in their bathroom is one of serenity," Barbara Sallick of Waterworks, in Danbury, Conn., told Good Morning America, which is doing a bathroom makeover series with Home Improvement Editor Ron Hazelton this week. "People are looking for personal gratification. This is their private space and it is the one place in the house where they can close the door and be alone."

Serenity Now One way to achieve that serenity is turning your tub into a home spa. High-tech showerheads let you control the flow and temperature of the water while little luxuries like a book rack let you really sit back and relax.

Soothing neutral colors help set the mood. Mosaic tiles and fancy fixtures add an elegant touch. Even old standards like the toilet and medicine cabinet can add to the feel of the room. But you don't have to throw a lot of money down the drain to jazz up your john.

"I think there are three very quick ways to make your bathroom look more interesting: the first is to buy a new shower curtain, the second is to buy a new rug and the third is to install some new accessories, which is a really easy thing to do," Sallick said.

There are also very practical considerations when figuring out which items to purchase. When buying a bathtub, for example, try it on for size first.

"It's very important to get in that bathtub in the store and make sure that it fits your back, that it's long enough, that you're knees aren't hitting your chin," Sallick said.

Unlike a chair, which can be sold at the next tag sale, everything in the bathroom is attached to a hard surface and it's nearly impossible to move it without spending a lot of money, so planning is crucial.

The Ultimate Luxury

In line with the serenity theme, experts say that bath fixtures are matte, rather than shiny. Many people are opting for materials such as brushed nickel, or satin. Some are also going for antique brass, pewter and aged copper for sinks.

Ever wish you could combine two favorite activities, such as taking a bath and reading a great book? There's a handy invention just for that purpose: the bath rack.

"It is sort of the ultimate luxury, when you're in the bath tub, to have your soap, to have your sponge, and most of all to have your book rack, so that you can read comfortably when you're in the bath," Sallick said.

Finally, there is a trend toward using furniture in the bathroom. But the important thing to remember is that the furniture needs to be appropriately scaled and it needs to be suitable for the bathroom environment.