15 Ways to Warm Up Your Bathroom for Winter
Oh, that dread — you wake up in the middle of the night to take a trip to the bathroom,
but you know that cold tile will chill all the toastiness right out of
your feet. Or you come in from a chilly football game longing to take a
luxurious soak in the tub, but the thought of shedding your layers of
fleece stops you in your tracks. Soon it will be that time of year when
you want your bathroom to raise your body temperature. Here are 15
suggestions that range from something you can do in minutes for a few
bucks to dream-space renovation ideas.
Add a cozy rug. A bath mat
does not have to be a shaggy little rectangle. Add an Oriental rug to
enjoy underfoot during fall and winter. The rich colors will warm up the
look of the room as well.
Be sure to add a rug pad or rug tape that will grip the floor underneath any bathroom rug to prevent slips.
Be sure to add a rug pad or rug tape that will grip the floor underneath any bathroom rug to prevent slips.
Blend beautiful natural materials. Soapstone sinks
atop wood countertops add so much warmth to this bathroom. The look
reminds me of the natural beauty of a rock outcropping in the woods.
More about wood countertops in kitchens and baths
More about wood countertops in kitchens and baths
Take a different approach to lighting.
We tend to think there is a certain type of characterless light we need
to choose for bathrooms, like those flush-mount "boob lights." This is
not true; open your mind and browse the type of lighting you would
usually associate with a foyer or dining room.
If you are installing a hanging chandelier or pendant light in a bathroom, work with a licensed electrician who knows the codes inside and out. A chandelier cannot be within reach of someone standing in a bathtub full of water; the fixtures will also need to be properly grounded, and you'll need a high ceiling.
If you are installing a hanging chandelier or pendant light in a bathroom, work with a licensed electrician who knows the codes inside and out. A chandelier cannot be within reach of someone standing in a bathtub full of water; the fixtures will also need to be properly grounded, and you'll need a high ceiling.
Consider heated floors. One
of the most luxurious things you can do to make your bathroom toasty in
chilly weather is invest in radiant-heat flooring. If you are planning
any renovations, learn more about what this entails and what the payoffs are.
If you don't have room in the budget for such a large investment, talk to your electrician about installing a bathroom-safe heater you can turn on before your bath or shower. Again, I stress, working with licensed pros is a must; you don't want to scrimp on safety with electronics in the bathroom.
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If you don't have room in the budget for such a large investment, talk to your electrician about installing a bathroom-safe heater you can turn on before your bath or shower. Again, I stress, working with licensed pros is a must; you don't want to scrimp on safety with electronics in the bathroom.
Find electrical contractors on Houzz
Get your towels toasty. Heated towel bars add luxury to the bath, giving you a wonderful way to wrap up when you step out of a steamy shower.
Learn more about towel warmers
Learn more about towel warmers
Rev up the wall color. So
many of today's most beautiful bathrooms are crisp and white, but that's
certainly not a requirement. Whether working with wall coverings, paint
or tile, think outside the usual bathroom color palettes if the thought of white marble leaves you cold.
Incorporate antiques. The well-worn patina of this table-turned-vanity and the eclectic miners'
oil lanterns add warmth and personality to a white bathroom. There are
even votive candles in the lanterns for cozy light that creates a
relaxing ambience.
Invest in a bathtub that helps retain heat. Materials
like copper, brass, volcanic limestone and soapstone retain heat and
will help to keep that hot bathwater warm while you enjoy the entire new
issue of People.
Am I the only one who gets a People in the mail and thinks, "Sweet! It's People and bath time for me tonight"?Just wondering.
Am I the only one who gets a People in the mail and thinks, "Sweet! It's People and bath time for me tonight"?Just wondering.
Install a steam shower. This
is a big-ticket dream-space item, but everyone I know who has one seems
to think they can no longer live without it. I did get a chance to test
one out at a vacation rental once, and I can report that it was
heavenly.
Learn more about steam showers
Learn more about steam showers
Consider a home sauna. Historically much more common in countries like Sweden, saunas are becoming more popular in the States.
Learn more about home saunas
Learn more about home saunas
Think steampunk. Winter
brings dark, moody days. Instead of fighting the moodiness, this
designer celebrated it, stunning us with copper pipes and that
old-fashioned high toilet tank. (Remember how awesome you thought those
were at TGI Fridays in the '80s?)
See more of this steampunk-esque powder room
See more of this steampunk-esque powder room
Let in the light. Windows, skylights and a clear glass shower surround make the most of natural light. If your concern is privacy, explore using transoms, acid-etched glass and clerestory windows.
Get woodsy. In a ski
house, cabin or lake house, it's part of the experience to go full-on
woodsy in the bathroom. If you love the look, go ahead and do it at
home, but do think about whether or not you'll tire of it, especially
during the summer.
If you want to go "woodsy light"
instead, give the forest a nod instead of a bear hug. Knotty pine walls
are not a requirement — you can get your woodsy on with beautiful
fabrics that show trees and branches, plus a wood-framed mirror and
other small accessories.
Add a sunny shower curtain. Yellow will perk up a dark winter's evening.
Likewise, patterns can cozy up the bathroom.
In fact, if I win the lottery, this is the first bathroom design move I'm going to make.