Bathroom Remodeling is not a task for the faint of heart. Nor is it a task for those with few pennies to rub against one another. It can be both difficult and expensive. Moving fixtures will usually involve plumbing, which the novice is not able to do. Moving walls or electrical outlets also calls for professional help.

There are things you can do, however. Whether you plan to do the remodel yourself or have a contractor do it, you can be involved in bathroom design.

Bathroom design lets you plan and visualize the finished room before you begin. Bathroom design works out the Bathroom Remodeling project so that it flows smoothly and – you hope – successfully.

Keep the following in mind as you begin and work through your own bathroom design project.

1. Form Follows Function

In bathroom design, as in the design of other rooms, remember that form follows function. To put it another way, the usefulness of the room takes priority over the appearance of the room. Many who set their hand to bathroom design have in mind a pleasant or rich-appearing retreat. They want the look of a spa, or of an expensive bathroom they saw in a magazine. If a wiser head does not intervene, they end up with a bathroom that looks good but is inconvenient, at best.

As you launch a bathroom design project, think about the usefulness of each part of your bathroom. Cabinets should be placed where they are convenient. If possible, their placement will also be aesthetically pleasing. The emphasis should be, however, on the usefulness of those cabinets. The same should be true of every item in your bathroom design.

2. Create Clear Floor Plans

Bathroom design must work with clear, easily followed floor plans. Begin with accurate measurements of every part of the bathroom. Measure everything at least twice, writing the measurements in a notebook. Use graph paper or a bathroom design computer program to make a “map” of your bathroom. Mark the exact location of each fixture. Mark plumbing and electrical connections precisely.

With everything measured and marked, you can use your floor plans to try out different bathroom designs. Relocate the vanity and sink. Will it work better in the new location? Will plumbing have to be changed? Try out different arrangements before settling on one.

3. Focus on Fixtures

Relocation of towel racks and wall shelves is not a big concern, in most cases. Relocation of fixtures such as toilet, tub, shower, and sink is a big concern. For successful bathroom design, focus on those fixtures. Be sure you know exactly where you want your fixtures to be located. Be sure the plumbing can be relocated to fit your new bathroom design.

Since the relocation of fixtures is often costly, focus on them carefully and see if you can produce a bathroom design that leaves them where they are. Perhaps other things can be altered to achieve your purpose with less cost and labor.

Use Common Sense

The best tip to remember when getting involved in bathroom design is to use common sense. You want the toilet paper roll to hang or sit in a convenient location. You want towels near the tub, shower, and sink – not on the other side of the room. Give a little common sense thought to each item, and your bathroom design will produce a convenient, functional, and stylish room.

Bathroom accessories in Lavender can conjure up images of wide fields of purple flowers. Just looking at such bathroom accessories can almost evoke the fragrance of Lavender. While the color purple can cause people to flee some rooms, Lavender bathroom accessories have a soothing effect. Complement the flowers’ Lavender hues with the wooly grey-green of the plant’s stems and leaves for a natural retreat.

Begin at the Beginning

Bathroom accessories in Lavender begin with a wall hanging that contains the colors you plan to use. Accessorize your wall with a large picture featuring a field of Lavender. It might be a nostalgic print – an old country home at the far end of the field. It might be a fairy in gossamer Lavender, her tiny body perched on a Lavender stem in the field. Whatever it is, such Lavender bathroom accessories set the mood and color scheme.

Other bathroom accessories for your walls might include a framed copy of the old song, “Lavender’s Blue, Lavender’s Green” – or a fine art tapestry of Lavender.

Tie it Together

Lavender bathroom accessories will only look good if they are tied into a good color scheme. Choose three colors from your wall hanging: purple, green, and grey. Then follow the tried and true 60-30-10 rule.

* Use soft green on 60 percent of the room. You might have soft green walls with green-grey ceramic tile on the lower portion and floor.
* Use brushed grey on 30 percent of the room: toilet, sink, and tub. You may want grey floor mats or rugs.
* Use Lavender on only 10 percent – bathroom accessories.

Lavender Candles

Make your bathroom a relaxing spa with Lavender candles. Lavender candles are wonderful bathroom accessories. They give a warm look, even if never lighted. Choose Lavender color, or get candles with a true Lavender fragrance. Lavender Love has wonderful lavender melts to let your bathroom smell as good as your lavender bathroom accessories look.

Lavender Linens

Lavender towels and face cloths are must-have bathroom accessories. Solid colors are fine, but you may want white, ivory, pale green or gray linens with embroidered lavender designs.

Lavender Bath Teas, Bubbles, and Oils

Although not truly bathroom accessories, lavender bath teas, bubbles, and oils can carry the theme. If they don’t come packaged in lavender colored containers, pour them into such. Pale lavender containers or white ceramic containers with lavender designs are good. Again, we found lovely bath items at Lavender Love website.

Lavender Soap

Authentic lavender soap in a lovely ceramic dish is a soothing touch among more necessary bathroom accessories. A light purple soap sprinkled with tiny lavender flowers is perfect.

Other Lavender Bathroom Accessories

Other lavender bathroom accessories may be plain lavender color. We found recycled glass bathroom accessories of frosted lavender that were subtly elegant. Your accessories may be pottery in swirls of lavender, green, and grey. They may be white ceramic with lavender flowers, or swishes of lavender color.

You may want some or all of the following:

* tumbler
* toothbrush holder
* lotion dispenser
* tissue box cover
* waste basket
* shower curtain
* shower curtain rings or hooks

Crowning Touch

When using lavender bathroom accessories, finish your room with a large bouquet of dried lavender. Arrange it in a grey or green-grey basket to complete your restful retreat.

Bathroom Remodeling is easy, right? Move everything out that’s movable; replace tub, toilet, and vanity; Lay tile in place of soiled carpeting; and paint the walls. Nothing to Bathroom Remodeling.

Bathroom remodeling is not that simple, however. Contractors agree that of all the projects they tackle, Bathroom Remodeling is the least liked.

That’s why it is so important to plan the work before you begin. Then work closely with your plan throughout the Bathroom Remodeling project.

Bathroom Remodeling Plan

Bathroom Remodeling should always begin with a complete plan. Avoid the temptation of beginning before the plan is complete, as you may cause more problems than you care to imagine. Prepare a notebook in which you will keep all parts of your Bathroom Remodeling plan. Then, by hand or with computer, detail every part of the work.

Here are a few ideas on how you might draw up a Bathroom Remodeling plan.

* Current Floor Plan: Begin with a floor plan of your bathroom as it is now. Measure dimensions carefully and note them on the floor plan. Note existing pipes and electrical connections. This part of your Bathroom Remodeling plan can be simplified by using computer software such as Plan 3D. We review Plan 3D on this website. To read that review, click here or on the blue Plan 3D tab at the top of this page. To visit Plan 3D right now, click here.

* New Floor Plan: The next step in Bathroom Remodeling is to draw up a new floor plan of the way you want your bathroom to look. Use the same computer software, or graph paper, to show the changes. Remember that relocating fixtures will often require costly changes in plumbing or electrical wiring. Work carefully, and make your plan clear.

* Codes: Once you know exactly what you want from your Bathroom Remodeling project, check local codes. In the U.S., these are available from the Department of Building and Safety. Pay special attention to clearances needed around tub, shower, and toilet. Make necessary changes on your new floor plan.

* Materials: List all materials needed for your Bathroom Remodeling work. Beside each, list an estimated cost. Take your Bathroom Remodeling planner to a local home building store and ask trained personnel for assistance in this phase. Determine how much money you will place in the budget for this project, and stick to it.

* Contractor: If your Bathroom Remodeling project will include tasks for which you are untrained, include in your planner a list of possible contractors. Call several and get estimates. Ask for references, and call them.

* Permits: Obtain necessary building permits for your Bathroom Remodeling project. Never begin without these. If you have a contractor for part of the work, be sure he or she obtains all necessary permits.

Once you have created a Bathroom Remodeling planner, use it. Refer to it often so that you will move through your project smoothly, and within budget.