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The bathroom has long been a very practical space and only recently started to get serious attention as a spot for designer creativity. If you’re thinking about doing a little updating, you might start to get overwhelmed by some of the newer trendy options for bathroom looks. Which ideas are the most fool-proof, and will work for just about any space?

Popular plumbers in Lane Cove, the Plumbing Detectives, have seen all sorts of decorating ideas over the years and know which ones are the best bets for an easy renovation project.

Adding More Storage

One area where you can’t go wrong is to make changes to the bathroom that adds storage. Cabinets and shelves are always welcome and can be very stylish at the same time.

Over-the-toilet cabinets are an excellent choice as they help add some extra storage areas in a spot that often goes unused in a bathroom. You could replace a pedestal sink with a larger vanity unit with shelves and drawers, or install additional shelves within the shower stall to add more space for shampoo and other products.

Photo: Classy Clutter Girls

Luxury Showers

You no longer have to do a major plumbing reno to ramp up your showering experience. There are so many wonderful shower fixtures on the market these days that you can create a spa atmosphere without extensive construction work. Replace that plain shower head with a large “rain shower” fixture that creates a more gentle water flow from above, or add a hand-held shower wand for some added flexibility.

Benches or seats can be added if you want a space that allows for a bit more relaxation too.

Natural Stone

This is such a versatile look that it’s used time and time again, regardless of what kind of style you are aiming for in the bathroom. Depending on how you use it, natural stone can work nicely in a rustic vintage bathroom or a sleek modern one. And by natural stone, we’re talking about limestone, granite, slate or marble.

Photo: Bathrooms Designs

Flooring is the usual spot for natural stone tiles, but don’t forget the walls (particularly in the shower stall or along a sink backsplash). You can also stone for the countertop and even the sink basin itself. Stone looks wonderful, can be very durable and not difficult to care for.

Replacing Carpet

If you have a really “old school” bathroom look, you might even still have carpeting to deal with. This is definitely a must-replace job, regardless of what other kind of flooring you prefer. The look is very dated and considered to be extremely un-hygenic given how much moisture is in a bathroom. So if you are dealing with a carpeted bathroom, that should be the first thing to go.

Classic White

When you can’t really settle on a color, you can go with the never-fail option of white. It’s crisp, clean and basically timeless. You’ll always find fixtures and appliances in white, and it’s easy enough to add a few pops of color when you do figure out what kind of palette you want.

Photo: Life on Virginia Street

Photo: Daily Dream Decor

Minimalist design is not just about packing the clutter away. It is about creating cleanliness, with no jarring or obvious sticking points. In many minimalist decorated homes, you will see glass shelving, with hardly-there glass clamps. All of the shelving, pieces of furniture, and décor items placed in your home should be questioned which is an important factor in creating a minimalist interior design scheme. Ask yourself why is something placed there, and does it need to be placed there?

Take a look around your home, and you may be wondering what the first tentative steps into a minimalist home actually are. Here are 9 hacks that will help you make a start and design a delightful minimalist designed interior.

1. Purge, De-clutter and Stop Bargain Hunting!

A minimalist design is not for everyone. Thus, if you are avid bargain hunter who loves being surrounded by knick-knacks and ornaments, then you may need to be honest about how well this minimalist design will sit with you.

Many people think that a minimalist design means organizing the clutter they have into boxes and hidden places that leave empty shelving and so on. This is not what minimalist design truly is. So, stop de-cluttering and start to purge.

Photo: Stuart Sampley Architect

1. Reduce

The kitchen is a place that becomes cluttered over time and if you are aiming for a streamlined, minimalist appeal in the heart of the home then the sooner you realize you don’t need three bread knives, three mixing bowls all the same size and 15 tea towels, the better. The same goes for the rest of the house.

3. Use it or lose it!

The rule with getting rid of STUFF, is if it is not used, it goes. If you are serious about minimalist design, then this is the hard and fast rule. That said, there might be something special that you cannot part with. Deciding the best place and the best way of displaying this is a key component of minimalist design. Thus glass shelving, with glass clamps with one beautiful object on it will be perfect.

Photo: Stuart Sampley Architect

4. When you buy more…

The problem when we buy something is that we think of the here and now. Buying something is an emotional decision. You like it: you buy it. Know you need to add another step. Where do you picture this object sitting within your home? Will it still look as good/be used in six months’ time? Is there a better option?

5. Clear counter tops

There is something about a clear counter top or tabletop that simply invites something to sit on it. Once something is added, more stuff gets added. Before you know, stuff is everywhere. Again. By always endeavoring to keep counter and tabletops clear, you are constantly evaluating what needs to go or what needs to remain – but it needs a place to be.

6. Replacing, Not Adding

Like the three bread knives in the kitchen, when we feel something is past its beds, we buy a replacement. But we don’t replace it; we add to it. In other words, we keep the old one ‘just in case’. Change that habit. If you are buying a new kettle, the old one needs to be recycled and so on.

Photo: Nicholas Anthony

7. Think Colour

Greys and neutrals colours are the backbone of a minimalist design but, with less clutter and stuff about the place, you will find that a room feels more open. When this is the case, a splash of bold and daring colour will work, where once it would not.

8. Start Small

Purging the whole house of stuff will take you months. And we mean it. Start with one room, one sideboard, once cupboard, one drawer. And fan out from there as your confidence and evaluating prowess grows.

9. Don’t Wait and Do It!

Many of us dream of clear table tops and kitchen counters. We dream of finding something in the place where we left it. We dream of a wide, open room that is light and airy. We love the thought of less stuff to dust, vacuum, clean and wash. You can do it, you just need to make a start, so start Now!