Nobody likes shivering whenever they shower, especially not in the winter. As you plan for a bathroom remodel, don’t forget to discuss heating options with your contractor. Large-scale solutions might include linking the room to your home’s heating system, or redesigning the space to let in more natural light. But there are smaller alternatives you can consider.
Make room for a space heater
Where you can’t reconfigure vents or windows, you can still make room for a space heater. These appliances have evolved from chunky models that took up a lot of space to flat units that can be mounted on the wall or ceiling. You might still need to redraw blueprints to accommodate this feature, but with less hassle and at a lower cost.
Install robe and towel warmers
Heaters are not the only appliances you can work into your bathroom: towel racks and robe hooks now come with heating functions, too. These not only allow you to dry yourself in a snug, toasty wrap; they also dry your damp towels and clothes better and faster. What’s not to like about that?
On top of this, towel racks can also give off radiant heat, notching bathroom temperatures just a little higher and keeping you a little warmer.
Heat up that toilet seat
Even in Atlanta, there will be chilly nights and mornings when you will be glad to sit on a warm toilet—granted it’s been warmed electronically. A heated seat is also a benefit on most days if you or a family member suffers from arthritis or a similar condition.
Pick a tub that will keep you warm
Staying warm after a bath is important, but so is staying comfortable during it. Try looking into tubs with heated liners, which keep the surfaces from becoming too cold to touch. Liners help keep bathwater warm as well, and soothe your muscles whenever you lean back against them.
You can also pick a tub built of heat-retaining materials:
- Modern acrylic and fiberglass
- Polished soapstone, marble, or granite
- Vintage copper and brass
Any of these can instantly add comfort and style to a room. Note, however, that some types, like brass, are better as free-standing units. Planning a bathroom remodel around such a tub may expand talk of heating systems to conversations on other pipework.
Invest in heated flooring
Sometimes, you may have the warmest tubs and towels in the world yet still get cold feet because you settled for a cozy rug. If it’s within your budget, consider heated flooring. It does entail significant work and investment, but it will keep you warm before, during, and after baths—indeed, anytime you step into your bathroom.
Sources:
14 Ways to Warm Up Your Bathroom for Winter, Forbes.com
Tips for a Toasty Warm Bathroom, TheSpruce.com
