Modernizing your bathroom does not always mean calling your trusted Atlanta contractor to install the latest in tile design or shower technology. While a bathroom remodel that adds a glass splashback or a hydrotherapy tub will give your bathroom a high-tech gloss, there are other ways to make it look and feel contemporary.
Minimalism and modern design
Start by revisiting what it means to have a modern space. In architecture and interior design, modernism is often associated with minimalism. This aesthetic emphasizes open spaces with the following elements:
- simple geometric forms
- basic materials like wood, steel, glass, or stone
- singular colors played off neutral tones
- a few key pieces of furniture
The minimalist approach is probably best for remodeling and decluttering your bathroom. After all, when you strip down a space to its bare essentials, you then can focus on what it’s meant for – and imagine what else it could be.
Build around simple geometric forms
When designers talk of “simple geometric forms”, they mean the quadrangles and cylinders that tubs, toilets, and other bathroom fixtures follow the shape of. Find ways to rearrange your fixtures so they line up in either symmetry or asymmetry, whichever appeals to you. Don’t forget to position them so that a person can clearly and fully take in their appearance upon entering the bathroom.
Feature basic materials like wood, steel, glass, and stone
What’s a bathroom remodel without a revamp of walls and countertops? Embrace the modern aesthetic by picking a main material and letting it define your bathroom. You could:
- experiment with a non-traditional tile style like subway, mosaic, and basket weave for an accent wall
- install floor-to-ceiling mirrors, glass cabinet doors, and glass shower enclosures
- elevate modern into industrial by considering stainless steel medicine cabinets, sinks, tubs, and toilets
- go against the grain with wood (or wood tile) floors and cabinet or tub paneling
Play with neutral tones
As far as neutrals go, white would be a pretty conventional choice– unless you use it for more than tubs and toilets.
Off-white, for example, could be the proper hue for a subway tile, which would also go well with darker wood or stone features. White walls also help direct attention to the “geometric forms” of sinks and tubs, especially if you get these in unexpected shapes and bold colors.
Bathrooms in black or gray tones can have a more dramatic effect, and the combination of slate, asphalt, coal, and other gradations can truly create a modern, urbanized feel.
Add a few furnishing touches
Are hydrotherapy tubs and automatic showers not for you? You can still modernize by installing simple yet innovative features like sleeker faucets and lighting. “Tankless” toilets, which look as if they are mounted to walls, could also be an option. Modern or industrial-style towel racks, mirrors, and wall décor can also be all the touches you need. They will add fashionable pep to a bathroom even if you don’t overhaul anything else.
Sources:
Modern Bathroom Ideas, Houzz.com
7 Simple Ways to Modernize an Outdated Bathroom, Modernize.com
5 Simple Ways to Modernize Your Bath, BobVila.com
