by Grace Glassier

Created on: May 21, 2007   Last Updated: February 19, 2009

Decorating the bathroom may not be your first design priority but it deserves a little thought and attention. Think about your personality and style before you run to the local discount super-center and grab a couple of matching accessories. Do you like flowery and romantic, modern and sleek, or playful and quirky? Think function, let form follow and then inject a little of your personal flavor.

Nothing says tired and cliche quite like fuzzy covers on the toilet seat and plain plastic shower curtain rings. However, before you put the first print on the wall, be certain you haven't skimped on the essentials. Towel bars that fall off the wall and inadequate lighting are mistakes you will be sorry you had to learn from.

Moisture and humidity levels need to be considered too. Invest in a bath fan for ventilation before you grab a paint brush. Check your caulking and grout around fixtures and toilets, and check your fixtures and toilets for leaks. Your family likely will do the majority of their grooming in the bath and deserve to be seen in the best possible light. Invest in quality fixtures that provide natural light. Stay away from florescent and halogen lights.

Once you are satisfied that the basics are in place, you can begin decorating. Bathrooms, particularly small ones, will get cluttered easily with the detritus of day to day living, and so having a place for medicines, razors, and toothbrushes is essential. Don't invest in knickknacks. A basket of washcloths on the shelf works better without the grandkids' school photos. A few other ideas:

Natural materials tend to be less trendy. Toss the fake flowers and try a clear glass of small river rocks or bowl of seashells on the ledge. White pillar candles of varying heights are classic. Tiny tea lights in an old muffin tin are an unexpected treat.

Wallpaper tends to age quickly but a bath is the perfect place to try new and interesting paint colors or techniques. Try waves for a nautical theme. Stencil flowers for a romantic one. Moss green and coffee brown are classic colors that soothe the soul after a harried day.

If your tastes run to the romantic, put some small decorative soaps in a vintage teacup and hang a small beaded chandelier on the ceiling. Try arranging a small collection of vintage hats or beaded bags on the wall. Use a toile skirt and some Velcro strips to hide unsightly pipes. Replace shower curtain hooks with grosgrain ribbons.

Shower curtains always make a big impact. Think outside the box. With a grommet tool, they can be made from quilt tops or retired canvas sails.

Modernists who appreciate clean lines might opt for a classic canvas roman shade instead of curtains or blinds. Big fluffy white towels (no designs or mismatching please) and sleek chrome fixtures work well. Zen-like bamboo floor mats can replace bath rugs.

For that quirky vintage look hang distressed painted shutters to frame the bath mirror. Roll washcloths and put them in an old berry or locker basket. Store cotton balls in an old mason or apothecary jar, and put a stack of magazines in a metal locker basket on the floor.

Perhaps more than any other room in the house, bathrooms should soothe and relax. With a little thought and creatively, your bathroom will say "Welcome Home" in your own private language.

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