The bathrooms are one of the most used areas in a home. Though the value of your property is determined based on your entire property, key rooms such as the bathroom and kitchen are known to hold more worth. Hence, renovating your bathroom before putting your property on the market is an almost risk-free way of increasing its value.

1. Update taps, fixtures and fittings

Though taps, fixtures and fittings make up a small area of your bathroom as a whole, they
can play a large part in your bathroom aesthetic. Things like taps, towel rails and toilet roll
holders can all get rusty or dull after being in use for a long time.
Silver tap ware remains the go-to choice since it gives a clean, neutral look. If you’re hoping to increase the value of your property, it is important to ensure that your bathroom remains neutral-coloured so that it can appeal to as many potential buyers as possible.

Image reference Taps and fixtures

2. Upgrade to a larger mirror

Bathroom mirrors tend to be small and/or unattractive. Upgrading your mirror is a good idea if your mirror is scratched, worn or has water damage. Also, if your bathroom is small, switching to a larger mirror can give the illusion of more space.

Mirrors are also a design piece. Choosing a unique one can take your interior design to the next level. However, aim to choose a mirror that would appeal to most people. Otherwise, it could potentially make your home less valuable to prospective buyers.

Image reference Oversized Mirror

3. Paint or re-tile walls and floors

Refreshing outdated tiles whether it be on your walls or floors can make one of the most
significant changes to your bathroom. For your walls, you can use tile paint for a budget-
friendly and quick rejuvenation. Of course, if your budget and time allows for it, re-grouting or re-tiling completely can make your bathroom look brand new.
Unfortunately, bathroom floor tiles can’t be repainted. If your tiles are in relatively good
condition, a DIY re-grout might be enough. However, it might be worthwhile to have a
professional re-tile your floors. If you have a small bathroom, larger tiles help to make the
room seem more spacious.

Image Reference Update walls 

4. Replace toilet

Another relatively fast renovation you can complete over the weekend is replacing your
toilet. If you get a professional involved, the process will be smooth for you. However, this
would require a larger budget.

If you’re hoping to do something yourself or to save money, replacing the toilet seat alone
won’t leave a massive dent in your wallet. Plus, it’s relatively easy to do on your own or with the help of a friend.

5. Add storage solutions

Adding storage to your bathroom is an almost guaranteed way to make your bathroom more appealing. If you have a small bathroom, being able to add hidden storage such as storage cabinets with mirrors can add a lot of value.

Image reference Mirror Cabinet

Having a variety of storage solutions is important for bathrooms in particular. You can add
simple floating shelves to keep things off the floor, giving the illusion of more space. Extra
towel racks and hooks can also make the room more attractive.

Image Reference Floating shelving

Bathrooms renovations can range in difficulty and price. Some of these ideas can definitely be done on your own. However, you might want to hire some extra help for anything out of your skill range. They can still be quick! In terms of budget, the common rule of thumb to follow is to allocate no more that 2% of your current property value to a bathroom renovation.

Guest author: James Pointon is a Commercial Manager at OpenAgent.com.au, an online
agent comparison website helping Australians to sell, buy and own property.

The post 5 value-adding bathroom renovations you can complete this weekend appeared first on Designbx.

Renovating can quickly and easily become an extremely expensive task. Fittings, fixtures, sinks, vanities, stovetops, bathtubs, tradespeople and those sneaky unforeseen costs. It all adds up and before you know it your budget can be blown out of the water! But you needn’t worry if you don’t have the budget for a full kitchen or bathroom renovation with these 5 simple ways to refresh your space with the costly renovation bill.

Image reference

1. Update your bathroom taps and accessories. Cost effective and a quick fix, updating tired or old school tapware and accessories can instantly bring a bathroom into 21st century design. Going for simple on trend chrome, brushed nickel or black tapware will instantly give your bathroom new lease on life.
   

2. Lighting in your bathroom or kitchen should never be underestimated, both for practicality and keeping your space looking beautiful. Changing old fluorescent lighting or improving poorly lit spaces with downlights and well placed pendants can make your space feel new again.
   

3. Do you have a retro or dark glass shower screen? An instant giveaway of a bathroom’s age can often be the shower screen. A 70’s or 80’s bathroom shower screen with thick, coloured glass and door hardware can really close in a space. By simply replacing this with a cost effective semi-frameless shower screen, you will open up your space and a achieve a quick reno on a shoestring budget.
   

4. A new sink and tap in your kitchen is a quick and cost effective way to update the most used area in your home. Modern looking sinks and taps can instantly add value to your kitchen and make it feel loved and recently renovated.
   

5. Replacing your benchtop with modern laminate can instantly brighten up a kitchen, adding value for a fraction of the cost of a full renovation. Modern laminate has comparable heat and scratch resistance to stone and many finishes mimic the natural textures of more expensive materials, making it the perfect choice. Depending on your current door hardware, updating your handles could also tie in quite nicely with a new benchtop, without the need to replace cabinets.

Image reference

If you are looking to fully renovate your wet space you can always talk to Designbx for a professional and high quality interior design solution!

The post 5 Ways to Update Your Kitchen and Bathroom Without Renovating appeared first on Designbx.

Modern and minimal bathrooms are still the design styles of choice. As we head further into the new year, design trends will become playful and the home’s decorative décor will spill into your bathroom.

Image reference

2017 and 2018 will bring loads of personality with texture, colour and quirky accessories. Wall mounted book stacks, ottomans, built-in modular shelving and quirky towel hangers are just a few of the ways bathrooms will reach beyond their functional role to become eye-catching spaces.

Image reference

Image reference

Bring an element of playfulness to your bathroom by mismatching the tiles, using dark and bright colours together, and a collision of colour in similar hues. Combining multiple types of tiles is a simple way to get a totally customised bathroom. Pair a monochromatic palette for striking visual impact, and play around with layers of subway, hex and square tiles for a cool bathroom makeover.

Don’t be afraid to use darker tiles in your small bathroom, especially if you paint the cabinets to match. Contrast with natural textures, like a jute rug and a wood-framed mirror. This is the Boho style at it’s best!

Image Reference

Also, be brave and wallpaper your entire bathroom. Yes you heard it right! It’s never been more on-trend than this year. It will bring instant character into the room. Just make sure to use proper damp area wallpaper, and of course, have it professionally applied.

With bold tile patterns, colourful wallpaper and quirky light fixtures playing a key role in bathroom decor, it’s important to keep things in balance with minimalist cabinet shapes. Clean white cabinets with simple handles and tapware ensure the space won’t feel too crowded, no matter how small your bathroom is.

Image reference

If you wish to have a more tranquil vibe, try matte black showerhead and taps. It looks stunning paired with pastel walls, modern cabinetry and vintage accents.

Last but not least, don’t forget to include green, living plants into your bathroom ambiance. Plants are not only a fashionable garnish but also enhance the atmosphere, freshen the space and appeal to your sense of smell. As we always say, bring the outside in!

So there you have it – a few innovative bathroom design trends that will help you create a space with a definite wow factor. Of course, this does create one issue: now it will be even harder to get people out of there!

The post 2017 Interior design trends – Contemporary bathroom design leading the way for home interiors appeared first on Designbx.

If you are anything like us, your Pinterest feed has been increasingly filled with luxurious bathrooms that are more spacious than the average studio apartment these days. A best case scenario, you feel like these bathroom goals are completely out of reach. Worst case, you’re left feeling downright defeated. Well chin up, friends. We may not have our palatial loos just yet, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t have incredibly clever storage that meets all of our needs while keeping our small bathrooms stylish and clutter-free, too.

1… Tall and thin vertical shelving maximises space.
Vertical shelving is always a great option to sneak in bathroom storage. Having fresh towels and facecloths readily available is a luxury no matter how big or small your space is. Bonus points for adding in greenery. Bathrooms are a great home for plants, since plants can liven up a space and the need to water them is eliminated thanks to moisture that occurs in bathing spaces.

Image Reference

Image Reference

2… Use the space above your toilet to add shelving.
Whether it’s urban planning or bathroom planning, when there’s limited space to go out, go up. Utilising the space above the toilet is a fantastic option to maximise storage. And with floating shelves more popular than ever, you can store necessities while keeping the feeling open and airy.

Image Reference

Image Reference

3… Trays next to your sink to keep the small items tidy.
For the OCD in all of us, trays just might be our saving grace. They are a perfect way to curate the items you can’t live without, and help to avoid a cluttered bathroom bench top. If you only have one bathroom, think about storing things like makeup and brushes on trays so you can easily transport your items to another household mirror when the queue to the toilet gets long.

Image Reference

Image Reference

Image Reference

4… Store your towels and small items on a ladder.
Again, going vertical is always a good way to go when you’re dealing with small spaces. Repurposing as ladder in the bathroom can up your storage and drying game at the same time without taking up too much space. You can even add hooks and hang them on the wall to free up floor space or purchase one that offers a small shelf or two to store things like surgical jars, candles and soaps. Here, you can find more of our tips and tricks to using ladders around the home.

Image Reference

Image Reference

Image Reference

5… Disguise your laundry baskets.
Who doesn’t get sick of picking up dirty clothes and towels in the bathroom. Let’s make things a bit easier on ourselves by adding a hideaway laundry basket. Since they slide out for easy tossing, and right back in for incognito storage, they make for a perfectly seamless bathroom and you don’t have to worry about a bulky basket in the corner.

Image Reference

Image Reference

6… Use the space under your sink to add shelving.
Adding storage underneath your sink might seem like a no-brainer, but keeping everything nice and organised can be a bit more of challenge. Consider adding a small lazy-susan to one of your shelves and place everyday items that you and your household member use daily. This ensures easy access, without the hassle of knocking everything over in an effort to reach your favourite moisturiser.

Image Reference

Image Reference

7… Hang hooks for towels and other objects.
Compared to towel bars, hooks in the bathroom can bring a more relaxed element to the space. And they have the added bonus of taking up less space than bars. Be sure to get sturdy hooks with with an approximate 6 cm projections so towels don’t slip off and wet towels are far enough away from the wall to dry well without rubbing off wall paint over time.

Image Reference

Image Reference

Image Reference

8… Bathroom caddy equals mobile organisation.
Let’s face it, there’s a lot that goes into keeping us our most fabulous selves. Store everything from toilet paper, makeup and blowdryers in a roller caddy to meet your needs and you can move it from one place to the next if you’re sharing the bathroom with multiple people.   

Image ReferenceImage Reference

Image Reference

9… Use jars, boxes and containers for all your loose objects.
Have you ever experienced one of those super chaotic mornings that always ends up making the rest of the day just as frustrating and unproductive as it started? Keep your mornings as stress-free as possible by keeping things organised. Having a large drawer for storage is amazing, but it can get unruly really quickly. Add inexpensive dividers to keep each item in its rightful place. Clear jars are a tasteful way to display items, and you can easily see when supply replenishing is in need.

Image Reference

Image Reference

Image Reference

10… Bring life into your bathroom.
Bonus points for adding in greenery. Bathrooms are a great home for plants, since plants can liven up a space and the need to water them is eliminated thanks to moisture that occurs in bathing spaces.

Image Reference

Image Reference

Image Reference

We know that cramped bathrooms can be a real pain. Hopefully by putting to use just a few of our storage tips for small spaces, you will be able to transform your bathroom into the stress-free sanctuary we all deserve.

Which storage tips will you try? You can shop the look with our new bathroom style boards.

The post Double your storage in a teeny-tiny bathroom appeared first on Designbx.