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Brighten Your Bathroom In A Weekend

Posted: 2/9/2012

The bathroom is the first place you look at yourself every day. Consider using peach, apricot and salmon pinks to provide a warm, rosy glow.

(NAPSI)—If you’re looking for a fun makeover project, the easiest room to redecorate may be your bathroom. It’s a small space, so giving it a fresh look makes for a great weekend project.

It’s also the room most likely to need a makeover, as this high-traffic area is prone to stains caused by moisture from your shower and bath, as well as makeup and grooming products. By adding a fresh coat of paint, bathrooms can be transformed quickly and affordably.

The natural place to start is by deciding on a color scheme. You may want to begin by selecting various color swatches or paint samples from the store or using online color coordination tools. Once you have the paint samples in hand, try them on the wall and note how they look during different times of the day.

Erika Woelfel, director of color at Behr Paints, suggests you note how colors reflect the light. The bathroom is the first place you look at yourself every day, which is why she favors pink for bathrooms.

“Peach, apricot and salmon pinks provide a warm, rosy background glow. They’re great to use in dressing or vanity areas as they enhance skin tones for daily grooming,” said Woelfel. “We all want to put our best foot forward each morning and color can help.” To keep it fresh, use white for the trim and fluffy white towels.

Here are a few color schemes and themes to try:

Keep It Classic: If your sense of style leans toward more traditional tastes, a classic bathroom may suit your aesthetic needs. Consider a light minty green, an ethereal white and a downy white, then accent with soft pops of color. Choose an eclectic collection of light fixtures and hardware.

Make a Bold Statement: Go for all-out glamour with walls in aubergine, eggplant and lilac. Add black trim and onyx tiles to the floor. Brighten with white towels and linens.

Go Tranquil: Use the soft colors of nature to whisk you away. Pale spring green walls and luminous gray-green tiles evoke grass, while cloud-white accents, potted plants and natural wood add to the ambience.

Dress the Room with Fabric: Fabric can add depth and texture to a design scheme. Fabric considerations include matching or coordinating shower curtains and window treatments, as well as colorful towels. To make towels even more distinctive, add ribbon banding for trim.

Get a Handle on It: Sometimes, a room’s look is all in the details. If there are cabinets or drawers in your room, one easy way to spruce things up is to change the handles. A variety of decorative drawer pulls and handles can be incorporated into a decorating scheme. Follow up with glasses, trays and other accessories that fit into your scheme. And don’t be afraid to paint built-ins.

Here are a few tips to help with your weekend bathroom makeover:

• Use an online program like ColorSmart by Behr to select, match and coordinate color. You can also save your selections to a workbook and buy samples online at www.behr.com.

• Pick up smaller brushes to reach corners, baseboards and hard-to-reach places and a roller for larger surface spaces.

• Be sure to pick up tape and paper to cover fixtures, mirrors and countertops to keep those elements free of paint and keep clean-up easy.

• Choose a paint that is well suited for bathrooms, like Behr Premium Plus Ultra Interior in a Semi-Gloss or Satin Enamel finish, available exclusively at The Home Depot. This paint and primer in one is great for bathrooms, with an easy-to-clean, durable, mildew resistant finish that helps protect against moisture and stains and provides improved hiding in fewer coats for a quicker re-do.

For more information and inspiration ideas, visit Behr’s new blog penned by Woelfel at www.colorfullybehr.com. You may also “like” the paint company at www.facebook.com/behrpaint and follow it at www.twitter.com/behrpaint.