Design Dilemma: A Multi-Purpose Bathroom
Family bathrooms that double as guest powder rooms are tricky to decorate. The purpose of the first is both private and utilitarian – get the family clean and spruced up in a hurry each morning. This requires sturdy, washable elements.
Powder rooms are quite the opposite. They’re public spaces, which offer a chance to pamper a guest and perhaps add a little drama to your home.
The Problem
How do you combine the two? This is the question Lisa asked me regarding the shared bathroom for her family of six (!). She lives in a rambler-style home with one bathroom on the main floor. Lisa, her husband and their four children, share it along with their guests.
Lisa said she’s up for anything, but she doesn’t want to change the furnishings in the room right now. So that means creating a functional, decorative room that will always look nice when company arrives.
The Solution
My first thought was that the bathroom needs what most rooms do: a pulled together look. It also needs to be more functional and colorful, with a proper place for towels.
Carpet – The Place To Start
With a bathroom that needs to be both formal and informal, it’s best to place pattern on one primary surface. I chose the floor. It adds the depth we need, gets rid of the tile Lisa doesn’t like, and lends a more formal air to the room.
I’m suggesting Needlepoint Stripe carpet square from FLOR in Camellia ($12.99/tile). I’ve installed this type of carpet in bathrooms before and they’re great. If a tile gets dirty you pick it up and wash it. You can also order a few extras in case a replacement is needed. This stripe is sophisticated and provides a palette to work. Just remember to install it last!
Walls, Cabinet and Trim
Now we’re on to the paint. Lisa will need to use the carpet square to work from. I’d go with a neutral, vanilla hue for the walls, and a blue for the ceiling that matches the carpet. They don’t have to be an exact match. The doors and trim should be painted off-white. I’m not suggesting a specific color because things don’t look the same on a computer and real life.
Go to a paint store, like Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams and ask for help selecting the specific colors. Use eggshell on the walls and ceiling. Semi gloss on the trim.
Paint the Vanity & Mirror
Next, you need to paint the vanity and the mirror dark brown. This will update the entire room. Something likes the photo below.
I’d even paint the brass around the lights. But leave the pulls alone – unless you feel like painting them a chrome metallic. It’s nicer to have all the metals in a bathroom match. Speaking of which, go to Lowe’s or Home Depot and change out the hardware on the vanity – or paint those, too.
Shower Curtain and Towels
Lisa is so funny. She said she really likes the expensive shower curtains, but usually buys the $30 ones. I understand that – especially with four kids. But (you knew there was a but coming), better to spend a little extra to get a sturdy fabric curtain that will look more like a real curtain. The curtain will last longer, look more sophisticated, and be nicer for guests. I’m recommending the Diamond Matelasse curtain from Restoration Hardware. It comes in a zillion colors and sells for $79. So it will be easy to find one that matches the carpet.
I had an interesting idea for the towels. Why not lose the single towel rack and use hooks instead? Hang six on the far wall – at different heights. You can find inexpensive hooks at Home Depot or IKEA. These Mercer hooks are from Pottery Barn ($19).
Now, choose towels in colors that coordinate with the carpet – a different color for each family member. If you sew a sturdy loop of grosgrain ribbon on one corner they can hang from the loop, creating a nice draped look. I like the PB Classic Bath Towels (on sale for $39.99). But any style that comes in lots of colors is fine.
Lisa will have a practical wall that doubles as art. Tip: buy towels in sets of two, so you’ve always got a clean towel on hand. When company comes over, whip out the clean set.
Accessories
Okay, so we here we are at the Joan Crawford part of this post. There’s something about paper cups, tissue boxes and liquid soap just hanging out in their packages that I don’t like. It looks messy. Turn to your inner Joan and spruce up the counter with a set of matching accessories like the Nova Collection from Target. A cheap plant could be nice too. If it dies, just buy a new one.
Storage Over The Toilet?
Lisa said she was thinking about adding another storage cabinet over the toilet. The problem with this is that the cabinets won’t match and it will look like an afterthought. I suggest hardcore editing of everything that lives in the closet and cabinet to create more space.
If Lisa really, really needs that extra space, buy some glass shelves. Do not buy one of those things that sit on the floor and go over the toilet. Those aren’t allowed – ever. They’re ugly, plus you get back into that two cabinet sort of thing again. However, the glass shelves will look messy, too. So I’d try really hard to steer clear of that.
Mark Rothko
A much better idea is to hang some art over the toilet. Something with blue would lively up the place, and go with the ceiling.
My favorite Instant-Art idea is to paint your own Mark Rothko. Go to your local art supply store and buy a canvas with a one-inch wrap on the side. You won’t need a frame. Then, buy some acrylic paints and a couple of brushes and have at it. Here’s an example of what I’m talking about. Remember, this is inspired by Mark!
Some Tips For Multi-Use Bathrooms
- When designing a multi-use bathroom keep the pattern to one element: wallpaper, carpet, or shower curtain
- Spurge on a higher quality shower curtain made of fabric.
- Keep clutter to a minimum, and use tissue covers and decorative liquid soap containers to give the room a softer look.
Okay guys, what do you think of this idea? Let’s get the discussion going.
