However, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t an important part of the house.

What the 2012 trends say?

If you are looking for the latest trends regarding bathrooms, consider the soft colors, impressive decorative elements and the natural materials.

In case you have kids, it is best to go for the bright colors. If the bathroom will be used only by adults, you could opt for soft pastel colors that are a great match for glass, wood, metal, stone and ceramics.

Some other popular trends include natural and eco-friendly fabrics. Wood, ceramic tiles, marble, felt, bamboo and cotton are just great for modern designs. You could use metal and wood to decorate the faucet handles, bathtub legs and doorknobs.

The wooden accessories and wood furniture are considered to be both modern and elegant in 2012.

Natural materials

Mosaic and stone tiles give an amazing modern vibe to the bathroom. Stone can also be used for mirror and sink frames, small accessories and bathtubs. The best thing about this material is that it looks stylish, rich and unique.

Glass can also be used for tiles and mosaic in order to achieve a more artistic look. To achieve a luxurious look, you could use mother pearl, silver or gold. In the same time these also look chic, adding a special vibe to the bathroom.

Fixtures and bathtubs

Glass, wood, stone and metal are just great for modern bathtubs. In order to achieve the most modern designs you should think about glass black tubs, natural stone, wood and marble. In contrast with black, you could also use white for fixtures and other bathroom appliances. These work just wonderful with wood.

Modern colors

The most modern colors in 2012 are pale and almost neutral. Think about pale green, cream, sand, gold, ivory, silver, brown and white. Black and white are also considered to be trendy. Some other modern colors to choose from include light blue, black, hot red, bright orange, and red-pink. Such colors add character and energy to the bathroom.

Small bathrooms

In case you have a small bathroom, you should consider the designs that make it possible for you to save some space. Think about hidden cabinets and drawers to find a place for all the items that you need.

(photo credit: luxhomedecor.com)

If you decide to do so, you should know that there are some trends you could follow this year.

Freestanding bath

When thinking about modern designs, you should consider having a freestanding bath. This way the bath will get into the center of attention and the bathroom would get a different personality. Have tiles from the floor to the ceiling, and as a surprising element, have some spots around the bath.

Add some colors

Believe it or not, you could have your bathroom in your bedroom. This is a trendy approach that you may like. Naturally there is need for some privacy, and for this you could opt for a colorful screen, such as red.    In order to complete the look, add a side table besides the bath and don’t forget about the flowers either.

Make a statement

Usually people are looking for a wow factor for their bathroom. If this is the case, you should be looking for lighting around the bath in the shape of spheres, and also make sure that the other items don’t look the way we are used to them either. As an example you could be thinking about a statement towel stand.

Shimmer

You could turn an ordinary bathroom into a glamorous one if you add some shimmering mosaic tiles. Besides this, also add a statement chair in a bold color, and in order to make sure that the place gets personalized, you could also add some colorful flowers to bring the feeling of nature inside.

Monochrome

If you’re not really into colors, you could have a white bath and a white sink with dark brown floor and furniture, but make sure that there is a hint of red on the walls.

Also it is a good idea to have some chrome accessories to make the room look elegant. To make sure that the bathroom won’t have an edgy look, go for the curved lines.

Freshness

In order to ensure that you will have a feeling of freshness in the morning when you go to the bathroom, you should choose the white and vivid green combination. The angular lines could make the room look even more interesting, and in this case try to avoid the curvy lines.

(photo credit: www.houzz.com)

You can do a few things here or there to improve the features of your guest bathroom, but you don’t need to go all out when there are probably other things you could be focusing on.

You really just need to focus on the functional aspects on your bathroom and not worry about making it look too outrageous. There is not a lot of depth to bathroom interior design, but there are a few small things you can remember to make sure you don’t take your design too far.

You should still put some time into thinking of the perfect way to decorate your bathroom, but make sure that you are putting more effort into the other areas of your home.

The bathroom is sometimes the place people start when they want to redesign their home because it is the simplest place to get started.

Most bathrooms are rather small compared to the rest of the house, so it’s basically like a beginner’s test to interior design. Once you’ve mastered the art of decorating your bathroom, you can then move on to the bigger and better areas such as the living room and bedroom.

Focus on the important things with bathroom interior design

The hardware and things that actually serve a purpose should be the first things you look at with your bathroom interior design because you want to make sure everything works before moving on to something else. Outside of faucets and shower curtains, there really isn’t much room for a lot of decorative items. The problem with using decorative items in the bathroom is that you might end up putting a home accessory in a place where it will get wet or dirty over time.

While you don’t have to focus a lot of attention on the aesthetic qualities of your bathroom, you can still put a lot of time and effort into establishing a main theme. One of the more popular themes that people like to use in the bathroom is the beach because that is something that everyone finds rather soothing and relaxing. You always want to make sure that anyone who uses the bathroom is going to feel very comfortable while they are in there.

Always choose quality over aesthetic value

You should always go with the things that work in your bathroom interior design because you never want to have to deal with a problem later down the road. Choose the tiles that feel sturdy and not the ones that look the best because the sturdy ones are going to end up lasting for a much longer period of time. It’s always important to just make sure everything in the bathroom works correctly.

Getting the tiles

The first thing you have to do is to order the tiles. Naturally for this you will need to know how much you will need. Once you have this number you should increase it by 8%-10% to cover the damage that results from broken tiles or those that are faulty.

To make sure that you will do a good job, you need some guiding lines. This way you can ensure that the tiles are placed in a straight line, vertically and horizontally.

Make the plan

You will need a plot to know the exact location of each of the sheets that you will lay down. The best course of action is to place some lines that touch all of the walls. It is possible that you will need some cut tiles, and it is easier to place them in case they aren’t near a wall.

Adhesive

You need something to stick the tiles to the wall. Luckily there are numerous different kinds of adhesives meant for this purpose that you can find in home improvement stores. When preparing the adhesive, you should make sure that you don’t make too much of it at once, because you don’t want it to dry out before you get to use it.

Placing the tiles

First apply a thin layer of adhesive on the wall and then place the tiles. Work with one tile at a time, and try to work in rows. Twist the tile until it gets to the right place, and once you get it right, tap it gently with a mallet.

Grout

In the end you should also apply the grout. This is easily done with the help of a squeegee or an applicator made of plastic. Before you use the shower, you should allow for the grout to dry for about a week.

As you can see, it is not that difficult to change the tiles in the shower room, but you have to sacrifice some time for it, and make sure that you do a thorough job, because you are not going to repeat the project anytime soon.

Vintage furniture and accessories

At the moment one of the major trends is having antique bathroom cabinets and bathroom décor, not to mention the fixtures. You could be thinking about carved wood shelves or custom made modern mirror frames. In order to get this kind of bathroom furniture you should consider high quality plastic, natural stone or exotic wood for the furniture and the tub.

( photo by www.femmetalks.com)

Modern bathroom showers

Economy is an important trend in 2011 and so a lot of people opt for the energy and water saving showers and whirlpools. The main point of showers this year is to be charming, healthy and functional. The showers should be part of your eco living, and so they should help you with your healthy lifestyle, while being part of the green concept.

Eco bathtubs

The eco-friendly ideas have affected not only the showers, but the bathtubs as well. There are numerous innovative acrylic bathtubs that come with built in LED lights and wall décor that also come with LED lighting. These designs are fabulous and in the same time they are ecological. These lights are energy efficient, and the tubs come with control systems that regulate the temperature and the pressure, this way making it possible to save water.

Back to the basics

Stone and wood are also trendy in this season and besides the fact that they keep heat well, they are also eco-friendly materials. You can use granite, marble or onyx besides the stainless steel fixtures and the modern glass shelves. In case you would like to have something warmer, you could also go for the wooden tubs. The stone tubs keep the water warm and you can add some elegance and sophistication through installing LED lights in the floor.

Going green

If you think about going for the cozy and warm wood furniture combined with modern stainless steel fixtures you will achieve an amazingly modern look through the use of contrasts. Add fresh flower bouquets or dried flower decorations for a design that is close to nature, or opt for forest green plants that would remind you of the beauty of the jungle.

This year came with something quite unexpected, and some of the most popular items used, include copper, glass, stainless steel and hardwood.

So, let’s look at them one by one.

The glass accent tile is one of the most fashionable items in the hip bathrooms. This kind of tiling might be used for backsplashes, floors and shower walls and the advantage of it is that it adds depth, luminescence and also sparkle to the bathroom that could not be offered by traditional ceramic or natural tiling.

There are numerous different kinds of colors to choose from and also many different kinds of finishes that vary between glossy and flat. In case only a small portion of a wall is covered by it, it offers an interesting highlight, while if you decide to use the tiling on the whole wall, it adds a spa-like atmosphere to the entire room.

There is one kind of style that is suitable for both traditional and modern styled bathrooms, and this is the metal tile. Although at first the entire idea seems a little weird, the small metal wall tiles look a lot better than the large sheets of stainless copper. It is easier to create different patterns with the little tiles.

Usually this kind of tiling is used as backsplash. In case of stainless steel there are several different kinds of finishes, such as satin and brushed. If you have a bathroom with a more traditional style, it might be wise to opt for bronze or copper tiles.

According to the majority of the professionals, there is no place for wood in a bathroom because of the moisture. This is why one of the hip things regarding the bathroom tiles is the faux hardwood porcelain tile.

The planks come in different sizes and it is a lot easier to take care of these tiles than of wood. Since porcelain is resistant against moisture, it is just perfect for this purpose.

The manufacturers of different kinds of materials for the bathroom seem to have outdone themselves and they came up with something truly original. Now you have the possibility to replace the wood casing of the windows with a casing made of tile.

According to professionals the best solution is to opt for natural stone or ceramic border to add some depth to the look. In order to create a look of the bathroom that is truly a whole, you should use a kind of tiling that has already been used to the room, to offer coherence.

As you might see, the latest trends regarding tiling in the bathroom all focus on creating something new and unseen until now.

Accents

Your bathroom could get a new personality in case you offer it matching accessories. As an example, you could add a silver accent to the medicine cabinet. This could be even better in case you have metal outlet covers.

Tiles on the countertop

A lot of people opt for the stone slab, but the tile counters are also water resistant, they are a lot less expensive than stone slabs and they are easy to install DIY style. For example you could choose terra-cotta colored tiles and add a white wood edging (especially in case the vanity is white as well). In order to prevent water from getting to the wood, consider adding a bead of clear caulk.

Fixtures

You don’t necessarily have to change the cast-iron claw-foot tub and sink; you also have the possibility to reglaze them instead and so you will be able to save some money. Buying new ones could cost up to $2,000, but reglazing costs only about $800.

Floor

If you happen to have wood flooring in the bathroom you could bring it to life by brushing it with glossy porch paint tinted to have a color that is suitable for the style of the bathroom.

Towel rack

You don’t have to be thinking about something very expensive. There are many different kinds of towel racks that you can find at flea markets for a bargain. All you have to do is to make sure that you seal the aged finish with clear polyurethane.

Create a custom wallpaper

It is not that difficult to do as it seems at first. Just take the pages of a vintage book. Add paper paste to the back of the pages and stick them to the wall. To make sure that your work will last, seal the entire surface with a clear top coat.

Slide

In many cases people don’t have the space for a traditional hinged door, and so you might opt for a sliding one. There are a lot of salvaged doors that you could find, such as a schoolhouse door that glides on a wall-mount track. To have more light, choose a door with glass in it.

First idea: paint job. This is one of the cheapest ways to refresh an old bathroom. In case you already have the items needed, like trays and brushes, the whole makeover will be even cheaper. Once you are done with the work it is just natural that you won’t place the furniture and the elements the way they were before, and so you will add even more novelty to the same old room.

The hand towels can also change the overall look of the bathroom. Buy some new ones in bright colors. This is a fast and cheap way to brighten up the bathroom. In case you have some money left for this project, add some new facecloths and bath towels too in the same color or in a contrasting shade. As a finishing touch you could throw in a new bath mat, and the project is done.

The shower curtain is also an important element, but after a while they tend to get tattered and that is the moment to change it. Get a new one in a color that you think is suitable for the style of the bathroom and don’t forget to think about the rings also. Pick some colorful or sleek chrome ones.

Not only the decorative elements could be changed, but also the ones that you think are there for a life time, like the faucet. There are numerous different kinds of faucets and shower trays to choose from and you can find their majority at low prices, beneath $100. They can be easily installed at home with the help of basic tools.

Accessories are also important in a bathroom. You could be thinking about a new toothbrush holder wastebasket or soap dish. The possibilities are that you have included the retro plastic ones that add color to the room or the sleek stainless steel ones. In case it is suitable for the style of the bathroom, you could also consider the Victorian style ones.  Wicker baskets and trays are also useful to expose rolled-up towels or other items that are needed around the bathroom.

The secret lies in the way in which the elements are combined. You don’t necessarily have to think that in order to have a haute designed bathroom you have to spend a fortune on it. There are some simple elements that you might find cheap, and all it takes is good taste to use them.

As a source of inspiration, you might use the bathrooms of certain celebrities. Naturally these are quite expensive, but you simply have to use the ideas according to your budget.

For example Sarah Jessica Parker opted for a bathroom that has a beachy feeling. She used beadboard wainscoting and simple medicine cabinets and glass shelves that have been created by Urban Archeology. The wall mounted sinks have been created by American Standard.

A truly unique look is offered by the bathroom of Donatella Versace. She used a black leather chair, a bronze Buddha statue and also a large mirror that reflects the view of the patio and the vaulted ceiling. We have to mention that the bath tub also has a special design.

If you would like to have a really special bathroom, take a look at the bathroom of Yves Saint Laurent. Here, a Moroccan style has been used through the specific shapes of this culture and also the tile work that might be applied in all hues. There are some specific color combinations in this design, like white and blue, or white and red.

In case you would like to achieve total relaxation in your bathroom, be sure to get inspired by the bathroom of Jill Stuart. The style is very modern, but still there is a feminine touch through the use of the crystal light. The color that she opted for is blue that is known to have a relaxing effect on people.

Simplicity might have nothing to offer to you, and so you may want to have some patterns in your life. Well, in this case the style of Anthony Edward’s bathroom can be the right one for you. In this case Stark wallpaper has been used and these large patterns make the small room come to life.

You would like to have some glow in the bathroom? Consider the style that Ralph Lauren used. There are numerous mirrors and lacquered cabinetry that reflect the light. Naturally the marble flooring couldn’t miss either. This way you will achieve a clean and neat look.

The rustic style can for sure offer something new if used in the right way. Martin Lawrence-Bullard opted for the rustic elegance. There is a simple bath tub and a wooden étagère, not to mention the antique floor tiling. Surprisingly the bathroom was added an antique bamboo ladder that adds a vertical line to the whole ensemble.

The smartest thing you can do is to use a vinyl pocket organizer. You can hang it inside the linen closet and place some hold band aids, medicines, thermometer and anything else that can fit in there.

There are also vinyl wall organizers that work the same way as any painting, but offer some extra space for your cosmetics.

Recently the small round wooden tables are very modern for any bathroom, for they also offer enough space for your pills and cosmetics. Make sure you cover the table with a tablecloth; else the bathroom moist will ruin the wood.

Shelves are another decision to fix the space problem, but you should build them above your washer or dryer. This space is usually wasted; therefore you can use it without any problem.

The enclosed cabinets for the laundry supplies are also a good idea to save some space.

The traditional bathroom style offers lots of empty space, which remain wasted. You can install shelves to set on the tank of the commode, for it is a great space to use.

The so called hanging shelves are perfect for bathrooms, for they slip over the shower head.

There you can place shampoo, conditioners and razors. Use shallow overhead shelving at the end of the bathtub, in order to store some body lotions, bathtub showers and so on.

A cupboard of armoire with hidden storage space is a good idea for large bathrooms. They are adding some warmth to your bath.

The bathroom cabinets are important to be functional, not only modern. For instance, a bathroom storage cabinet that is mounted on the walls is another way to get more storage space. The bathroom cleaning supplies can be stored under the sink in a handled tote. In case you need some colorful accents in your bath, place some decorative storage items that will refresh the bathroom interior.

The towel bars are great idea, for they save space and are very handy. Install them on the wall, in order to free up some more space. Go for laundry baskets and containers that can be placed in the corner.