Sometimes when shopping for bathroom accessories, impulse is more compelling than design. A showroom of gleaming fixtures can be hard to resist. With so many selections on display, the temptation is to make an immediate choice. Before purchasing a faucet or towel rack on a whim, only to experience buyer's remorse later, an understanding of the breadth of available options, and how they work with various decorating styles, can help homeowners choose accessories that will satisfy over the long term.
Finishing Touches
While homeowners typically choose fixtures in the early stages of a bathroom makeover, visually, they supply the finishing touches. Coordinated accessories can add an element of cohesion to a bathroom, helping to unify the overall decor, but matching sets won't help if their style runs counter to the prevailing design of the room. Polished chrome, the most commonly used finish, may look jarring in a bathroom decorated in golden tones.
Design choices become simpler when homeowners are clear about design goals. For a bathroom intended to look sleek and modern, sleek and modern fixtures are indicated. Challenges arise when design goals are more nebulous. Approaching interior design with the intent of creating a mood, atmosphere or specific environment, rather than with a vague wish for an attractive, functional room, can help clarify choices.
While generalizations can be made about which fixture finishes are associated with what style, personal associations count, too. Homeowners should never feel obliged to purchase a particular finish simply because it falls into the category of a particular decorating style.
Contemporary Style
Chrome is the darling of contemporary bathroom designs. Whether polished to add a sparkle of light, or brushed for a more subtle display, chrome has a modern quality that suits bathrooms designed for functionality and convenience. Brushed chrome offers a less reflective surface, darker in tone. Platinum offers the subtlety of brushed chrome, in a lighter tone. When a contemporary bathroom calls for dark and dramatic accents, bronze can be an effective design choice.
Country Charm
For decorating styles where the charm comes from a touch of nostalgia, such as country, cottage or garden styles, nickel or pewter finishes offer a subtle, retro look. Ceramic fixtures work well, too, and are especially effective in bathrooms where color plays a key role in the design. Bronze offers a darker toned option that suits a more rustic look.
Historical Grandeur
For traditional design styles, especially those decorated in warm colors, gold finished fixtures add a feeling of luxurious grandeur. Antique bronze, brass or copper are also distinctive finishes for bathrooms that evoke bygone eras, particularly when accompanied by stylized decoration.
Not only the finishes of bathroom accessories need to be considered, but their design and functionality as well. Allowing design goals to inform purchasing decisions ensures that even a simple shower rod or cabinet knob will add to the comfort and beauty of the family bathroom.
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