Bathroom TIPS: Marine Style

Use shades of aqua and mosaic to create a smart, practical family bathroom. The simplest way to create the mosaic effect is to use a water-resistant wallcovering.

This cheerful bathroom scheme creates a stimulating atmosphere and the mid-aqua walls give the room a fresh vibrancy.

For Practicality and durability, PVC (vinyl resin) floor tiles have been used in a similar shade to work with the rest of the scheme. For added impact, the flooring incorporates a slightly sparkly quality.

To protect the painted walls, it may be worth putting up a simple glass or Perspex splashback along the length of the bath, especially if your children are young.

Shelving is kept at a sensible height, out of reach of small children. A mosaic wall covering has been used to jazz up an old cabinet, as well as lining shelf edges for added decorative touch. Try using real mosaic panels as insets between plain white tiles to further enhance the look. Finally, keep accessories to a minimum for this breezy look.

Bathroom Tips: Technicolour tiles

Use bands of brightly coloured tiles to create a stimulating, technicolour bathroom.

 This colourful style can be applied to the plainest white bathroom, starting with neutral white walls. This look works best with one or two tiled walls, as any more may be too much. Once you have worked out how many tiles you need and the area that you are going to cover, choose up to four different vibrant shades of tiles, such as blue, yellow, red and purple. Apply the tiles in horizontal lines of colour.

For a really bright look you could even choose flooring in another shade. This bathroom features wood laminate flooring - the most practical choice to achieve a similar look is to go for a wood-effect vinyl flooring as real as wood is not really suitable for very damp areas.

Fit a blind that coordinates with the tiles - a navy blue or yellow, perhaps. This is a colourful bathroom so a white bathroom suite is the best choice to set off the tiles. If you want to add shelving, display a few colourful objects to emphasize the theme.

Bathroom decor tips: Creative shower curtain

What you need: plain fabric shower curtain, fabric dye pens, newspaper and three round objects.

What to do: Before you begin, check that the fabric dye pens can be used on the shower curtain. If not, you could use a plain piece of cotton and protect it by sandwiching it between two see-through shower curtains, or two pieces of PVC.

Lay the curtain on a flat surface which has been protected by newspaper. Choose three round objects of different sizes to draw around, such as plates or bowls. Draw round the objects with the dye pens to make circles on the shower curtain, overlapping some of the circles.

Finish by colouring in some of the circles to make solid shapes. Allow the dye to dry.

Time: 30 minutes plus drying

For more bathroom decor ideas visit decordirect.co.za

ref: 100 bright ideas for your bathroom

Bathroom decor: How to make a frosted lantern.

What you will need: scrap paper, scissors, spray adhesive, glass from a clip frame, newspaper, glass frosting spray, picture stand and a tealight.

What to do: Cut out a template of your design from scrap paper. Cover one side of the template with spray adhesive and stick it to the glass. Place the glass on a sheet of newspaper and spray it with frosting spray.

When it is dry, peel off the template. Place the glass on the picture stand and put a tealight behind it. Make sure the flame is far enough away so it doesn't heat up the glass.

Time: 15 min

For more decor tips, visit decordirect.co.za

ref: 100 bright ideas for your bathroom

DIY bathroom decor ideas: Mosaic alcove

The quickest way to fix mosaic tiles is to use sheets of ready-to-grout tiles. Make sure the walls are free of grease and grime and rub down carefully to ensure that you have an even surface. Apply the adhesive to the backs of the tile sheets. Taking care to the sheets properly on the wall, position them carefully and use tile spacers between sheets. Allow the adhesive to dry. Grout between the tiles, wiping off any excess grout. Once the grout is dry, clean the tiles thoroughly with a damp cloth.

You will need: mosaic tile sheets, sandpaper, water-resistant tile adhesive. tile spacers, white tile grout, clean, damp cloth.

Time needed: 2 hours plus drying

DIY interior decor: Glass shelving

Transform an alcove or an empty wall with glass shelving and highlight the square of the wall around shelves by painting it a different colour. Mark out your square on the wall using a spirit level, ruler and pencil. Get three glass shelves cut to size, making them at least 25cm shorter than the width of your sqaure. If you already have glass shelves, mark out the square according to their size, allowing an extra 25cm of width. Once you have marked out your square, mask around the area with masking tape. Paint the square using coloured emulsion. Allow to dry and then apply a second coat. Fix up the shelves.



You will need: spirit level, ruler, pencil, glass shelves, masking tape, coloured emulsion paint, paintbrush, shelf brackets, wallplugs, drill, screws, screwdriver.

Time needed: 4 hoursplus drying

How to decorate and organise your bedroom

When redecorating your bedroom, first clear out all the furniture, except the bed and bedside table. Take the mirrors and pictures off the wall; remove all the clutter from table tops and shelves and take out the soft furnishings. This will give you an empty canvas to work on and allow you to prepare the room for new wall and floor treatments. It also helps you to commit to those items that will help to accomplish the desired look. Bring back only the things that will suit your new room.

Experiment with different furniture arrangements, wall grouping and accessories. You may decide that you prefer bare, uncluttered walls. Live with them for a while – you can always fill them in later when you find the perfect painting or object.

Bedrooms are about rest, relaxation and successful storage. A sensitive approach to decoration, with few soft furnishings, muted colours and clutter-free surfaces will ensure a healthy sleeping environment and will turn your dream of an intimate, private sanctuary into reality.

Start with the basics. Once you have built a solid foundation, for the room that is soothing and versatile you can personalise it with the finishing touches.

Choose a suitable room in the home for yourself. Ideally, your bedroom should be a multi-functional room where you relax, read, listen to music and exercise.

In many homes the bedrooms are located upstairs, close to bathrooms. This may not work for you if you like to sleep late or if the room overlooks a busy street. You might consider having your living quarters upstairs and your bedroom downstairs or at the back of the house, if this is located in a quieter position.

To insulate your bedroom from exterior and interior noise, consider double glazing your windows, or padding the walls with fabric. If you live in an apartment, build a false wall to dampen the sound of your neighbours. Place your cupboards along the connecting walls to absorb noise.

Any efforts to insulate the room from noise will also insulate it from the cold. A bedroom should be reasonably warm at all times, so fit wall to wall carpets with good thick underlay, which will also help with sound proofing. For the ultimate luxury, install under floor heating.

An adjoining bathroom, sitting area or dressing area allows the bedroom to be extended beyond the actual sleeping area. To demarcate the different zones, introduce a screen or sandblasted glass panel that offer privacy without blocking the light. For continuity, carry the same wall andtreatment throughout the space. If your large main bedroom is used only as a place to sleep, it may be more sensible to turn it into a bedroom/playroom for your children, and to take a smaller room for yourself.

At the planning stage, estimate the cost of a good quality bed and mattress. Factor in the furniture you would like, as well as efficient storage, flexible lighting and soft furnishings and accessories that will add the warmth, comfort and colour to create your finished look. Perhaps you can accommodate a small sofa or a hammock on the porch or balcony leading off the bedroom.

HIDEAWAYS

A window seat is still a great option in a seating area. All you need is a low unit or a generous width of plank padded with a thick foam seat and plenty of cushions. Alternatively, place an overstuffed ottoman and chair in an alcove to create a tranquil corner. Alcoves can also be turned into wardrobes or can be fitted with shelves enclosed by doors.

by Marcia Margolius

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