Time up for that dingy cubicle of a bathroom
Mar 17, 2006
THE bathroom is the most private place<br>in the house. It is the place that you<br>can retreat to after a long day’s work and get relaxed. But for a bathroom to have a relaxing and sanctuary effect, it needs your touch, to create a personal feel in it.
By Elvina Nawaguna
THE bathroom is the most private place
in the house. It is the place that you
can retreat to after a long day’s work and get relaxed. But for a bathroom to have a relaxing and sanctuary effect, it needs your touch, to create a personal feel in it. It is time up for those tiny, dingy, cubicles that people rush in and out of as fast as possible.
You do not need a king-size bathroom to have the ideal bathroom. Depending on your budget, you can decide on whether to simply remodel it on your own or have it completely overhauled. This will need thinking creatively. Your available space will also dictate your priorities and choices. When budgeting, keep in mind the design ideas you would like. If you are on a smaller budget it is more economical to fit in your present bathroom arrangement into the new design.
“Ideally, a bathroom should have a bathtub or a good shower, a water cistern, hand basin, a mirror and provision for toiletries,†says Edmund Ssesanga, an interior designer attached to Kitchen and office concepts. Because of the personal nature of a bathroom, it is okay to indulge yourself, create some vanities and a bathroom you will love to spend time in.
Space is the ultimate luxury. “Space matters,†Ssesanga stresses. If you are building your own house, you have the choice of doing what you want with it.
There are so many design options for the bathroom accessories that can help you maximise your available space and still make it ideal. When remodelling, many people get bogged down with trying to fill the new space with new things. A cramped bathroom makes it feel smaller and uncomfortable.
If your bathroom space is too small, consider getting rid of some of the things that are dispensable. A pedestal sink will not dominate the room. Ssesanga also advises on installing the sink in a corner or getting a triangular one that fits perfectly into a corner and saves on space. He says you can create space by re-arranging things around the bathroom.
If you have the space, consider installing a matching pair of wash basins, especially if you have to share the bathroom. Carry with you the mental image of what is ideal for you, when shopping for wash basins. You may find exactly what you want or something similar that might work just as well.
There are many interior design and furnishing stores that have opened up in Kampala and you cannot fail to get what you want.
Christopher Sunil of East African Distributors on Jinja Road, estimates that it would cost between sh800,000 and sh1.2m to get a basic and comfortable bathroom. The cost rises with the more accessories and luxury.
If your budget allows it, you may consult a designer for ideas. Consider modern trends like having a bathtub, which would double as bath and shower, rather than having a shower only.
Pastel colours give the bathroom a serene and soothing atmosphere. Too much colour will make it look fussy and busy, which does not help in relaxing the mind.
If your bathroom already has dark colours like tiles and your budget doesn’t allow for change, consider light coloured accessories like shower curtains, towels, towel rails, soap trays, hooks and toothbrush holders. If you are building, match floor and wall tiles to make the space appear larger. Ssesanga also says the type of tile chosen in terms of colour and style will bring out the beauty of your bathroom.
How about bringing some furniture into the bathroom? Bring in a comfy chair or two and perhaps a reading nook with bookshelves to break the norms.
“I don’t like the bathroom to look just like a bathroom. It is a room after all, and the elements in it can take on the feeling of furniture,†comments Birmingham architect, Bill Ingram. You do not have to rely on things that are typically made for the bathroom.
Depending on your space, you may also add storage chests, decorative mirrors and armoires to store towels and toiletries. These will make the bathroom appear more appealing.
“There is something wonderful about hotel bathrooms and I think it is nice to bring a little of that into our personal spaces,†says Ingram.
A little luxury makes the bathroom more pleasant. Lighting can give the whole place a well-lit and cozy look.
“You can use tinted or fluorescent tube. It is simple and ideal,†Ssesanga advises.
A couple of bulbs near the mirror would produce a better effect and a clearer image. He says you could have additional lighting on the wall or buy shower curtains with lighting. You need to be careful though, not to overdo the lighting.
It is also essential for a great bathroom to have good ventilation. Most bathrooms feel stuffy because of moulds growing from the condensation formed due to poor ventilation. The right-scented air freshener would complete the puzzle.
It is worth the effort to do something to add comfort to your bathroom. But most important of all is to keep your bathroom clean and dry. However fancy it is, a dirty, always-wet bathroom can never be comfortable.
You can also buy your bathroom accessories from The Building Centre on Kitgum House, Zhong Da International at Lugogo Show Ground and CTM on Sixth Street, Industrial Area in Kampala.
THE bathroom is the most private place
in the house. It is the place that you
can retreat to after a long day’s work and get relaxed. But for a bathroom to have a relaxing and sanctuary effect, it needs your touch, to create a personal feel in it. It is time up for those tiny, dingy, cubicles that people rush in and out of as fast as possible.
You do not need a king-size bathroom to have the ideal bathroom. Depending on your budget, you can decide on whether to simply remodel it on your own or have it completely overhauled. This will need thinking creatively. Your available space will also dictate your priorities and choices. When budgeting, keep in mind the design ideas you would like. If you are on a smaller budget it is more economical to fit in your present bathroom arrangement into the new design.
“Ideally, a bathroom should have a bathtub or a good shower, a water cistern, hand basin, a mirror and provision for toiletries,†says Edmund Ssesanga, an interior designer attached to Kitchen and office concepts. Because of the personal nature of a bathroom, it is okay to indulge yourself, create some vanities and a bathroom you will love to spend time in.
Space is the ultimate luxury. “Space matters,†Ssesanga stresses. If you are building your own house, you have the choice of doing what you want with it.
There are so many design options for the bathroom accessories that can help you maximise your available space and still make it ideal. When remodelling, many people get bogged down with trying to fill the new space with new things. A cramped bathroom makes it feel smaller and uncomfortable.
If your bathroom space is too small, consider getting rid of some of the things that are dispensable. A pedestal sink will not dominate the room. Ssesanga also advises on installing the sink in a corner or getting a triangular one that fits perfectly into a corner and saves on space. He says you can create space by re-arranging things around the bathroom.
If you have the space, consider installing a matching pair of wash basins, especially if you have to share the bathroom. Carry with you the mental image of what is ideal for you, when shopping for wash basins. You may find exactly what you want or something similar that might work just as well.
There are many interior design and furnishing stores that have opened up in Kampala and you cannot fail to get what you want.
Christopher Sunil of East African Distributors on Jinja Road, estimates that it would cost between sh800,000 and sh1.2m to get a basic and comfortable bathroom. The cost rises with the more accessories and luxury.
If your budget allows it, you may consult a designer for ideas. Consider modern trends like having a bathtub, which would double as bath and shower, rather than having a shower only.
Pastel colours give the bathroom a serene and soothing atmosphere. Too much colour will make it look fussy and busy, which does not help in relaxing the mind.
If your bathroom already has dark colours like tiles and your budget doesn’t allow for change, consider light coloured accessories like shower curtains, towels, towel rails, soap trays, hooks and toothbrush holders. If you are building, match floor and wall tiles to make the space appear larger. Ssesanga also says the type of tile chosen in terms of colour and style will bring out the beauty of your bathroom.
How about bringing some furniture into the bathroom? Bring in a comfy chair or two and perhaps a reading nook with bookshelves to break the norms.
“I don’t like the bathroom to look just like a bathroom. It is a room after all, and the elements in it can take on the feeling of furniture,†comments Birmingham architect, Bill Ingram. You do not have to rely on things that are typically made for the bathroom.
Depending on your space, you may also add storage chests, decorative mirrors and armoires to store towels and toiletries. These will make the bathroom appear more appealing.
“There is something wonderful about hotel bathrooms and I think it is nice to bring a little of that into our personal spaces,†says Ingram.
A little luxury makes the bathroom more pleasant. Lighting can give the whole place a well-lit and cozy look.
“You can use tinted or fluorescent tube. It is simple and ideal,†Ssesanga advises.
A couple of bulbs near the mirror would produce a better effect and a clearer image. He says you could have additional lighting on the wall or buy shower curtains with lighting. You need to be careful though, not to overdo the lighting.
It is also essential for a great bathroom to have good ventilation. Most bathrooms feel stuffy because of moulds growing from the condensation formed due to poor ventilation. The right-scented air freshener would complete the puzzle.
It is worth the effort to do something to add comfort to your bathroom. But most important of all is to keep your bathroom clean and dry. However fancy it is, a dirty, always-wet bathroom can never be comfortable.
You can also buy your bathroom accessories from The Building Centre on Kitgum House, Zhong Da International at Lugogo Show Ground and CTM on Sixth Street, Industrial Area in Kampala.