How To Create A Contemporary Bathroom

There's nothing like the serene, relaxed feeling of slipping into a deep bath in a beautifully designed bathroom. We've prepared this handy guide to help you to create a contemporary style bathroom that is alive with elegance and style.

It's a good idea to take the time to consider different arrangements in your new bathroom, so why not use a piece of chalk to mark out potential positions for your bathroom suite, and let your whole family contribute suggestions? By taking the time to consider your options, you can be more certain that you will pick the right one, and avoid having to redecorate in a few years' time.

This bathroom uses wooden panelling
to give its sleek lines a touch of warmth

Contemporary bathrooms have an emphasis on space and sleekness, so it's worth while spending some time working out exactly what you do and don't need. Many modern bathrooms do away with traditional cabinets, and if you decide to go this way, but later find that you need more storage, you can choose a wooden bedside cabinet or small chest of drawers for the room without compromising on style.

The key to a contemporary bathroom is the bath itself - modern manufacturing techniques allow far more interesting shapes to be created than the traditional bath design, and if you want to get inspired, simply check out the range of bathroom suites that are available online.

The innovative shape of this bath is
contrasted with the natural wood shelves

In order to make your room relaxing, and prevent it from looking too cold, it's worth contrasting the sleek white textures of your bath and sink units with natural wood, which both brings a touch of traditional character to the room and also allows you to be creative in your storage choices. Why not use a wooden blanket box to provide storage for towels and guest toiletries?

Channel4.com have a great page filled with ideas for a contemporary bathroom, so if you're still on the lookout for inspiration, why not check it out?

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How to Turn Your Bathroom French

We would all love to live in a chic Parisian apartment, or a charming cottage in Provence, which is why we've come up with these handy hints to help bring a distinctively French feel to your home, starting with the bathroom. Over the next few weeks we'll be turning our attention to the other rooms in the house, allowing you to rejuvenate your home with Gallic chic.

1: Don't be afraid to be bold

The French have a passionate relationship with interior design, and classic French-style looks make the most of bold, fresh colour schemes as well as more traditional looks. In the bathroom, which is often a very small room, wall colour can really help to create the illusion of space. For a classic French feel go for Celadon walls with a slightly darker shade of eggshell paint for the skirting boards and other detailing. If you want to go for a modern look, why not try bold vertical stripes?

Even though this room is small, the bold
vertical stripes bring a fresh, airy feel

2: Choose your furniture carefully

French-style rooms make great use of space, and avoid clutter. If your bathroom is small, don't waste space by trying to cram extra cabinets into the corners. Pick one carefully chosen feature piece that looks great, but which also provides enough storage, and accessorise it with a cut-glass perfume bottle for that classic chic look. Try going for a solid wooden bedside cabinet, as these are designed to be compact, but also have ample storage.

3: It's all in the details

If you really want to nail the Parisian look, you'll need to make sure that all your accessories are up to scratch. Think elegant art-nouveau influenced vases, cast iron door furniture and fresh long-stemmed flowers for a really indulgent feel.

If your interest has been piqued, and you'd like to further research the intricacies of French-inspired design, why not visit the Interior Design School Review's site and check out their article on incorporating a French feel into your home.

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