Have you ever visited your Uncle Billy (bachelor), and while in the bathroom had a mess of a time trying to keep the water in the shower without a curtain? Or finished using a towel and had no place to hang it? What about in Aunt Sally’s bathroom when every time you tried to wash your hands, you knocked another accessory off the counter? Were you surrounded by fragrant candles, soaps and flowers as well as decorative dishes, linens and even frames but you could sparsely see the wall or find open counter space?
Now, have you ever wandered into a chic boutique hotel bathroom and had everything that you needed (and only what you needed) at your fingertips, where everything flowed together with function and style?
The differences in these three bathrooms stem from the varied approaches to accessories, or lack thereof. Some bathrooms simply cover the bare essentials that make them, by definition, a bathroom. There is a sink, a toilet and a shower and/or a bathtub. Add some basic lighting and you have a functional bathroom. Check.
Now, for those of us with some creature comfort desires still left unmet by Uncle Billy’s definition of a washroom, we move into the area of how to accessorize. Tread carefully, however, as this can be a slippery slope (Exhibit A: Aunt Sally). As with many things in life, the excess of something can become its opposite. Put differently less is more, so it is important to invest first in those accessories which add the most value, function and/or style without becoming “excess-ories” that clutter your room or detract from its beauty.
So when does an accessory become an “excess-ory”? Granted, it may be a matter of personal taste, needs or wants, but here are some examples of some “nice-to-haves” at just the right amount to do the job.
MIRRORS
Many people get dressed while in the bathroom. Everyone knows that adding a mirror not only helps for checking your appearance before you leave the house in the morning, but it also helps aesthetically by making a room look bigger.
STORAGE
A linen cabinet, shelves, closet, baskets or a unique 48 inch bath vanity…whatever suits your space, you need a place to keep your linens neat and basic hygiene items organized. You don’t need one of each variety; just ensure there is a place to neatly put everything away between uses. A word to the wise here, adding too much storage space tends to lead to the accumulation of more stuff to fill the space, so start small.
SHOWER CURTAIN
These come in a wide variety of styles ranging from very plain to elaborate. Depending on the space it may not be a must-have, but a curtain can go a long way in keeping water from spilling out all over the floor. It also dresses up the area. Consider adding one that is neutral, yet matches the colors and style of the overall room.
TOWEL HANGER
Whether a rod on the wall or a simple hook on the door, it’s nice to have a place to hang the towels other than lazily draped over the top of the door, or worse. Remember more hooks and hangers can attract more and more items so add the appropriate amount the room requires based on typical use.
SOAP
Who doesn’t like to have options? But do you truly need a soap dispenser and soap holder? Choosing just one is another small step in keeping the flow of function and style simple, yet effective.
A bathroom can be simple or elegant, but of greatest importance is to make sure the accessories blend with your bathroom’s style, fit well in the available space and cater to the purpose of the room. If you have covered the items above and can splurge for the heated floors, warming towel racks, motion-activated lighting or multiple shower heads, then by all means accessorize away! Ultimately the line between accessories and “excess-ories” is one of personal preference; what one person might declare they can’t live without, another might see as overindulgent. So set your budget, start with some simple basics and add slowly from there to ensure you maintain that balance of function and style that fits your room.
Tracy Tesmer is founder of Tracy Tesmer Design • Build • Remodel • Repair, a Gainesville, GA bathroom remodeling company specializing in kitchen and home renovations in North, Ga. Tracy has over 30 years’ experience in the construction industry and hosts a weekly home improvement radio show on WDUN discussing home renovation in North, GA.
