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Category: Bathroom

  • 8 Easy Steps to Make an Eco-friendly Bathroom

    8 Easy Steps to Make an Eco-friendly Bathroom

    If your family is anything like mine, then the bathroom is one of the most used rooms in the house, we use it constantly. Showers and bath time, especially with the little one, can use up so much water and energy. When we built our new house, I knew that we should make a conscious effort to make the bathroom more eco-friendly.  

    Today I share those tips with you in an effort to help save energy, save our planet and save your wallet from those expensive utility bills. You don’t have to join the latest climate change protest to make a difference, these small changes at home can help.

    Here are eight easy to implement tips to make your bathroom more eco-friendly with some eco-friendly bathroom products.

    Add low flow fixtures

    Low flow fixtures can reduce water consumption considerably, but what are they?

    Low-flow bathroom fixtures and fittings such as bathroom sinks, toilets, urinals, eco-friendly bathroom shower, and taps can make a huge change when it comes to saving water and energy.  They work by using gravity to create more pressure to flush waste away more efficiently while using less water. Check out how a low-flow showerhead can save you money in this article from SFGate.

    It is estimated by installing a low flow fixture you could save at least 20% of water per use.

    If you tend to use the shower every day, then a low flow showerhead should be installed.  A low flow showerhead restricts the amount of water that comes out of the shower while keeping enough water pressure to provide adequate cleaning.  The same technology is used with low flow faucets. Less water comes out as the design of the faucet restricts the water flow.

    Use LED Bulbs

    Not only can an eco-friendly bathroom save more water, but it can save you on your energy bills too.

    LED bulbs can be up to 90% energy efficient, which means that 90% of the energy being used is converted into light energy while only 10% is turned into heat.  Compare that to a traditional bulb that loses 80% of its energy to heat, and you can see the massive difference in energy saving. An eco-friendly bathroom decor must have LED bulbs to complete the eco-friendly bathroom renovation. Here are some cool LED bulb decor ideas from Pinterest.

    Ditch the regular towels and use organic

    Organic bathroom towels are one of the cheapest ways that you can help the environment today, sure they are a little more expensive to buy than ordinary towels but long term they are a money and energy saver.

    Organic bathroom towels are a great way to make your bathroom more eco-friendly right away.  Organic towels are made out of organic cotton, which absorbs more water than conventional towels, which means you can use them more and dry them less, saving on electricity.

    Natural body products for the win

    Think of how many branded products you use in your bathroom per year.  How many of these are natural and how many of these companies care for the environment?

    By using natural products in your bathroom, you are getting a cool bathroom vanity as well as you can help the eco-friendly companies, help the environment, and stop giving your money to corporations that litter the earth with harmful plastics.

    Eco-friendly companies often don’t use disposable packaging, which is an added bonus for the environment. Eco-friendly bathroom accessories are usually amazing for your skin, smell beautiful, and don’t cost much more than their harmful equivalent.

    Turn down the water temperature

    This is a simple tip, but often one that people don’t think of.  By turning down the water temperature by a few degrees, you can save the environment.

    Best of all, turning down the water temperature can have two separate eco-friendly benefits.

    Firstly by turning down the temperature of the water, your boiler doesn’t have to work as hard to heat the water up, this, in turn, uses less electricity. Here Popsugar will help you with useful tips on saving electricity.

    The second benefit of turning down the heat has a phycological effect on the person in the shower. A person in a colder shower is less likely to stay in there as long as someone in a warmer shower, this results in less water being used. Here Dummies shares some useful tips to control your water usage.

    Read more>> 15 Brilliant Basement Bathroom Ideas

    Fix leaks to save the environment

    You may think a little leak here, or there doesn’t do that much damage to the environment, but you would be wrong.  A small leak over the space of a year can waste hundreds of gallons of water.

    Tapwater which drips at a rate of 1 drip a second can waste over 3,000 gallons of water a year, so it shouldn’t be a surprise to you that over 10% of homes consume more than 90 gallons of water a day.  What a waste. Here Diynetwork shows some easy steps to fix your water leak.

    One of the most common fixtures in the bathroom to cause a leak in the bathroom toilet.  If your toilet has a leak you should either fix or replace it right away, if you need to replace it, you can find an affordable one at the Bathroom Supastore.  

    Before you think you don’t have a leak, you should know that most holes are tough to detect.  Some can be heard, but often leaks are silent.  A right way of knowing if you have a leak is to check your water usage on a monthly basis.

    An average family of 4 should not be using over 12,000 gallons of water a month. If your family does, you more than likely have a leak in your home.  A right way of knowing if you have a leak is by using a water meter.

    For using a water meter to detect a leak you should tell everyone at home not to use any water between a specific time (a few hours works best).  Then take a reading before and after the allotted time.  If the meter is different, you have a leak somewhere.

    Read more>> 5 Easy Painting Ideas Commercial Painters Use All The Time

    Add new fragrance with cool floor tiles

    Yes, you read it right. Bathroom flooring can be eco-friendly too. You can change your bathroom tiles, and your bathroom can be transformed as eco-friendly as well as it is going to look awesome. There are many options available while you are considering buying floor tiles—wooden (Cork & bamboo), Ceramic, Glass tiles are the examples of eco-friendly bathroom floor tiles.

    Green clean your bathroom

    There are many bathroom cleaning accessories that are being used in the bathroom which are harmful, if one can change the way of cleaning by using some DIY bathroom with natural products, or use a natural air freshener, then it can be a great step towards the eco-friendly bathroom.

    Read more>> How to Clean Windows: 10 Ultimate Tips

    Conclusion

    There are many eco-friendly things like bathroom paint, bathroom mats; countertops are available in the market, but you cannot install all of them right away. Most of the tips that are listed above are common and won’t require a lot of work to implement… So go on, apply these tips above and let us know how much money you save on your utility bills in the comments below.

  • 15 Brilliant Basement Bathroom Ideas

    15 Brilliant Basement Bathroom Ideas

    Are you wondering what to do to your dark, unpleasant bathroom? Do you feel an overhaul can be your best choice? Well, this is the best option you can go for since some bathrooms have some unpleasant characteristics such as a cookie-cutter bathtub, sink, and mirror and toilet combination. Trust me, you wouldn’t wanna miss this top 15 cool & rustic basement bathroom ideas, so without further due, let’s get started.

    Currently, there are latest designs used for bathrooms, which portray a fresh revolutionary look. Think of what we all feel a good bathroom should be. Look at things such as bold texture, wall-mounted toilets, and sinks that defy gravity, doorless cabinets and bathroom patterns occupying small spaces. You need to open your mind, forget some old tales and figure out what a bathroom should look like and that is why we are giving you nine steps to do this.

    Add a Stylish Powder Room

    This activity will be determined by the primary purpose of your basement, for example, if your basement is used for entertainment purposes then you need powder other than a full bathroom. A powder room is primarily a small space containing a toilet and sink. Therefore, your modeling at some extent it may involve some striking materials like gooseneck faucet stylish sinks and stone tiles

    Indulge in Luxury Features

    You will not avoid including a bath within the basement if a guest suite, parent or teen ar5e some of the facilities within the basement. You may be wrong to think since it is a basement; a bathroom is not a luxurious one similar to one in upstairs. In the guest bathroom, a curved front sink and a walk in shower are some of the luxurious features. For making the place interesting, rough-hewn stones of different sizes would be a great idea.

    Keep Kids in Mind

    You need to include a step stool for the kids to be able to reach the sinks if the basement involves kids. To add a colorful accent to the room you may need to attach unused paint cans on the walls; they will also be of paramount importance since they will still be used to hold fresh towels.

    Plan for Good Lighting

    Basement requires lighting especially if it is for a bathroom, note that this lighting fixtures in the shower must be made of waterproof lenses. Ceiling lights provide ambient lighting in front of this wall-size mirror illuminate the vanity.

    Choose Water-Resistant Materials

    It is important to select materials with functionality and style; stones tiles are there to sort you out since there are durable, easy to clean and water resistant, therefore, are preferred for floors and walls.

    There are six different surfaces in this tiny practical corner; reason being is that they are complementary in texture and tone, visual harmony prevails.

    Expand Space with Mirrors

    Mirrors are used since they stretch wall-to-wall and countertop to the ceiling to give five by 7-foot models for the basement, which makes the bathroom more significant than it is. The mirrors also increase light by creating an illusion of double the windows and reflecting illumination from light fixtures.

    Since checkerboard wallpaper is always visually busy, the alternative is enhanced by the mirror reflection making the room seem deeper. By having, a sink that measures 18 inches from front to back it saves a lot of counter space.

    Find Room for a Full Bath

    Since a basement bathroom is of small space, having a space area of 35 square feet can be of help because it can accommodate a toilet, shower, vanity or bathtub. Most of the building only allows ceiling heights of 84 inches—6 inches lower than other living areas.

    Toilet, shower stall, and vanity are also found in the basement guest bathroom. An adjacent office, close the pocket door and bathroom teams up are needed to serve as a welcoming and private guest suite.

    Use color to enlarge the Space

    Two similar tones of ceramic tiles from a checkerboard cover the floor and walls in this bathroom and give the space a bigger look. The secrets to that are lack of pattern and solid color. While comparing a typical square shower and an angled shower, we can say an angled shower to the right is more efficient since it utilizes the space well.

    Glass Blocks for Light and Privacy

    Glass block is most preferred especially for the bathroom built at the basement on an aboveground exterior wall to bring in light and provide privacy. This is made possible since a large mirror over the sink reflects both the pendants lights and window on the opposite wall hence bouncing more light through the room.

    Connecting fixtures to the main drain are very necessary while adding a bathroom to the basement, which may result in cutting through the concrete floor. In case the headroom is available, a solution can be made by elevating the bathroom so that the new plumbing lines and drain can be hidden under the floor.

    Make the Bath Accessible

    It creates a beautiful image when the bath is designed in different principles, for example, a wheelchair-accessible bath. This designs gave a stunning marble-lined basement bath features like a free door and raised thresholds making it easier to access. These dramatic features like pedestal sink and mirrors lit by long warm- light fluorescent tubes give adjacent vanity compartment.

    Soften the Bath with Fabric

    By use of decorative fabric makes bathrooms walls soft and gives a final change; this treatment is recommended for basements where condensation and moisture are not a bother. For upholstered walls which are found in a powder room are considered because it is small enough to keep the job manageable. It has made possible by staple batting to the walls then stretch and staple lengths of fabric over the batting. It is advisable to use hot glue to secure decorative welting over the staples. One can also paint the lower walls to look similar to stained wood wainscoting with bamboo molding.

    Include a Laundry

    A floor drain is needed by basement laundry room to work upon overflows or leaks and an exterior wall location so you can vent the dryer to the outdoors. Marble-top furniture-style vanity, stone tile floor, and full shower give a beautiful look to basement bathroom. Also paneled closet doors at one end open to reveal a stacked washer and dryer also add flavor to the bathroom.

    Design a Multipurpose Basement Bathroom

    A multipurpose basement bathroom offers a variety of duties, for example, can be used by the guest to bath and can have a space to do exercise. To take advantage of an above-grade exterior window put a treadmill tucks into the corner just beyond the partial wall. A partial wall can be of help if your basement does not have a window to accommodate a wall mount television to keep you entertained while working out.

    Expand Space with a Light Palette

    With a light palette, space always feels more significant than it is. Combination of limestone floor and wall tiles with white paint and limestone fixture are used to make the most natural light entering through the glass-block window. Limestone countertop and table-style vanity with an under mount sink give clean lines for an uncluttered look.  For the fluorescent tubes placed on each side of the medicine chest mirrors, provide shadow-free illumination for putting on makeup or shaving.

    Benefits Of Bathroom Renovations

    Often, homeowners love to remodel their bathrooms whenever they undertake home development projects. Enhancing your bathroom presents a wide range of benefits. You will enjoy these advantages both when intending to sell your house and when planning to stay in it for an entire lifetime. Thus, when considering renovating your premises either to enhance its efficiency, storage, aesthetics or general value, you should prioritize modifying your master and common bathrooms. Your guests, family and own self will cherish those benefits.

    Renovating Bathroom To Create Space For Leisure

    When restructuring your bathroom, you should purpose to improve its functionalities while making it more relaxing and comfortable. Thus, when remodeling it, you should consider building an unsuited. You might opt to give your typical tub the appearance of a spa while incorporating a tiled shower with several shower heads. Then, embrace materials and colors that will create a calm and serene ambience.

    Remodeling Your Bathroom To Enhance Your Home’s Value

    All realtors confess that most buyers and home seekers look at the condition of lavatories and kitchen first. Thus, the state of your bathroom will influence their decision heavily, enhancing the beauty of typical surfaces including countertops, faucets and tub surround pays. You could even seal some surfaces with fresh paint to attract buyers and sell your property at a higher price.

    If you want to increase this value, even more, you might want to give it an unsuited if not an extra bathroom. Homes with a single bathroom are unquestionably cheaper compared to their counterparts with two or more bathrooms. Therefore, when uncertain of the best way to maximize your space, you should consult experts in bathroom renovation such as Lambert Brothers Construction. They will certainly provide the best advice.

    Bathroom Renovations For Boosting Your Home’s Energy Efficiency

    LED lights are gaining popularity over traditional lighting because of their efficiency. They use less energy and provide better lighting. You should also invest in energy efficient fixtures such as showerheads and low-flow toilets. Luckily, they pride in cost-effectiveness as time progresses. These energy efficient gears use less water, and thus you will no longer worry about losing water pressure. These green changes will minimize the effects of your activities on nature while at the same time saving the bucks that you spend on monthly bills.

    Enhancing Your Bathroom’s Aesthetics

    It goes without a word that you will adore the new looks of your modified bathroom and unsuited. You will cherish its current functionality as well as its appealing appearance. Although looks are just a drop in the ocean, they will aid in making you love your home more.

    Adding Space To Your Bathroom

    You risk feeling crowded in a bathroom especially when it cannot accommodate more than one person at the same time. Even so, a well-structured bathroom must feature adequate space. You should add space to your small sized bathroom or at least remodel and reconstruct it to increase its space using well-thought layouts. You should also utilize fixtures that fit in your design. Regardless of your needs, Experts can prove to be helpful. They will help in streamlining or adding storage space creatively in your house. You can trust them with renovating your bathroom.