Create a Warm Inviting Haven within the Bathroom
The bathroom plays an integral part of our life. This alone should place priority over transforming the room in to a living space that oozes appeal.
Attention to detail can transform an awkward and uninviting bathroom space into a haven where you can relax and enjoy the various textures in your bath. With the right choice of textures you can soothe and pamper your delicate skin. Surfaces should be inviting to the touch since the bathroom is one of the few rooms in the home where you can bare it all as nature intended and not feel embarrassed or guilty about it. Few bathroom designers even consider this factor into their bathroom renovation planning; yet in the bath the sumptuous feeling of the right textures can really enhance the whole bathing experience. When we think of texture in the bathroom we usually associated it with surface quality: smooth or rough, soft or coarse but in reality texture in your bathroom goes far beyond these superficial labels. Texture can also be interpreted in terms of depth, the unevenness of the grain or the elevation of its pile. Whether naturally occurring in nature or man-made, surfaces in your bathroom help define the global design and feel of the room so it’s important to get it right.
Being human, we are visual and tactile creatures, generally speaking we like to look at and touch things. Yet few of us realize how light and colour affects our perception of texture in the bathroom. When designing your bathroom you have to remember that the smoother and shinier the surface, the greater the refraction of light (light bounces off the surface) whereas the opposite is true for matte and rougher surfaces that have a tendency of absorbing refracted light. This is important because it affects our depth of field, that said, the shinier the surface, the lighter the same hue of a particular colour appears as compared to a non-reflective or rougher surface. So why is this important? Well, light and shadow specifically create the illusion of texture in your bathroom. Once you understand this you can strategically arrange your bathroom lighting to take advantage of this phenomenon.
The other design element in your washroom that can superficially create the illusion of texture is pattern. In your bathroom, you can use pattern to establish graphic rhythm throughout the room to bring the separate design elements together. What this means is that the intensity of light and the complexity of surface patterns in your bathroom can for all intents and purposes create the illusion of texture in your bathroom when in reality none does exist. This textural attention to detail can create a decorative or sensual holistic bathroom environment based upon your design intentions. Of all the design elements, texture can be used as a supplemental palette to enhance your bathroom space. Depending upon the effect you are trying to create you can apply this principle contrastingly bold or subtly to complement your bathroom décor.
In the bath, the design element we are most familiar with and associate with the term “texture” is touch; the softness of our bath towels, the feeling of surfaces underfoot, the hard smooth exterior of your handheld shower in the palm of your hand and the warm invigorating feeling of warm water on your neck and back. It is only natural that we intimately interact with the materials and surfaces that surround us. The texture of a surface such as a floor plays an important role in the usability and safety of a bathroom. It should go without saying that underfoot you should avoid surfaces that become slippery when wet. Choose textures that create some form of traction. A good choice would be to resurface your floors with smaller unglazed tiles with plenty of grout to aid with solid footing.
To fully appreciate the textures in your bathroom you have to set up contrast so that your senses both visual and tactile can differentiate and perceive the contrasting surfaces and textures. We recognize things through association and dissimilarity. Through the fittings, fixtures and surface materials of your bathroom floors, countertops and walls, you can establish a palette of finishes and materials to tantalize, soothe and pamper your senses when designing your own bathroom. Hard surfaces like, Wainscot panelling, stone tiles, porcelain fixtures and metal spouts can all be balanced by with softer materials such as cotton, terry cloths and throw rugs. Smooth surfaces can appear more inviting by placing them next to coarse or rough looking items. Use your bathroom lighting to reduce or enhance the contrast of texture through specifically directed beams of luminosity. And don’t forget how you can optically create the illusion of texture through patterns and faux finishes. The power is in your hands to weave an inviting web of texture throughout your bathroom’s design so choose surfaces that you enjoy touching and looking at.
JT Spas is one of the leading suppliers of modern, traditional and contemporary bathroom products including the latest roll top baths and freestanding baths combined with luxury items such as state of the art steam showers, whirlpool baths and much more.
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