As winter approaches, it is important to prepare your home for the colder weather. This is important for both your comfort level as well as the preservation of the physical aspects of your home. One of the most important rooms to focus on in this respect is the bathroom. Your bathroom is one of the few rooms that you will use every day, multiple times a day. Because of this, you need to always be making sure that the area is warm, comfortable and easy to use. If your bathroom isn't prepared to withstand the colder weather, you will definitely run into some problems. With that being said, there are several ways to get your bathroom area ready for the cold weather and the winter months. This guide will go over some of the most effective ways to do so.
Warm Up Your Bathroom
Warming up your bathroom is the first thing you should be concerned about. This can be done in a number of different and effective ways. One of the most important methods to warm up your bathroom is through proper insulation. This can be done through actual insulation in your walls as well as carpets and other types of coverings for your fixtures. Carpets are a great and affordable way to keep some warmth in your bathroom. this is especially true if you have a cold tile floor. If you are designing a brand new bathroom, ensure that you have the proper amount of insulation in your walls before they are actually built. This is usually covered because many homes require that you have it anyway.
You can also include some kind of space heater in your bathroom if you really need a boost in warmth. Space heaters are incredibly effective if you are in a pinch in terms of heating up your bathroom quickly. Since bathrooms are typically a bit smaller than any other given room in your house, it should not take long at all for your room to heat up. Space heaters can range in price and quality. It is important to find one that fits all of your needs. You will definitely want one that will last you many years, so take your time to find the right one for you. Space heaters are also quite portable as well, so if you ever need to move it to another area of your home, that is always an option for you.
Consider Heated Flooring
Though this is a more expensive option in the short term, it will be one of the most rewarding purchases you can possibly make. A heated floor can essentially be seen as another form of installation but it is much more than that. Heated floors work by incorporating either heated water tubes or electric heating coils in order to create a consistent and comfortable source of heating in your bathroom.
If you decide to use heated flooring in your design, you will find that it is a much more effective way to disperse the heat around your room than through a standard forced heating method. Although it is probably the most effective way to achieve the perfect temperature for your bathroom, it does come with a cost. Prepare to spend several thousand dollars on your heated flooring, including the flooring itself along with labor costs. If this is well within your realm of possibilities, it should definitely be something to consider for the overall quality and warmth of your bathroom.
Heated Towel Bars
Heated towel bars are the most effective ways to ensure that your towels are always warm and ready to be used. These towel bars are very common with many different providers, so it should be easy to find one that you like. These are especially important for the winter months. When you get out of the shower, the last thing you want to feel is a cold chill. This problem is solved immediately with the inclusion of a heated towel bar.
In terms of how to incorporate them, just install them where your old towel bars were. The majority or heated towel bars are hardwired so you are going to need to make sure that your electrical situation is ready for it. If a towel bar isn't quite enough for you, consider getting a towel rack instead. This way, you will be able to heat up multiple towels at once. Depending on how many people will be using the bathroom, this could absolutely factor in.
Let in Some Light
In the winter, light can be scarce, so make sure you can incorporate as much as you can. This can be done through artificial lighting or windows. Windows can add a beautiful design factor as well as let in some natural light. Natural light offers its own set of benefits, including saving more money and allowing a natural source of light to enter your bathroom. If you can incorporate windows in your bathroom, it is suggested that you do so. If you already have a window or two, you should definitely think about how you can optimize the flow of natural light into your bathroom. You can do this by utilizing some curtains that are good at both keeping your privacy while simultaneously allowing in a sufficient amount of light when you want it.
If you can include some natural light in your bathroom, it is highly recommended that you do so. LED lighting can be great for your bathroom as well. LED lighting saves money for you while simultaneously incorporating some beautiful fixtures in your bathroom. If you want to go this route, which you should, there are a number of different ways to incorporate it in your design. The first is through ceiling lighting and stand alone lighting fixtures. This light is important for visibility as well as warmth. Secondly, you can include it through mirrors. LED lighted mirrors are becoming increasingly popular because of how useful and beautiful they are. They come in the forms of both wall mirrors and magnifying mirrors most commonly. Consider incorporating them in your bathroom design to get ready for the winter season.
Keep Your Fixtures Clean
You should always be keeping your fixtures clean, but it is especially important in the winter months. This is true especially if you are allowing some cold air to come into your bathroom realizing it at first. If you consistently wipe down your fixtures, you should be okay in terms of how your fixtures will do in the winter. Some fixtures and accessories can possibly have finishes or bases that don't do well in colder temperatures, so be aware of this. This isn't the most important thing that should be on your mind, but you should still be giving it attention at least one or two times a week. Keep your cleaning materials and supplies in an accessible location so that this is always an easy process.
Check Your Water Heater
This is something you should be checking up on regularly, but it is especially important in the winter. The last thing you want is to get in your bathroom one day, turn on the water and find out that your hot water isn't working. If you don't know exactly what to check for, consider hiring a professional to inspect it for any issue or problems. If any repairs need to be made, take care of them as soon as possible. Any leaks or breaks could damage the area around your water heater. It is important to remedy the situation. Again, don't just do this in the winter, do it regularly to ensure that you are getting a comfortable temperature of water all year round.
Winter Tones
If you are a fan of changing your home designs as the seasons change, try having your bathroom embrace some winter tones. This can be done through painting, accessories and other similar methods. Try incorporating some natural winter plants or winter themed designs on some aspects of your bathroom. Consider items such as hand towels. When thinking about winter tones, there are a few colors that should come to mind. The main colors to focus on are white, brown, gray and blue, along with the various shades of each.
If you want to get into some of the more festive colors for a holiday theme in your design, red, green and yellow are also very popular choices. These tones can be implemented through small accessories, decorations or other simple elements. Sometimes little additions with a winter theme can make your bathroom feel much more comfortable for the season. You shouldn't worry about this too much unless you are big into seasonal changes in your bathroom. However, it can be a very fun and rewarding process, so don't be afraid to give it a try.
In Conclusion
Preparing your bathroom for the cold winter months is something that you should always take care of before they arrive. There are cheap and expensive ways to do this, but when it comes down to it, you should do what is going to work the most for your particular design. Some bathrooms are bigger or smaller than others, so the requirements for each particular design will be different, but they all require an equal amount of attention. Do what will make your bathroom as comfortable as possible and you will be rewarded with a warm and relaxing bathroom for the winter and beyond.