Use of Natural Materials in Bathroom Décor
PVC and fiberglass are incredibly maintenance-friendly and affordable, yet, when it comes to bathroom décor things are not so simple. There’s nothing that can make your bathroom appear… well, more generic than the use of PVC and vinyl, which is the impression that most people want to avoid. Furthermore, easy to clean is not the main focus in designing a bathroom. This is the room in which your day begins and ends. As such, it affects your mood in more ways than you can imagine. So, here’s a short guide on how to use natural materials in bathroom décor the right way around.
1. Brick or concrete
When it comes to the walls of your bathroom, you have two major choices in front of you that give the rawest, most natural look of your bathroom. We’re of course talking about the exposed wall made from brick or concrete. As for the floor, in the last several years, concrete is also a popular solution. The upside is its resistance to moisture and easiness of maintenance, while the downside are some difficulties with keeping the place warm. The latter, can, however, be resolved in a number of ways, the most popular one being the radiant floor heating.
2. Stone tiles
Another solution for your floor is to go with natural stone tiles. First of all, stone lasts forever, which means that you won’t have to worry about a tile replacement in ages to come. Nonetheless, some may argue that opting for a bathroom stone floor isn’t the healthiest of practices. Stone is hard, which might make any potential fall incredibly hazardous. What makes thing even more dangerous is a fact that stone is quite slippery by nature. Nevertheless, with the help of the right sealant, this shouldn’t be that much of a problem. Alongside with a high-quality free standing bath, this can make a truly unique impression.
3. Teak storage
The next item worth visiting is the choice of the wood for your storage. Needless to say, when it comes to bathroom shelves, teak is second to none. Aside from looking great while new, teak also ages gracefully, which means that decorating with it is a sustainable practice. It is also fairly resistant to water and moisture in general, which is a great plus when it comes to purchasing a shower seat or hamper. Overall, this particular trait is always necessary for bathroom furniture.
4. Houseplants
Houseplants are a refreshment regardless of the room, yet, placing one in the bathroom is not as easy as it may seem. You need something that can stand these conditions, which are, in most cases, high humidity and low light. Begonia, ivy and orchid are always popular choices and so are philodendron and Aloe Vera. One of the most innovative ideas is the moss bathroom mat. In this way, you can use the moisture that drips down your body to grow your bathroom mat, which is both unique and compelling.
5. Pebbles all the way
One more amazing setting that’s worth further exploring is the implementation of pebbles in your bathroom’s floor and walls. Same as with tiles, this can allow you to make a seamless transition between a wall and a floor, making it impossible to know where one ends and another one begins. Needless to say, due to the nature of the pebble floor (numerous cracks for moisture to penetrate), you should probably go for a reliable pebble stone coating. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to apply this to walls, as well as seeing how it’s never wise to ignore the real hazard of splashing damage.
6. Natural light
The last thing you need to consider is the importance of natural light for the beauty of your bathroom. Sure, some may argue that light, on its own, isn’t a material, however, seeing as how it alters visual properties of every single item it touches, it more than deserves the place on this list. The greatest problem with natural light in your bathroom lies in the fact that large windows infringe on your privacy (except under a specific set of circumstances). Fortunately, a mirror is a natural enhancer but in order to give its maximum, it needs to be strategically placed.
Conclusion
Earlier on, we mentioned that stone is naturally durable when, in truth, this goes for all of these elements. So, even if the price of materials and their installation may seem a bit steeper, keep in mind that this is a one-time expense whose benefits you come to enjoy in years to come. Even the increase in maintenance requirements is more than worth the visual upgrade.