Monday, April 19, 2010

Gray Bathroom Ideas

Gray can drain the room of energy.


Gray, says Precision Intermedia, "is most associated with...middle-of-the-road, solid things in life." On the other hand, according to the site, "Too much gray leads to feeling mostly nothing," and can even prove depressing. If your bathroom walls and tiles, or even sinks and tub are gray, and you are not prepared to renovate, take heart. You can enliven the space with towels, shower curtains, and window and floor coverings in cherry red, green or blue.


Cherry Accessories


Cherry accessories can add life to gray decor.


Red is a stimulating color, "associated with movement and excitement," reports Precision Intermedia. Cherry red is an especially lively shade that will add vitality and energy to your gray bathroom interior. Shop home stores, discount retailers, and bed and bath establishments to find cherry-red accessories, such as bath mats, tub mats, towels, hand cloths, even soap dishes and toothbrush holders. Ideally, you will find accessories in the same shade, but minor variations in color value will work. As you place your mats and towels, you will notice the energy of the space beginning to rise. The bath might even seem to feel warmer with the simple addition of this vibrant hue.


Green Curtains and Rugs


Green instantly adds a natural feel to a space.


Green symbolizes new life, nature, and harmony, according to Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. Nearly any green hue, therefore, can enliven gray decor. Spring green, for example, will add lightness and freshness to your gray bath decor. Forest green, on the other hand, lends a more grounded feel, while still infusing the space with the energy of nature. Kelly green may appeal as an accent or curtain-print color to accompany either of the other shades. Fabric or vinyl curtains for the window or shower will do just fine, but consider the effect of green-tinted glass or crystal beads. Used as window coverings, they will reflect and refract light in the space. As a shower curtain, backed by a standard liner, they can lend fantasy and wonder to your gray bathroom. A green, seagrass-textured shower mat inside the tub, along with a variegated seafoam-green bath rug, can complete the look. Look for glass-bead curtains at specialty retailers or online.


Blue Scheme








Soothing blue can bring a sense of harmony to gray decor.


Blue is a cool, calming, soothing color, says Precision Intermedia. Adding varying blue shades to your gray bath decor can pick up blue undertones in the gray, if any, as well as lend a sense of harmony to the space. One way to add an element of light is to include metallic materials in your shower curtain and window coverings. Consider silver-blue metallic-finish window shades and/or a midnight-blue metallic shower curtain. The interplay of light created by these materials can add visual interest, if not fascination. If metallics are too adventuresome, or tend to overstimulate your young ones, then confine your options to hue. You might try royal blue window and shower curtains, anchored by navy blue bath rugs and towels. Or go for a monochromatic blue stripe or print curtain design and then choose colors from the print--such as royal blue, teal, or cornflower--for rugs and towels. Going even lighter, think about soft, pale blue at windows and shower entrance, with ocean-blue rugs for floors.

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