by Trent Klein
If it is time to do some minor surgery on your hohum bathroom, how about going wall to wall with a large area rug or some moisture resistant carpeting? It is a very easy way to change the look and feel of the bathroom. Wall to wall bathroom rugs can add color, drama, glamour, luxury, or even a whimsical look, depending on the style and color you choose.
If you have hardwood floors, protecting them with rugs is a good idea. And anyone who has a separate tub and shower, knows that one solid piece of carpeting is easier to take care of and looks neater than having several throw rugs in front of sink, tub, and shower enclosure. Besides that, it helps to eliminate slippage, especially on ceramic tile flooring. Climbing out of a warm bubble bath onto cold wet floors is no picnic either!
But I would cry,
rooted into the wall that
was once my mother,
if I could remember how
and if I had the tears.
—Anne Sexton (1928–1974)
Installing a bathroom rug, wall to wall, is not difficult. They usually come with a large sheet of paper or plastic that can be cut to form your pattern. Once you have it fitted to your satisfaction, you then lay out the rug, place the pattern over it (making sure you have it facing correctly) and cut it with a good scissors. If it is not a non-slip variety, just run some two-sided tape along the bottom of the rug and press it down on your flooring. Voila!
They aren't expensive, which is a good thing, since you will now want to make a few changes to other things in the room. Brighten up your medicine cabinet by painting the frame a contrasting color. If it doesn't have a framed mirror, frame it. Change your shower curtain, or if you have a large spa tub, dramatize it by using a tie-back sheer curtain in front of it.
Vanities and faucets can be a bit costly. Why not consider discount faucets and a recycled cabinet that can be painted or refinished and converted to a whimsical vanity sink? Change a ceiling fixture for a new look, or add wall sconces on either side of a framed mirror to increase your vanity lighting. If you have strip lighting, change to compact fluorescent bulbs, for both a different look and a break on your electric bill! Don't forget to tie it all together with that wall to wall rug.
A grimy fly can soil the entire wall and a small, dirty little act can ruin the entire proceedings.
—Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860–1904)
These ideas are particularly nice for a master bath or a formal powder room. If you have small children, especially when their bathroom has two sinks, I strongly recommend indoor/outdoor carpeting or carpet tile, if you want to cover the entire floor. It can take a beating!
One more thought about wall to wall bathroom rugs. Unlike traditional, permanently installed wall to wall carpeting, this is light weight and easily removed. It can be thrown in the washer and dried in the dryer, then laid down again with a couple of new strips of two-sided tape. You can leave your floors bare in the heat of summer and cover them up for warmth in the winter months. When you want to change the color, simply use the one you are replacing as the pattern for a new look.