Sarah Richardson’s 10 Design Tips: The Kids’ Bathroom and Lounge

Here are 10 tips for creating an inviting, stylish bathroom and lounge environment for your children:

1. Consult your contractor about an ineffective layout for inexpensive ways to improve it.
2. Have the look for less by using inexpensive tile for most of the project and injecting more expensive tile for visual interest. To save more money tile only where splash is a factor.
3. Chrome fixtures are the best choice for a kids’ bathroom, as they’re durable and easy to clean. If permanent fixtures are not juvenile, kids and parents alike won’t outgrow them.
4. Any cabinet old or new can become the perfect bathroom vanity. Simple reconfiguring for plumbing and paint results in a signature piece for next to nothing.
5. Use accent colors sparingly. They’re meant to add dimension to your design, not overpower it.
6. A kids’ lounge is a great idea if bedrooms are small. This will give them a place for homework, to talk and daydream!
7. Take advantage of a room’s good features to inspire its design. For example, install a desk near the window for a great view.
8. Built-in shelving is always a storage lifesaver, especially for kids’ spaces. A place for everything keeps it organized and stress-free.
9. Consider a daybed for naps or in a pinch, impromptu guests.
10. Don’t underestimate the value of trim for a consistent look through the entire house.