Bringing life to the private area that is your bathroom
Bath rugs and mats can enhance the beauty of your bathroom. Photos by Racheal Mabala
The bathroom is private because whatever you do there is almost in seclusion. Many people can take as much time as they can in this space, some past doing what takes them in there.
When at home, Faisal Kiwanuka says he will answer to nature’s call and spend a little more time because many times, he will turn his attention to his smartphone and find himself engrossed for well over an hour.
“My family is now used to me entering a bathroom and spending an hour or so because I guess it is one place where I feel most peaceful,” he explains.
To couple Kenneth and Rozarina Muzingu, the artistes in them come alive when they are taking a shower or grooming themselves because there is the comfort of knowing that the door is under lock and key and they have all the space to themselves.
The bathroom cannot get any more intimate. Many people identify this privacy with so much cleanliness. Pauline Atai says she cannot compromise on this. Her bathroom is completely white because she likes it spotless clean. The white walls ‘rhyme’ well with her white towels.
Bathroom rugs
“Having white in my bathroom gives me a complete clean feeling when I step out after a bath. The bathroom floor rugs are the ones that I play with depending on my mood, ranging from deep maroon, red, dark blue, pink, purple and brown,” she explains.
To her, one cannot fail to see dirt in a white bathroom so she sees to it that the tiles are cleaned and neat every day. “First step to a nice and clean bathroom is to scrub and wash all floors and walls if that is what it takes. So, grab all your gloves and get busy to a road to fresh bathroom,” interior and artistic designer, Nasab Apayi explains.
If you feel your walls are dull, she recommends repainting them. “Consider a new vibrant colour to spice up your wall and ceiling. Sometimes ceilings are ignored but they are an important part of your space. Go for a stylish and bold colour,” she advises.
Grace Kigenyi says chose a light off-white and grey for his bathroom and to put everything in order, he made a cabinet in which he keeps all towels, long and face towels, gels and soap so that there is a sense of neatness. He chose a shower cabinet over a bathtub because he enjoys standing under a shower after a day’s work to simply relax and calm his spirit before going to relax over music or a conversation with friends.
“If you can, add a half shelf in your bathroom to keep away towels and shampoo et cetera, but sometimes small or limited spaces use storage baskets to hide away everything which is a good idea in this case,” Nasab advises.
Atai likes her bathroom wide and some items. She explains, “A bathroom is the most private place in the house. You must be able to hide away and read a magazine while you answer to nature, or ne comfortable to take a glass of wine while you soak your days weariness away.”
However, in keeping some items in this private space, you need not to clutter it as Nasab observes, adding that you do not need to keep empty bottles of shower gels, sponges that have served their purpose over time because they take up unnecessary space.
Touch of nature
To add some nature to the bathroom, live with some nature’s beauty, like a natural plant of lavender, which will not only beautify your space but also keep it smelling fresh.
To keep everything in an orderly manner, Atai keeps towels on a rack, bath gels on another rack that is long enough to hold lotions, scrubs, air fresheners, ear buds, cotton wipes, toothpastes and mouthwashes.
Apayi encourages you to add accessories to your bathroom so as to give it an instant glow. You can introduce vases, pots or glass jars in your favourite colours so that your character and choices are part of your private space.
“If you are working on budget, you can always opt to use wall art, frames and photos on your wall. Have them in different sizes to make beautiful collage effect,” she further advises.
If life is what you make it then beauty can take a share of your creative side, be it in replacing that old sink tap or basin, or give the walls a new look, touching up the lighting options or colour, do it in the name of bringing life into your bathroom, your most private space in a home.
Bath roomrugs
Jacklyn Biira, an interior designer at Spaces by Jacklyn, says the bathroom rugs are way too different from those of other rooms and their colours too are different.
A bathroom rug can be for the floor or the wall depending on what you want for your rest room. The colour should also match the rest of the items in the bathroom so that you can avoid having multiple colours which will make the room lack class and taste.
“Usually those that are to be placed on the floor should be of a non-sensitive colour and their shape should suit the items that they are meant for,” says Biira.
She further says you can have one on the wall can have instructions on how things in the restroom can be used and where a specific item can be found.
She says the rags should always be kept dry and clean because dump items in the bathroom may cause the place to have a stench which is embarrassing and shows that you are not in position to maintain your items.
By Sarah Aanyu
