Americans spend an average of 30 minutes a day in their bathrooms, and about a quarter of us spend an hour or more there each day, soaking in a relaxing bath or enjoying a hot shower. When you spend that much time in a space, you want it to be as attractive and welcoming as possible.
A bathroom makeover will make your sanctuary even more appealing — and add value to your home at the same time. Renovating a bathroom is considered one of the best investments you can make. According to HGTV, even a minor bathroom remodel pays off with a 102% ROI.
If you’ve been thinking about updating your bathroom, the bathtub and shower area is a great place to start. Recent years have seen bathrooms trending toward a more spa-like feel with extra-large walk-in showers that feature rain shower heads, water jets and benches. But a bathtub and shower combination is still a good bet for the master suite, especially if you plan on selling your home (real estate agents report that not having a bathtub can hurt your home’s value — and your ability to sell it).
If you are ready to renovate your bathtub and shower area, here are some simple ideas to give your bathroom more modern appeal. Fair warning, though: when you’re finished, you might want to spend even more time there!
Update Your ’90s Jetted Tub
In the late ’80s and early ’90s, one of the hottest bathroom trends was the whirlpool corner tub with multiple jets. If you still have one of those tubs, and you’re not ready to pull it out or redo the entire bathroom, there are some simple changes you can make to update its look.
For starters, create modern appeal by adding faux stone around the base of the tub. One great choice for this is our Norwich Carolina Random Rock Panels. These panels come in several color options to give you the flexibility to complement your room’s décor. Then, extend that look throughout the bathroom by adding that same panel as a surround to the tub. Depending on the size of your room, you could also consider adding a rock panel accent wall to tie the room together.
Connect Your Shower and Tub
Having a separate shower and bathtub can lead to a somewhat disjointed look, which can become even more prominent when a smooth acrylic tub is adjacent to a tiled shower. You can resolve this problem by using matching materials in both the tub and shower to create a seamless, cohesive environment. To do that, select one stone for the surround of both the tub and the shower. Novi Stone Wall Siding or Norwich Dakota Stone Wall Panels have color choices that work well in contemporary bathrooms to create a fresh, updated look.
Bring the Outdoors In
If you’d like a rustic, natural feel for your bathroom, you’ll be pleased to know that it’s easy to turn a large walk-in shower into the great outdoors. Norwich Colorado Stacked Stone Panels create the perfect backdrop for a back-to-nature shower, and you can add to the ambience by framing it with faux wood beams and a natural-looking ceiling made from our Woodland Wall Panels.
Why Faux Panels?
There are many types of material to consider when you’re renovating your bathroom, but the one thing you must have is a product that can look good even after years of moisture exposure. That’s why polyurethane panels are such a great choice for your bathroom project.
Our polyurethane faux wood and faux stone products are designed to endure years of wear and tear, even with outdoor use, so they’re more than qualified to handle your bathroom challenges. They even have some advantages over “the real thing,” such as being much easier to install than real rock or stone — no professional mason required!
In addition to being durable and attractive, faux panels also have the advantage of being lightweight. That’s a two-fold benefit for homeowners: faux materials are easier to handle during installation, and they eliminate the risk of installing materials that are too heavy for the wall to support.
What About Wood?
Wood has become increasingly popular in bathrooms, thanks to its warm feel and natural appearance. However, the challenge with real wood is that it doesn’t handle moisture well. This, unfortunately, means it is vulnerable to warping or molding unless it’s properly sealed. It also does not typically look as good, long term, as many other products that are designed for use in steamy, humid bathrooms.
Faux wood panels, on the other hand, give you the look of real wood without the limitations that come with it. Our faux wood panels can help you create a variety of looks, with everything from Reclaimed Barn Board to Bamboo to gorgeous Wood Plank panels.
If your current bathroom tile is looking worn or outdated, but you don’t want to spend a small fortune to renovate it, faux panels are a simple and effective way to reinvent your room. But don’t just take our word for it; get inspired by our gallery of bathroom design projects from homeowners just like you.