Perfect Living

How to Level Up your Life with 10 Bathroom Upgrades

Yes, ten.

One of the biggest problems facing elegant people today is less than chic bathrooms. This looks like a matching toothbrush holder and cup set from the dollar store cluttering up a tiny dirty counter. The solution is to clean and completely re-accessorize your bathroom, immediately.

I first noticed this issue as I left my twenties and entered my thirties. Then I noticed it again when I left my thirties and entered my forties. There is something about a new decade that really highlights the horrors of home decor. First, in my thirties, I noticed a cheapness in the bathroom decor of those around me. Even my freshly graduated interior design friends would hold onto inexpensive mirrors and disorganized cosmetics from days gone by. They would overflow in corners, collecting grime. In my forties, I heard an inner voice scream, stop the madness! Chic people require chic bathrooms as part of our elegant wellness journeys.

Tacky, dirty, cheap bathrooms persist at first due to perceived economic restraints, yet there is no excuse for tastelessness. Also, lack of focus can prove to be any aspiring socialites decor downfall. It leads to erratic shopping sprees causing the well-meaning to overdecorate in a mentally ill fashion. When we lose touch with our minimalist journey, we lose touch with ourselves.

Martha Stewart Omnimedia writers Elyse Moody and Caroline Biggs would agree. In their column, Bathroom Design Ideas, they write that the bathroom is one of the most personal and private areas of your home. It’s where most of your self-care routines take place. It is especially important to make space you enjoy spending time in (Moody, 2019). I would also add, this is a space that your dinner party guests will pop into. Your bathroom is a reflection of you, it’s crucial you get this right, immediately.

Three Main Dangers of Tired Bathroom Decor

One. Humiliation. Yes, your guests will talk about you behind your back. Describe your grubby bathroom to others as, interesting or charming, to the next in line at your summer cocktail soiree. The Vice President of the Water Polo Wives Club will sneer “Get ready to be dazzled, the decor in here is charming.” to the Treasurer of the Organic Farmer’s Market club, pounding a nail into the coffin that was your spot on the orchestrated social ladder.

Two. Diogenes syndrome. When we allow our mental vibrations to energize at such a low frequency, dingy uncoordinated bathrooms manifest as a symptom (Weimert, 2019). Diogenes syndrome is a behavioral disorder characterized by domestic filth, or squalor, extreme self-neglect, hoarding, and lack of shame regarding one’s living condition (J.D.C. Irvine, 2014). This is more prevalent in people over 60, so elegant people preparing for their leisure years need to be extra vigilant in maintaining a high level of clean organized glamour in the bathroom.

Three. Physical injuries. Poor fixture positioning or storage options cause injuries such as banged elbows from having to brush your hair in tight corners and impaled bleeding eyeballs due to falling sharp-cornered lucite cotton ball boxes.

The problem of heavily neglected or even uninspired bathrooms looks like cracked mirrors, piles of old cosmetics, inexpensive fixtures that came with the place, positioned in the wrong spot on the wall. You may even be forcing yourself and esteemed guests to suffer poor lighting or less than stellar paint colors. The thought causes me to cringe on the inside while maintaining perfect posture and an effortless smile on the outside.

Dated bathrooms affect you personally as it disrupts your orchestrated social climb and mental wellness journey. You have crucial goals to pursue and deadlines to meet. Support from members of your community and spotless mental health are essential factors in leveling up your life in order to achieve peak excellence.

Glamourize your Bathroom in Ten Steps for the Greater Good

Remember to refer to your Beverly Hills Hotel vision board before starting any decor project. Keep in mind a good plan will help you focus when decluttering and purchasing for your bathroom upgrade.

One. Paint. Choose colors that make small bathrooms feel larger. I recommend classic white, off-white, blush pink, cool beige, or pale blue. Be sure to prep accordingly. Use one coat of moisture and mildew-resistant primer first and then choose a high gloss finish. Moisture causes paint to peel so don't skimp on quality, darling. High gloss is excellent at repelling moisture, is cleanable and durable. It’s also important to note that wall color can affect how you and your guests look in the mirror. Neutral tones don’t reflect light the same way color tones do, this can alter the look of one's complexion. Take this crucial point into consideration when choosing a paint color (Popp, 2021).

Two. Counter. Switching out your bathroom counter is an easy upgrade that will look as good as a head-to-toe renovation when combined with your new paint color. A new countertop will enhance the look of your space and provide a clean slate for you to add to a curated selection of minimalist designer accessories (Martha Stewart, 2020). Quartz is an elegant material and offers endless colors and patterns pre-sealed for stain protection making it my top pick. Marble is tempting, but takes a lot of maintenance and is prone to staining.

Three. Mirrors. Let's select two of the same mirrors with streamlined curves and slim projection frames to use as a striking design element (Restoration Hardware, 2021). Traditional mirrors coordinate with any bath tile selections so they are always an elegant choice (Martha Stewart, 2020). Tall mirrors bring the eye all the way up and contribute to a sleek and open feel in the space.

Four. Lighting. This is key for applying your makeup and taking selfies, of course. Fully commit to installing new lights. Get your soft makeup glow on with the right lighting so you don’t have to worry about adjustments once you’re outside in the natural light (Poosh, n.d.).

Five. Tile. I am currently living for antique cement Bahamian tiles and you should be too. There is simply nothing chicer than island living. If you are not currently close to a traditional tile layer from Nassau, please import and install these precious and beautiful handmade pieces with responsible care. The traditional patterns known around the Caribbean all the way to southern Florida are known as Nassau Tile (Villa Lagoon Tile, 2008–2020). Pick up the vibe.

Six. Fixtures. Bathroom fixtures are more than just functional pieces of hardware — they make a statement. When looking for bathroom fixtures, buy those that will stay leak-free for years, make sure to do thorough research. Elegant fixtures are made of metal. Immediately replace any items that are plastic covered in a metallic finish (Martha Stewart, 2020). When deciding which bathroom faucet is the best for you, ask yourself, what faucets do they have at the Beverly Hills Hotel (Dorchester Services, 2021)?

Seven. Towels. Get matching white towel sets in bulk so you can easily rotate them when you and your family use them. Roll small washcloths up and have them on display on your bathroom counter, ready to go at a moment's notice (Poosh, n.d.). Your towels must be high-end, made in India, and organic.

Eight. Organization. Keep your counter looking clean and organized with small containers. Store items such as cotton balls, toothbrushes, etc. It is crucial to have a clean area when you’re trying to get ready or when doing your skincare routine. Maximum three clean organized containers darling, and pop those in a cupboard before guests come over.

Nine. Cleaning Station. The easiest thing is to just have some cleaning supplies in a little caddy under the sink so you can quickly wipe up any undesirable drips etc. Clean is chic. If they are right there, and they are handy, fresh-smelling, and high quality, it will be a delight to use them.

Ten. Fragrance. Crucial. I really couldn't stress enough how important it is that your bathroom smells amazing at all times, no matter what. Exacting cleanliness will assist with this, however, elegant people may also choose to diffuse rare blends of essential oils or put out an oversized bowl of fresh lemons from the Amalfi Coast.

Once we have completed each step with forethought, the ills of life that put barriers between you and your goals will be cured. Adoration for your savvy decorating abilities will be spoken of in the community. Your mental energy will tune into a higher planed vibration and you will become naturally clean tidy and sophisticated. You will propel yourself into a more physically fit state of being, as the new space and design will allow for freedom of movement as required, avoiding life’s little scrapes.

“How many times do you walk in and out of your bathroom in a day? Too many to count. You’re in there a lot, so that’s why I recommend having it be a place you are proud of and taking special care of your special items.” -Kourtney Kardashian (Poosh, n.d.)

We have seen that we can change the course of our entire lives and affect our social circles positively by restyling our dreary bathrooms immediately. Boring or dirty bathrooms can cause unpleasant chats amongst the community and also cause drudgery and despair. Let's lift our spirits and put smiles on our friend's faces. A bathroom spruce-up will provide you with an improved body mind and spirit.

References

Dorchester Services. (2021). Suites — Bathrooms of lavish luxury. Retrieved from The Beverly Hills Hotel: https://www.dorchestercollection.com/en/los-angeles/the-beverly-hills-hotel/rooms-suites/garden-suite/

J.D.C. Irvine, &. K. (2014, May 2). Recognizing Diogenes syndrome: a case report. Retrieved from US National Library of Medicine: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4016666/

martha stewart. (2020, August 3). In Need of a Bathroom Refresh? Martha’s New Line of Vanities Will Flawlessly Upgrade Your Space. Retrieved from martha stewart: https://www.marthastewart.com/7972369/martha-stewart-bathroom-vanity-collection

Moody, E. (2019, October 2019). 13 Smart Ways to Upgrade Your Bathroom Without Renovating It. Retrieved from martha stewart: https://www.marthastewart.com/2140511/bathroom-upgrade-without-renovating-tips?slide=76c4ab23-965f-4de9-be16-2fec0cecf9c4#76c4ab23-965f-4de9-be16-2fec0cecf9c4

Poosh. (n.d.). The 10 Things Every Adult Should HAVE IN THEIR BATHROOM. Retrieved from Poosh: https://poosh.com/bathroom-items-every-adult-needs/

Popp, E. (2021, April 23). These Seven Paint Colors Can Make Small Bathrooms Feel Bigger. Retrieved from martha sewart: https://www.marthastewart.com/8093262/best-paint-colors-small-bathroom

Restoration Hardware. (2021, July). METAL DOVETAIL LEANER MIRROR — NARROW FRAME. Retrieved from Restoration Hardware: https://rh.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod9290072&sale=false

Villa Lagoon Tile. (2008–2020). Encaustic Cement Tile. Retrieved from Villa Lagoon Tile: https://www2.villalagoontile.com/bahamas-cement-tile.html

Weimert, K. (2019, April 8). Is a Messy Home Making Your Depression Worse? Retrieved from healthline: https://www.healthline.com/health/depression-and-a-clean-home