Speak to any estate agent and they will tell you that it’s bathrooms and kitchens that sell homes.  Adding a new bathroom can add that “wow” factor and significantly increase your home’s value.  But before you rush out and spend hundreds on remodeling your bathroom, make sure your money will be well spent.  It’s essential to get it right and give buyers what they want. Here are some of the latest trends in bathroom remodeling and decorating that are hot right now.

Simply painting your bathroom walls is a cheap and easy way to give the room a makeover and improve its appeal.  But your choice of paint color is critical – stay away from shades with too much gray in them, as these can make a bathroom seem cold.  Current trends are for spa colors, with the emphasis on pure, clean shades.  A modern trick used by interior designers is to mix a small amount of your colored wall paint with white paint to use on the ceiling.  This white with a tint of color has the effect of helping make a small bathroom appear more spacious.

Panelled wainscoting going halfway or three quarters of the way up the wall is a classic look that has timeless appeal.  Giving your wainscoting a fresh coat of white or off-white paint is an easy way to show it off to its best effect.

Take care when choosing your bathroom flooring, as this is something that can make or break a sale.  Whatever you do, stay away from carpet in the bathroom – soft carpets and wet water splashes are a big design no-no.  Ceramic floor tiles look luxurious, but are a costly option.  A cheaper alternative that looks just as good, but is much easier to fit, is a tongue and groove laminate floor.  Laminate flooring is currently very popular, as it looks good and is easy to clean.

As regards bathroom vanities, countertops made from cultured marble are the latest must-have among discerning buyers.  Cultured marble has the beauty and strength of other solid surfaces, but is much cheaper than traditional countertop materials.  Storage is an important consideration when planning your bathroom’s new look, so think carefully when choosing your bathroom cabinets to ensure you make the best use of the space available.  Buyers love to see lots of storage space, so consider fitting built in units with a countertop that extends over the toilet.  As for the type of wood, lighter woods such as maple are currently all the rage, with oak being seen as unfashionable.  For a contemporary look, try matching cherry cabinets with light or white countertops, for an attractive contrast.

Showers are big selling points, so if your bathroom’s only got a tub, it’d be worth installing a shower over the bath, or adding a separate shower stall if space allows.  Replacing the tub altogether with a large walk-in shower can put off some buyers who prefer the convenience of having both a tub and shower, and by doing this you may be limiting your market.  If you fit a shower, don’t scrimp on making the surrounding walls watertight, either by tiling them or using acrylic, which is a cheaper option that can do the job just as well as tiles and has the advantage of being easy to keep clean.

For the “wow” factor, fit a bypass door to your stall or a frameless glass shower screen on your tub, to open up the room and help it seem bigger.  Optional extras that appeal to buyers include multiple showerheads.  However, ask an estate agent for advice to see if this extra cost is worth it in relation to how much value it will add.  If your tub needs replacing – maybe it’s a dated color, cracked or stained – the current trend is for deep, extra wide tubs.

Attention to detail can make all the difference if you want your bathroom to add value to your home, and the right lighting is crucial to create a welcoming ambiance in the bathroom.  Recessed ceiling lighting above the sink is popular, as are wall sconces either side of the mirror.

If the aim of doing up your bathroom is to add value to your home when you come to sell, then it makes sense not to blow all your potential profit on unnecessary costs.  Fortunately, you can save money by doing some of the decorating yourself, such as the painting.  The following articles offer advice on bathroom remodeling:

http://www.showers-bathrooms.com/choosingashower.html
http://www.showers-bathrooms.com/paint.html