Creative Bathroom Design and Remodeling

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Five tips sellers can afford!

(ARA) - With mortgage interest rates falling, more homebuyers are being approved for loans and venturing out to visit open houses. Real estate agents are hearing from eager sellers who want to know how to create an appealing look for their houses -- especially the bathroom -- without dropping a lot of cash down the drain.

Since homeowners are likely to have decorated with their own individual style, buyers may be left with styles and colors they don't like. There are quick and inexpensive changes that are easy for new owners to build upon or change. Since small rooms often get most looked at, try new products and designs for bathroom solutions without replacing the tub, toilet or tile.

Add decorative tile appliqués. Stick'N Stile tile appliqués stick to bathroom surfaces -- tile, fiberglass, mirrors -- enhancing an existing motif. The adhesive-backed tiles, made by Environmental Graphics and available at Bed, Bath & Beyond, come in different shapes and designs, from whimsical dragonflies to crisp geometric squares. Using Stick'N Stile is far less expensive than installing new tiles and removal is a snap.

Paint the unexpected. Apply a fresh coat of sky blue paint on the ceiling. Paint the molding around the door and windows a slightly deeper hue. "Use subtle tones throughout the bathroom because this is a small space," suggests Anne Davis, a design specialist with The Home Depot in Houston. "The paint makes everything look fresh and new. " And if the new owners have something else in mind, light colors are easier to paint over than dark.

Accessorize with items in one accent color. Choose an inexpensive lamp, vanity tray and a handful of decorative soaps, all in the same bright shade, such as sunny yellow or fire engine red, from Target. The vibrancy these accessories bring to a white or beige bathroom makes the entire room pop, and the look is easy for the new owners to recreate.

Add greenery for fashion and function. A moth orchid is an elegant addition perched on the bathroom windowsill. It is one of the few flowering plants that likes the moist and humid environment. Plants that need low sunlight, such as parlor palms, set in oversized garden urns, add a dramatic, tropical look. Or hang a wreath made of eucalyptus -- it prevents mold, which everyone appreciates.

Turn adjacent linen and utility areas into organized oases. Few people have time to keep these spaces neat and well organized. Sort and store medicine, cosmetics, household cleaners and paper supplies in plastic bins on shelves. Remove bi-fold closet doors and replace them with curtains made of twin-sized flat sheets in a color that compliments the décor. This is an inexpensive touch you can leave behind.

Little touches can make a big splash in the bathroom. Do not use the bathtub or drawers as hideaways for leftover junk or other items. It suggests to homebuyers that the house is too cramped for everyday living.

"Opening the front door to prospective buyers allows strangers to inspect your personal possessions," says Todd Imholte of Environmental Graphics. "Let the style capture guests' attention and imagination. Stick'N Stile appliqués and other simple items show you don't have to sink a lot of money into the bath for improvement. "

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