You don't need to own a mansion to create glamour.
Bathroom decor is just as important as the rest of the home. Whether you're creating a glamorous mood for guests or you want a private, luxurious space to relax in your steaming jacuzzi, give the bathroom some attention, too. Work within your budget but look for great bargains in materials as well as contractors who can also visualize your dream. Remember -- it all boils down to your own interpretation of the concept known as "glam."
Grand Bathrooms
Great homes deserve great bathrooms. Go large and ornate, with marble floors, columns, deep sunken tubs, and luxurious and plush rugs to keep the feet warm. Better yet, consider flooring that's heated by hot water pipes constantly recirculating. To create a mood of ancient Greece or Rome, add large urns to hold plants or bath sheets, statuary, wall sconces and candelabras, and artwork that evokes another time and place. Modern glam will feature a lot of mirrors, gold fixtures, a towel heater and perhaps a velvet or faux-fur chaise lounge.
His and Hers
When one large bathroom has two sinks, two medicine cabinets and possibly even two bath and shower units -- or the double-headed mega shower -- add touches that designate which side belongs to whom. Add the sexiest "his and hers" magazines, colognes and perfumes, soaps and towels to artfully done tile work, such as hand painted imports. Hang plush embroidered robes on crystal hooks that match crystal drawer pulls and doorknobs. Mix antique chic with modern sparkle and keep fresh flowers in tall, black vases.
Replicate the Glam Era
The film industry of the 1920s, '30s, '40s and '50s rolled out the red carpet for such stars as Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Ava Gardner, Jane Russel, Clark Gable and Spencer Tracey. You can convert your bathroom into a tribute honoring the era, with ornately framed posters and images from that time. Add period lamps, art deco designs and pieces that suggest the work of Coco Chanel. Place shiny stainless steel fixtures, cut glass mirrors and textile works on the walls.
Glam on Small Budgets
Visit thrift shops, antique stores and novelty shops to locate unique items that suggest "glamour" to you. Find sheer curtains or stainless accessories, artwork and glassware to use in the bathroom. Items such as a makeup mirror surrounded by lights, a vanity with a velvet stool, and a porcelain box loaded with makeup can express your inner glamour when placed alongside full-length or tri-fold mirrors and a few framed art pieces of the Amalfi coast. Use your imagination and let your bathroom reflect you at your most glamorous.
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