Splash of color makes big difference

Don't let size fool you. The average home's guest or child's bathroom occupies a 5-by-7-foot space and typically is the smallest room in a house. It also is one of the most expensive rooms per square foot.

"A bathroom has flooring and walls to consider, but it's also where you'll find plumbing, electrical and heating -- every mechanical system -- plus the fixtures for faucets and lighting," explains Kelli Shamhart, a designer for Michael von Behren Builder Inc. in Springfield, Ill.

First, though, let's be clear about what the building and remodeling industry considers a "remodel" versus an "update." The difference will affect both your plans and budget.

"Most people don't understand that when they just want to go in and change countertops, repaint and do a new window, that would be more of an update," Shamhart says.

"A remodel is when you are changing some of the mechanicals in the space. When you remove the toilet, change the tub to a tub and shower, or just do a walk-in shower.

"An addition is when you are actually knocking out a wall and adding square footage."

So, if you move the toilet, be prepared to seek the assistance of a professional and up your budget. If you can live with the plumbing where it is, here are ideas for a less-expensive update to a small bathroom.

Changing the paint color, a shower curtain, towels and accessories all are quick and relatively inexpensive makeover options.

"To make a small room larger, paint it a lighter color or have everything be the same color like a jewel box," says interior designer Tamara Burris. "You could paint it all a chocolate brown and involve the ceiling as well. Add an inexpensive chandelier, pink and chocolate accents and soft pink towels.

"I like to use mirrors in the bathroom," she says. "A mirror reflects the light and makes the room look bigger."

Marilyn Kresse and Mark Miller of Spaulding, Ill., updated their guest bathroom creative input from Burris. Both Kresse and Miller work full-time, so it became a weekend project that lasted two months. The biggest cost was the purchase and professional installation of floor tiles for about $2,000. The rest was do-it-yourself.

The bathroom's new color scheme was inspired by the beach and a circa-1960s blue tub that they chose not to replace because it was in good condition. Among the updates, the two repainted the original vanity, added a tiled shower to the tub and installed an inexpensive chandelier.

Kresse and Burris created a one-of-a-kind focal point for the bathroom above the sink by hand-gluing pieces of broken plates and colored glass to a custom-framed mirror. They took several of Kresse's favorite old plates with polka dots, butterflies and stripes on them, put them in a bag and hammered away.

A space-saver is a pedestal sink or a trendy, wall-mounted sink. Toilets, too, come in less commodious models nowadays, with styles in an elongated shape ideal for smaller or second bathrooms. Shamhart says there are even pint-size ones for potty training that fit in a standard opening for easy change-out when that major milestone is reached.

When designing or updating a child's bathroom, however, it's important to keep in mind that Junior will grow up.

Says Shamhart: "We try to remind parents that in five years, is your child really going to want a Mickey Mouse faucet when his friends come over to play? Are you willing to spend a lot of money on this theme now, but in five years you may have to change it out as they grow older?"

Kid-friendly features that stand the test of time include brushed finishes on faucets so water spots don't show. Floor tile that has more traction also can help prevent slips in the splash-zone.

For adults, showers are getting all the attention with spa-like features such as body sprays, double showerheads, handheld showerheads and the "rain shower."

"New faucets can be a quick and easy change, and you don't have to be a plumber to do that," says Burris, who recently changed the fixtures in her older home's 6-by-8-foot master bathroom.

"Most people are taller than the showers, so we hung our shower curtain higher and installed a rain shower attachment to the existing shower fixtures," she says.

But don't throw out the bathtub with the shower upgrade.

"A lot of people are shower people rather than bath people today, so we are adding a lot of walk-in showers versus the tub," Shamhart says. "(But) keep a tub in the house for resale if you are going to sell your house in five to 10 years. The people may be coming in with children and they're going to want a tub."

Lovely lavatory

Looking for ideas to update your bathroom? Rifle through home magazines and mail-order catalogs for looks to replicate on the cheap. Also, here are several online sites to explore.

* www.kohler.com: This site features pictures and prices of Kohler plumbing products, a library of design articles, plus a Bathroom Gallery with full-color photos in eclectic, contemporary and traditional styles.

* www.hgtv.com. Click on "Remodeling" and find the "Design Your Own Bathroom 3-D Tool" and check out "Design on a Dime."

* www.groheamerica.com. View Grohe's online product catalog and custom shower layouts.