Sometimes we get stuck in a bit of a rut, and end up not wanting to spend much time at home. This can be for many different reasons, such as your house being too cluttered, having too many jobs to do at home and not having those special touches that make a house feel like a home. Here’s some things that will make you want to spend more time at home:

Having a tidy house

Source: Feedster

The last thing you want to do after a hard day at work is come home to a messy house. It’s actually been proven that living in a cluttered, untidy house can have an impact on your mental health. Having clutter makes it more difficult to relax in your home, both mentally and physically.

Redecorating your home

Source: Dreams

Is your home in desperate need of a revamp? You won’t want to spend much time in a house that hasn’t been decorated to your tastes. The more effort you put into redecorating your home, the more likely you will want to spend time there. You don’t have to go all out, sometimes just a fresh lick of paint or some new carpets can make all the difference.

Cosy Stuff

Source: Lights4Fun

There’s nothing better than coming home to a cosy house with lots of cosy stuff to make you feel comfy and relaxed. Treat yourself to a new sofa rather than getting by with the one you’ve had for ten years, it makes such a difference. Stock up on soft blankets, pillows and throws, especially during the winter months. Things like scented candles and strategic lighting can also help you to feel more at home and enable you to fully enjoy your down time.

Go Out More

It may be simple advice, but the more you go out and about, the more you want to come back home and unwind. Get out of the house during the day for a bit, so you can enjoy your time at home and you don’t go a little house crazy.

Epic Night's In

Source: Feedster

If there’s one thing that’s going to make you want to stay home more it’s epic night’s in. The evenings you are able to be at home, plan some enjoyable things to do, such as a Netflix marathon, movie nights and delicious homemade dinners.

Spending Quality Time At Home With Loved Ones

Sometimes it’s the rare night’s in you have together with your loved ones that are the best. Make sure you plan time during the day or evening where you can do something together. You can go out and travel the world but at the end of the day the home is where the heart is. Why? Partly because your loved ones are there waiting for you.

Have you ever had the pleasure of sitting outside in a warm bath whilst breathing in cool air or staring out at a stunning natural landscape? In a few locations around the world, this is actually possible. Some hotels have absolutely awe-inspiring outdoor bathrooms where you can be close to nature, or take in amazing city vistas.

Here’s a few of our personal favourites...

 Elsa's Kopje, Meru National Park (Kenya)

Just look at that breathtaking view. After a day out on a thrilling safari, you might want to rest your aching muscles in this wonderful tub which is located in the middle of the wilderness. Sip on Champagne, chill in the bath and switch off from the world.

Source: The Luxury Safari Company

   The Islands of Copperfield Bay (Bahamas)

This looks like pure paradise to us, sitting in a bath just a few metres from a beautiful beach. Just look at that amazing view! We also love the enormous, stone bath. Pure luxury. Plus, this bathroom still offers an element of privacy. Once you hop in that bath, people shouldn’t be able to see you from the beach.

Source: Mushacay

 Madikwe Game Reserve (South Africa)

You can't really get more outdoors than this. As you can see, at this hotel, it’s quite possible to sit in the bath whilst a herd of elephants pass in the distance. What an utterly magical and surreal experience that would be!

Source: The Luxury Safari Company

 Madulkelle Tea & Eco Lodge Spa (Sri Lanka)

At this hotel and spa you can literally take a bath amongst the clouds, because it's located in the Knuckles Mountain range 1000 meters above sea level. Have a soak in the tub whilst listening to the sounds of the local Hindu Temple and gaze out over the infinity pool towards the mountains.

Source: Madulkelle

 Tubkaak Resort (Thailand)

If bathing out in the open seems a bit too exposed, then perhaps this outdoor bathroom would be more suitable, because it offers privacy. You can sit outside and enjoy this stunning bathroom, but not have to worry about anyone seeing you.

Source: Tubkaak Resort

 One & Only Le Saint Géran (Mauritius)

This bathroom had to make it onto the list, for those who prefer a shower to a bath. We think having a shower here would be a wonderfully relaxing experience.

Source: One & Only Resorts

 GoldenEye Resort & Hotel, Jamaica

These authentic rooms come with this outdoor bath, so if you love being surrounded by nature then this is the place for you.

Source: Oyster

You could choose a bathroom floor design that matches the rest of the room, is a neutral colour and that blends in seamlessly. But some people choose to do the absolute opposite. Nowadays, when it comes to bathroom floor designs, you can really get creative.

3D floor designs can make your bathroom feel as though it’s in a completely different location. They will wow your guests and certainly leave an impression. We’ve had a look on Pinterest and found some of the most interesting and unique 3D bathroom floor designs that are guaranteed to turn heads.

The beach design

Bathroom Floor Beach Design

Why wouldn’t you want to walk into your bathroom and feel like you are strolling on sandy shores? There’s nothing more relaxing than the sea, and this person has opted to have bring the seaside to their bathroom.

 The bathroom lawn

Is this a bathroom or a garden? Imagine walking into your bathroom to see a floor that looks like it’s made of grass. Green is supposed to be a very relaxing colour as it reminds us of nature.

 The rubix cube

This certainly will make your mind boggle. The design makes it look as though the rubix cube pieces are falling down into the depths of the bathroom floor. One for the geniuses out there.

 The coral reef

Like scuba diving? You can imagine you are in the depths of the sea exploring a beautiful coral reef within the comfort of your own bathroom. Just watch your step as you get out of the shower in this particular bathroom.

 Swimming with dolphins

If you can’t actually swim with dolphins, why not just pretend you are by getting a 3D bathroom design? Every day you will be greeted by two smiling dolphins, what could be better?

 The rocky river

This design is pretty awesome, and reminds us of a natural scene out in the countryside. With this creations you can have stepping stones to walk across your bathroom. It just looks so tranquil.

 The flowing river

Why wouldn’t you want a river flowing through your bathroom? With this design, every day you can pretend to balance on that log to try and get from one side to the other.

 The woodland path

Imagine you are out in the middle of the woods and enjoying nature. This bathroom looks super relaxing and even has a path leading up to a rather luxurious bath.

 The flower

We're pretty sure this is a daisy actually, but you get the idea. Makes a difference to a small water closet...

If you head to your local shopping centre, the chances are you will come across the same old stuff. You don’t want your bathroom to look the same as everyone else’s do you? If you want a bathroom full of accessories with character and a story to tell, then it’s time to change how you source bits and bobs to put in your bathroom.

Here’s some places where you can get some really cool and unusual stuff for your bathroom.

Car Boot Sales

Yes, you heard us. There might be an awful lot of junk at car boot sales, but amongst the rubble, if you search enough, you will find a few hidden gems. People sell some really old and antique stuff at car boot sales, which means they are great places to pick up some vintage bathroom accessories and things you won’t find anywhere in the shops

Charity Shops

Don’t turn your nose up at charity shops, as the things some people don’t want can be quite surprising. Head to some charity shops in an affluent area and you will be amazed at what you can find. The bigger charity shops often have lots of kitchen and bathroom accessories which will definitely appeal to those going for the vintage look.

Craft Fairs

Not only do craft fairs offer you the chance to purchase homemade crafts which have been made with love, but you can also pick up some tools to help make your own bathroom accessories. Help out people running small independent businesses and collect some truly unique bits for your bathroom.

Source: Claireabellemake

Trade Shows

Book tickets to trade shows and you may not find the most unique products, but you will be able to get some high tech gadgets and see new products before anyone else. Watch product demonstrations, shop until you drop and pick up a few free samples. For example Home and Gift which will take place in July 2017.

Etsy

If you like handmade stuff and creative designs, then you love what Etsy has to offer. It’s a website where people can sell their own creations, and you can get some really unusual and cool staff for your bathroom. Check out their home and bathroom section for a wonderful selection of quirky bathroom decor.

On Your Travels

There’s no better time to find really unusual stuff than when you are travelling the world. Not only can you buy stuff for your bathroom that will stand out, but it will remind you of fond memories and experiences. Head to market stalls, little boutique shops and places that sell local arts and crafts.

Source: About Mallorca

Independent Local Shops

Instead of shopping at big brand shops like Next and Ikea, visit local independent stores. They won’t have a big stock of the same products, will often sell stuff made by local people and have lots of unique accessories to choose from.

We spend a lot of time in bathrooms, and when you're out and about, most of them are pretty standard. However, every so often, you stumble upon a unique bathroom. There’s no reason why all bathrooms have to function in the same way, and it’s quite refreshing when you come across a funky looking bathroom. We’ve found some wonderfully weird bathroom designs from around the world to show you. Tell us your favourites in the comments below.

Expensive tastes?

Luxury doesn’t have to go out the window and neither does the content of your chamber pot with this bathroom. Dolce and Gabanna had a restaurant called the Gold Room in Milan Italy with an interior of golden bamboo walls, sparkling sinks and the fanciest toilets you’ve ever seen. If you wanted to feel priceless while relieving yourself, this was the place to be, it’s sad it’s no longer open.

Source: Trip Advisor

Or happy with the basics?

Westernised toilets are becoming more popular in China but if you go there you should be ready to use the classic squat toilet. In fact, using these toilets is supposed to be ideal for the human body in terms of position, a fact we’re sure you’re happy to know.

Source: Go China About

Love the sea?

Well you really don’t have to be away from the fishes for long, or at all, with this funky toilet. Those novelty acrylic toilet seats filled with fishes and fake seaweed are part and parcel of this toilet, but so is the real thing! In the tank there’s a full-on aquarium complete with live fish, real seaweed and a continual undersea display every time you need to relieve yourself!

Source: Huffington Post

Lacking space?

Well don’t worry, with the vertebrae vertical bathroom, you aren’t going to be using up much floor space up. This bathroom operates from a single column with swinging sections including a toilet at the base, storage compartments, a sink and even a shower!

It’s chrome-y look gives it a space age style ideal for any chic modern apartment where a lack of space doesn’t have to destroy your style.

Source: Popular Mechanics

Playing games

It’s common to have ‘bathroom’ books for people to read while using your toilet. In fact, in our mod-con world, it’s one of the only places you can get a bit of peace and quiet. But what if you’re not a reader? Well, then this toilet is for you. This cleverly design bathroom incorporates a gaming console and screen into the floor so while you’re chilling to the call of nature you can get a few rounds of Mario Kart or Call of Duty in.

Source: Bored Panda

Floating away

When we were looking at weird and wonderful bathroom designs, this was by far the funkiest. Turns out that using the bathroom in space isn’t that easy. Just imagine water flying all over the place thanks to a lack of gravity? If you aren’t careful there are a lot of other things that could go floating away…but NASA sorted a solution for this.

Think, strapping yourself onto your toilet, a good amount of airflow and suction, and if all else fails an extra vacuum tube. We doubt that anyone on this planet will go for this bathroom design but hey, it was fun to look at.

Space.com

Banner image source: internetretailing.net

It’s easy to get carried away when redecorating your home. However, lots of people tend to get over excited and rush things, which leads to some rookie mistakes. When it comes to redecorating your home, you should take your time, and plan everything carefully.

The last thing you want is to be unhappy with the result and have to do the exact same thing a few months later, or spend your precious time and money correcting mistakes.

9 common mistakes people make when redecorating their home.

 Going over budget

First things first, set a budget, and stick to it. Don’t go crazy and spend a huge amount of money on something you feel you must have. Otherwise you won’t have any budget left to make the rest of your house look good. You don’t want to end up feeling really guilty or get stressed about money because you took redecorating your house a little too far.

Out of place themes

Think carefully about the themes you choose for different rooms, and how they all fit together. Some people choose themes that they love, that sadly look completely out of place. Consider whether a theme fits the look and feel of your house, and also whether it reflects your sense of style and personality.

Overly garish designs

Be sensible when it comes to choosing designs for furniture, walls, bedding and tiling. There’s no harm in choosing something unique and a bit out there, but consider whether you will still like it in a few years’ time.

Source: myvaluehome.com

Outdated accessories

Try not to be too heavily influenced by fads, because they tend to come and go rather quickly. Avoid filling your house with outdated accessories (unless they are vintage gems, obviously). A few poorly chosen accessories can ruin a potentially impressive redesign.

That's more like it - a modern bathroom soap dispenser

Not asking for professional advice

Think you can do that complex home redesign all by yourself? Fine, but unless you’ve got some skills, it comes with some risks. Redecorating your entire home yourself is time consuming and hard work, so you may want to consider bringing in some professionals to do the job. Or ask for advice from an expert if there are some aspects of home design you aren’t sure about.

Over Furnishing a room

When you are in a home decor, furniture or DIY shop, you sometimes have the urge to buy everything. Remember to keep your budget in mind, and think carefully about how much you actually need, and whether making those extra purchases will result in you having too much stuff. Don’t fill a room with too much furniture just because you love it all, be selective and avoid clutter.

Minimal is often best. [Source: Rechtsanwalt-stange]

Buying furniture that doesn’t fit

A classic mistake. There’s a simple solution, measure every room first before you go and buy furniture. Then make sure you have the measurements of what you want to buy, and check it will physically fit. There’s nothing worse than ordering a sofa that won’t fit properly into your lounge, or even through your front door.

Choosing the wrong colour paint

People often change their minds quite easily when it comes to paint colours. Before you spend hours painting a room, or your entire house, make sure you are 100% happy with your choice of colour.

Using poor lighting

After all that hard work, the worst thing you can do is ruin everything with poor lighting. What’s the point in having a beautifully decorated home if you can’t see anything, or the lighting is really dull? It’s definitely worth investing in quality lighting to showcase your handiwork.

You may have to invest in candles if you're lighting isn't up to the job.

If you have a date coming over for dinner then you will have a lot to think about. However, it’s important to make sure your bathroom is up to scratch, and prepped for visitors. When a date first comes round your home, they will be paying attention to things.

They will want to learn more about you, and will be interested to see what the different rooms in your home are like, including your bathroom. A messy, dirty bathroom won’t leave a very good impression, in fact, seven in ten people say a dirty bathroom would put them off their date. To make sure your date is impressed rather than put off by your bathroom, we have come up with some handy tips.

Fresh scents

Obviously if you have a date you will want your bathroom smelling as fresh as possible. Light some scented candles before they come over, give the room a spritz with a room spray or plug in a diffuser that lets off a nice smell. It really does make a difference when you walk into a bathroom that smells nice.

Convenient toiletries

Impress your date with some handy toiletries such as hand cream and hand sanitiser. This will make them feel more at home, and also show that you have put a bit of thought into their arrival. Plus these toiletries might be handy if you want to freshen up at any point during the date.

Flashes of your personality

As you will be using this time to get to know each other, you may want to add some personal touches to your bathroom. These can also provide talking points. For example, your favourite painting, or a quote that’s close to your heart. Make sure your bathroom decor is true to your personal taste and style, so that you date can get an insight into your personality.

Deep clean

Perhaps the most important thing to worry about is making sure that your bathroom is clean. Give it a head to toe deep clean and leave no stone unturned. When people visit your house, especially someone you are dating, they expect your bathroom to be spotless. Other parts of your house can be less than perfect but a dirty bathroom is a no go.

Check your cabinets

You may want to check your cabinets in case you have any embarrassing products or medicines lurking around. People have been known to snoop through cabinets in people’s bathrooms because they can’t resist being nosy. So do have a thorough check before your date arrives.

Source: theoffiz.com

Fresh towels

Give all your bathroom towels a wash so that they look and smell fresh. There’s nothing worse than a dirty hand towel that obviously needs a wash. Choose your best set of towels and fold them or hang them up neatly ready for your date (don't leave them draped over the edge of the bath).

A bathroom, to many people, is the only place in their home where they can lock the door and be completely alone. Most people want their bathrooms to help them loosen up from a stressed day at work but also have their own touch of personality and home comforts so choosing right is essential.

So, can't decide on wood, tiles or wallpaper for your bathroom? Below gives you seven different approaches to starting with the basics or restoring what you already have.

Wood

Wood enables you to explore the very distinct effects the material has to offer. An uneven surface transforms the room to be a natural, adventurous, cabin-like area where as a smoothed and polished wood can be quite the opposite; formal and spotlessly hygienic.

Source: Pinterest

Tiles

Looking for a formal, modern type bathroom? Then tiling is for you. A bathroom boasting tiled walls and floors possesses an air of formality and decorum and a faultless ability to impress. Always looking neat and contained, it gives the sense of activity and a willingness to work with you.

Wallpaper

Brighten up your bathroom with brilliant and inexpensive wallpaper.  It is a excellent choice that offers many patterns that brag colour and texture. Wallpaper looks impressive in a bathroom of any shape or size and adds personality.

Source: Maison Valentina

Stone

Stones, rocks and pebbles alike propose a closed-in area of complete privacy that displays a 3D effect and a zone to unwind and rethink. Walls bearing a ‘cold’ material makes relaxing in a hot, moisturizing bath all the more enticing!

Source: Decoist

Paint

Paint can transform a bathroom. A fresh coat of what’s already there will turn a wall spotless and create a vibe of new, unsullied energy. A single wall can introduce a new colour that will move away from the usual, natural colours of bathrooms.

Source: Homened

Mirrored

Mirrors are perfect for making a small bathroom look bigger and more spacious, is a modern option and effortless to keep clean.

Source: Interior Bathroom Ideas

3D Effects

Why not go for something different and daring that will never cease to amaze? A professional painting on a floor or wall will take you on an voyage over skyscrapers or to the bottom of the ocean and could make a small bathroom appear bigger.

Keep it clean

Everyone loves walking into a clean bathroom, experiencing the fresh aroma’s and seeing their faces reflected on shiny surfaces and the first way to step towards that encounter is to keep your bathroom clean.  A fresh smelling bathroom will always come from a bit of back breaking scrubbing but the result will be worth the work.

Source: Slippery Floorman

Open Windows

One of the most obvious options to make your bathroom to smell at its best is to keep the air circulating through the room. Bad odours will be removed and new, sweet-smelling odours will take their place.

Source: Living Rich On Less

Candles

Candles are a great way to make your bathroom smell impressive but beware; they are a fire hazard so never leave them unattended. Tone down the lights, pick out a favourite scented candle and light up to enjoy its relaxing perfumes while you bathe.

Source: Mozaico

Air Freshener

Air fresheners are a great way to create a pleasant smell in your bathroom. There are more ways of freshening up your bathroom than just using an air freshener can. You can buy diffusers that spray a cloud of scent into your bathroom every time you walk through the door or you can buy a reed diffuser that will present you with a constant, lively odour.

Source: ehow

Lemon

Lemon is a brilliant ingredient to keep your bathroom clean as well as leaving a citrus odour for you to enjoy. To make your bathroom look fresh as well as smell fresh, why not cut up some lemon slices and leave them in a dish.

Source: Hello Splendid

Scented Crystals

Scented crystals are an attention-grabbing aspect to your bathroom that not only look great but offer a scent that lasts for weeks.

Source: Brit

Homemade Essential Oil Spray

Love ‘natural’ smells? Homemade oil sprays are the perfect option for that. These does not offer any nasty chemicals or fake smells but after playing around with the ingredients, can produce your favourite fragrance. All you need is distilled water, alcohol such as vodka (helps the spray to last longer) and your favourite essential oil such as ginger or lemongrass.

Source: Pinterest

Plants and Flowers

Plants and flowers can make your bathroom smell garden-fresh as well as add colour and character. Buy fresh flowers or just plant and grow your own indoor plants. Don’t forget to water them for a longer-lasting freshness!

Source: Deavita

Wash Bath Mats & Towels Regularly

Damp and dirty bath mats and towels have a big impact on the smell of your bathroom. To keep your bathroom smelling fresh and clean, wash them regularly.

Source: Pinterest

We all have times when life seems to get on top of us and we feel more stressed than usual. For some reason, things tend to go wrong all at once. When you think about the rooms in your home, which do you think is the place where you can feel most relaxed? A lot of people would say their bathroom.

Spending time in your bathroom can have a genuinely positive impact on your mental health. Your bathroom is your safe haven, and a place where you can get away from it all. You can lock your bathroom door and appreciate some ‘you’ time (hopefully) without any interruptions.

Here’s some ways spending time in your bathroom can be good for your mind.

Listening to music

A lot of people listen to music while they are in the bath or shower, and this can have a direct impact on your state of mind. It’s widely known that listening to music can ease stress and anxiety. If you have had a rough day, run yourself a nice hot bath and put your favourite music on.

Aromatherapy

Having the right scents and smells in your bathroom can help your mental health. If you walk into your bathroom and it smells heavenly, you are likely to feel better. Choose different scents for different purposes, for example, lavender is relaxing and citrus is uplifting.

Privacy

The bathroom is arguably the most private room in your home. It’s the only room in many people’s homes that has a lock, so that no one can disturb your down time. A lot of people feel safe in the bathroom, it’s the place many of us go to to clear our heads.

Soaking in the bath

Obviously soaking in the bath is great for your mental health. Click here to find out all the different health benefits of having a bath. Studies have shown that soaking in a warm bath can lower your blood pressure, which helps relieve stress.

A place to have a pamper

Often when you are feeling down all you need is a little pamper. You can pamper yourself with all sorts of products in your bathroom and come out feeling refreshed and ready to face the world again.

Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy has been used since ancient times to help to balance the body and mind. You can use hot or cold water depending on what sort of benefits you need. According to Psychology Today, ‘applying water of different temperatures to our skin can change our physiology and mood.  When humans take a cold swim, once over the initial shock of the cold, it is usually very invigorating.’

Bathroom comforts

If your mood is low, have a bath or shower and then wrap yourself up in bathroom comforts such as slippers and a big fluffy dressing gown. These bathroom essentials will help you to feel cosy and relaxed.