Bathroom design: how tub and shower faucet styles set a mood

Your bathroom is a very important part of your home. It is where you usually begin and end each day. As you get ready to face the day, do you feel energized by your surroundings? As you prepare for bed, does your bathroom environment help you to relax? Your surroundings influence the way you feel. Spending time in a drab environment can leave you feeling drab, just as spending time in a peaceful place can leave you feeling calm and refreshed. The right bathroom design can lift your spirits, and to create such a design every detail counts - right down to the tub and shower faucets.

Tub and shower faucets come in a variety of styles, and there are several features to consider when choosing a faucet to accentuate your bathroom's style. The first consideration is the structure of the faucet. Tub and shower faucets all serve the same function, but they are not all built the same way. Some faucets have separate handles for turning on hot and cold water, while some have a ball handle or a single lever.

To decide between these styles, imagine yourself turning on and adjusting the water for your bath or shower. Turning on a double-handled faucet may bring out a soothing feeling as you use both hands to adjust the temperature and pressure. It's as if everything slows down as you focus your whole self on this one task. While double-handled faucets come in a variety of contemporary designs, they tend to remind us of days gone by, when life moved a little slower and there was more time to linger over our daily tasks.

But perhaps slowing down and spending more time does not fit the mood you want for your bathroom. Maybe what you're looking for is a fast-paced, energetic mood. In that case, you may want to consider a ball handle or single lever faucet. These faucets can be turned on quickly and readjusted with just a nudge. You are, with a single motion, in charge of your environment. There is no need for focusing on what you are doing. You are free to focus on your plans ahead and mentally prepare for your day.

The style of the water spout also affects the mood of your bathroom. Some spouts have long necks with graceful curves, giving a gentle flow of water and a calming sensation to your bathroom. Other spouts are more angular, giving a more contemporary, ambitious feeling to your bathroom. You can also find spouts with detailed embellishments which give a sense of formality and sophistication.

Another feature to consider as you enhance your bathroom's mood is the shower head design. To give your bathroom a more peaceful feeling, look for a larger sized shower head that gives a broad spray of water. A smaller head tends to give a more energizing feeling. Many styles of hand-held shower heads can also be found. While these tend to give a more contemporary aura, you can nevertheless find hand-held shower heads that are more graceful looking and give a more sedate feeling.

Another factor that influences your bathroom's mood is the faucet's finish. Your tub and shower faucet can be finished in a variety of colors and sheens. Classic chrome can match most any mood, but the shinier it is, the more energized your bathroom's mood becomes. A satin or brushed finish tends to subdue the mood and gives a more peaceful feeling. Gold finish offers a sense of sophistication, as does a two-tone finish. Faucets finished in black tend to give a sultry, even exotic feeling, while a white faucet gives a more efficient, brisk sensation. Getting your faucet finished in a specialty color can even add an element of fun to your bathroom.

Whatever mood you desire for your bathroom can be enhanced by adding the right tub and shower faucet. With such a large variety of faucets available, you're sure to find the one that's just right for you.