Your bathroom as the new living room

USA (SANEPR.com) August 7, 2008 -- Homeowners have added hot tubs, saunas, steam rooms and other features to create more of a home spa where they can unwind at the end of a long day. According to DirectBuy, the leading members-only showroom and home design center, that trend has led homeowners to take a closer look at the design of their new “living room.”

“It’s quite natural that when you spend more time in a room, you’re going to want it to be pleasing to the eye and functional—even if that room is the bathroom. When you’re talking about creating a bathroom/home spa, that’s even more important. That’s why homeowners should take a step back and consider their options when planning a dream bathroom,” said Sara Shragal of DirectBuy.

When it comes to creating their dream bathrooms, most homeowners want features they’ve seen in their favorite hotels while vacationing. Those can include:

? A separate tub and enlarged shower area, as opposed to a shower stall, with enough space so there’s no need for a shower curtain.
? Drawer space in the sink vanities, even as part of the bathtub; reducing clutter-driven anxiety.
? Warm, neutral colors and earth tones to create a calming, natural atmosphere; utilizing stones like granite and bamboo can foster this effect.
? Plenty of natural lighting, if possible; halogen bulbs are another alternative that can help to create a soft lighting effect.
? Radiant, heated floors.
? Multiple body sprayers for the shower or rain showerheads, which as the name indicates, simulate rain.
? A steam bath within the shower area to save space.
? Drying area within the shower space
? Separate room or partition for the commode.

The cost of creating your “dream bathroom” can vary, ranging anywhere from $5,000 for the cost-conscious to $50,000 or more. While either end of that spectrum might seem exorbitant depending on your budget, bathroom renovations have slowly crept up on kitchen renovations as the home improvement most likely to recoup costs at resale. In fact, Remodeling magazine’s 2007 report suggests major bathroom remodels will recoup 78.3 percent of the costs, to 78.1 percent major kitchen remodels.

“While most people don’t create their dream bathroom for their home’s next owner, it certainly is a nice extra to know it can dramatically improve the value of the entire home,” adds Shragal.

DirectBuy offers nearly everything you need to create your dream bathroom—hot tub, showers, flooring, vanities, and much, much more—at prices direct from manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. If you know what you want but don’t know how to pull it all together, DirectBuy also employs product specialists and professional designers, who can create the look that works best for you, your family and your budget.

For more information on a DirectBuy membership, you can visit http://www.directbuycares.com.

About DirectBuy

For more than 37 years, DirectBuy has been showing thousands of consumers unparalleled ways to save as they shop for virtually everything for in and around their homes – from furnishings, home improvement and flooring, to entertainment and outdoor products, accessories and much, much more. With more than 160 locations in North America, DirectBuy offers its members access to approximately 700 brand-name manufacturers and their authorized suppliers in the US, and more than 500 brand-name manufacturers and authorized suppliers in Canada.

Consumers interested in seeing DirectBuy’s savings, service and selection up close may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by visiting www.directbuy.com or www.directbuycares.com.