This elegant but cozy bathroom holds many amenities and treasures. (Photo by Bryan E. McCay)

By Mary Carol Garrity

Jan. 29, 2007

Q: My mother-in-law just informed me that my bathroom was boring and needed to be decorated. I have to confess that I agree with her, but I have no clue how to decorate a bathroom. Any ideas?

A: Don't you hate it when you mother-in-law is right? I agree that bathrooms should be as warm and inviting as any other room in your home. The key to a great restroom is to make the space both striking and practical.

If your bathroom is petite, your goal is to make every inch beautiful and efficient. I've become a master at this, since the bathrooms in my historic home are about as big as postage stamps. Frankly, I like my little lavatories, and when we renovated our home, I decided to keep them small in order to preserve the character of the house. But I did freshen them up with white subway tile, creamy beadboard and brown wall paint.

Despite their diminutive size, small bathrooms can be just as gorgeous and functional as huge ones. You just have to be creative. For instance, to add-much needed storage space to my guest bath, I sandwiched a wonderful gothic bookshelf between the sink and the wall. On the bottom two shelves, I have snowy white towels rolled up, awaiting guests. I placed a reproduction of an old suitcase on the second shelf, then filled it with all the toiletry items guests might need during their stay. An assortment of magazines and books rests on top of the suitcase.

I created a tableau that was both useful and beautiful on the bookcase's top shelf. A tall apothecary jar holds bright white washcloths. You'll find an assortment of fine soaps in a delicate compote next to the apothecary jar. Then, I filled in the remaining space on the shelf with treasures like framed snapshots, tip towels, a silver clock and an accent lamp.

A wall-mounted shelf above the toilet holds more supplies such as cotton balls and Q-tips, which are stored in darling vintage jars. And because I can't stand to leave any surface bare, I created a striking montage on the back of the toilet with a dainty mirrored tray, a glass vase and a scented votive.

If you have a huge bathroom suite, your challenge may be to make the space feel cozy, not cavernous. The best way to fill big spaces is with large pieces of furniture. Find a beautiful antique armoire or a large bookcase to cover a blank wall. Then, fill the shelves with bath essentials, like stacks of pristine white towels and baskets of supplies, such as toilet paper and bath products.

Put mouthwash, perfume or bubble bath in crystal decanters, arrange them on an elegant silver tray and showcase it on a shelf. Then, add interest to your display by weaving in small pieces of artwork propped on easels.

If you have lots of open floor space in your large master bath, add a bistro table and chairs so you can enjoy your morning coffee while you get ready for the day. Or, cover a slipper chair or round ottoman in a durable fabric and place it in the center of your dressing space.

(Mary Carol Garrity is the proprietor of three successful home furnishings stores in Atchison, Kan., including her flagship store Nell Hill's. She is the author of several bestselling books on home decorating. Write to Mary Carol at nellhills@mail.lvnworth.com. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.)

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