The bathroom is one of the most important rooms in the entire house and the way it is designed will have a decided influence on the ambience in your home. Your bathroom should reflect your personal taste and style and with so many design possibilities, you can design the bathroom of your dreams.

The selected color scheme will have the most dramatic effect and all fittings and accessories will be chosen to fit in with a particular theme. Often cooler colors are chosen when renovating or redecorating this important room in the home, as this ties in with an ocean or water theme. Modern ideas allow for all shades of the rainbow, with modern fixtures available in a variety of colors.

Your color selection is an important consideration because in general renovations of the room will have you installing accessories that will be a part of the household for many years. Be sure that you can see yourself being at ease with a themed choice that will remain in style for years to come. Permanent fittings like bathtubs and basins come in a wide variety of designs and colors.

The modern look is angular, with clean lines and bold textures. Free standing tubs are very popular but may not be ideal if you have limited space. Keep in mind that a modern theme may not suite a home with antique furnishings and that mixing antique and modern in one room may not always be a winning combination.

Window treatments have the same effect. Whether you choose to put up horizontal or vertical blinds, blinds made from bamboo or wood, or perhaps a patterned lace curtain, these will all affect the feel of the room. A room that does not receive direct sunlight would benefit from paler colors, particularly when considering the window treatment.

This is a particularly useful trick for smaller spaces, as dark colors will make a small space appear even smaller than it is. Light fittings and fixtures are also an integral part of creating the ambience in the room. Selecting overhead fluorescent lighting will have a different effect than installing down lighters or wall mounted lighting. Using lighting to highlight mirrors is also a popular option.

Mirrors in this area of the house can be used to reflect light and have the effect of opening up the space, particularly in a smaller room. If the room is to be painted, rather than tiled, always select a high quality mould resistant paint, particularly for the ceiling. This area of the house is exposed to high moisture levels due to the steam emitted from hot water while family members use the shower or bath.

Paint bathroom walls and ceilings with the best quality paint. Many brands have anti-fungal properties to prevent fungal growth in the room. Installing an extractor fan will help to keep the room dry, as will ensuring proper ventilation. Always run the extractor fan when the room is in use and ensure that the room is properly ventilated at all times directly after a shower or bath.

Bathroom shower enclosures can by stylish. Have you taken a look at those frameless shower doors? They're pretty cool. Just look and see.