Make your bathroom an oasis of tranquility.

In decades past, bathrooms in middle-class homes rarely served more than a pragmatic function. But for most homeowners today, the room has become a haven from the stress of everyday life. As a result, bathrooms are now considerably larger than they used to be. While building new or enlarging a bathroom can raise the value of your home, if it isn't possible to enlarge, a simple upgrade can do wonders.

When building or renovating a bathroom, the number of options can be overwhelming. Choices regarding tubs, fixtures, toilets, and vanities should be made with your specific needs in mind, with an eye on resale value. Making wise decisions now about where to put your money can pay you back down the road when you decide to sell.

Baths and showers
A lot of people are upgrading and choosing options other than the standard steel tub, coated with porcelain or enamel. Standard steel tubs tend to be lighter in weight, but the surface can be fragile and is easily damaged. Dents are also common. Bill Ferguson, a design consultant with Home Depot in Halifax, says they're a good choice but the trend is to purchase a fiberglass or acrylic tub. These are durable and the selection is broader. "These tubs are made in a mold, so you can have interesting shapes with armrests and backrests molded in," says Ferguson.

With fiberglass, a gel coat is sprayed into the tub mold to create colour and fiberglass fibers are added to the back of the tub to give it strength. The disadvantage is that the gel coat is a porous surface and can absorb stains. (As with fiberglass boats, the stains can be removed chemically.) Acrylic tubs have an acrylic surface and are backed with fiberglass for strength. The advantage of this surface is that it's denser and doesn't tend to absorb stains, making it easier to maintain.

On the high end of the tub hierarchy, cast iron models are heavy, have great heat retention and are very durable. These tend to be more expensive and aren't available in a wide variety of shapes. "The molded and cast iron is usually deeper because people are using them as soaker tubs," says Ferguson. "But when you talk depth, don't go by the height of the tub alone. Go by the depth to the overflow." If the overflow valve is set high, the tub will hold more water. When it's low, less water will stay in the tub. "It may look like a deep tub, but you won't get the depth when the overflow is set low," he says.

Acrylic bath units are popular primarily because they're easy to keep clean. One-piece units - a single tub and shower enclosure  - are normally installed in new homes while they're being built because of their large size. For renovation purposes, the three-piece is most popular because the sections - a tub base, walls, and top dome - are more easily maneuvered into the house and assembled in the bathroom. There are, however, still some concerns regarding size as many older bathrooms are smaller than bathrooms being built today. "These units do have some advantages," says Ferguson, "but it must be remembered that the normal height is seven feet. By the time you put a door on or shower curtains, some people might find them claustrophobic, so it's a good idea at the time to add a shower light to the top of the tub. This gives a light and airy feeling."

A tub surround is a vinyl or acrylic sheeting glued to the walls around the tub, replacing the need for tile. When properly done, surrounds are a great quick fix but don't add the same value to a home as tile. When installed properly, tile lasts a long time and gives homeowners tremendous design options. And the new glues and grouts make tiles easy to keep clean.

Jets and bubbles
Many people are creating a luxurious, spa-like experience in their bathrooms with water-jet tubs (Jacuzzi is the best-known brand) and airtubs. Jets of water have a massaging effect while air tubs, which bubble and foam, are more soothing. Some tubs combine both features. Before buying, take into account the size of the bathroom. "The floor may require additional support for a larger tub," says Ferguson. The amount of water you'll use should be factored in as well, since some tubs can take 40 gallons or more.

An important feature easily overlooked with water jet and air tubs is an in-line water heater. If you plan to soak, the water will eventually get cold. Instead of using more hot water to warm up your tub, an in-line water heater will automatically maintain the temperature of the circulating water. This saves water in the long run.

Larger tubs might require a tap or faucet with a large volume flow, which can fill the tub faster than an average tap. When it comes to maintenance, the water jets might develop mold in the piping system if not used weekly. "With air jets, water doesn't sit in the pipes. With water jets, it can, but there are chemicals that can be put in the water to discourage mold," says Ferguson.

Low-flow fixtures
Since many Atlantic Canadian households that are on wells endure water shortages in the summer, low-flow fixtures are useful. "In the major centres, we have concerns over the amount of water going into the sewer system and polluting our environment," says Ferguson.

There are several basic types of shower fixtures. Although the older, twin-tap system is still in use in many homes, most new houses have a single-handle system, which means the faucet is pressure-balanced. If you're in the shower when someone draws cold water from another source, the system drops the hot water to maintain an even temperature and prevent scalding.

Ferguson points out that not all pressure-balanced fixtures have a flow-control mechanism. "It's important for saving water. If you like to bathe in warm water, the faucets without flow control will be running full when you select the temperature. Those with flow control allow you to adjust the pressure or amount of water."

Fixtures should be chosen based on your family's needs. Adjustable shower heads, for example, slide up and down on a bar, allowing both short and tall people to shower in comfort. Some fixtures also have hinged extensions, so you can pull the showerhead down or up, according to the height of the individual. Hand-held spray attachments are very popular as they can be moved around to clean walls or wash dogs.

Royal flush
When choosing a toilet the biggest question is about water-volume reduction. Although the first group of water-saving toilets were 13-litre models, newer models use six litres or less. There were flushing issues with the early six-litre models, says Ferguson. "Flushing two or three times does not save you water." Some new toilets have been redesigned and are said to flush very well with the same modest water consumption. These usually have a larger opening from the tank to the bowl, and some have a larger opening going into the sewer system. Fully glazed passages also allow easy flow into the sewer, he says.

Homeowners wanting to install a second, less expensive toilet in the lower part of the house or basement may run into problems. The closer the toilet is to the main sewer line in height, the less suction there is to draw the sewage into the system. "On your first or second floor, gravity assists in drawing the effluent or waste into the sewer," says Ferguson. Low-flow toilets have pumps or pressure bladders (rubber bags with springs that maintain high water pressure) so when you flush, the pressure assist is used to clear the effluent.

Taller people and seniors are opting for a taller toilet, with a bowl that is typically two inches higher than a regular toilet. There are also elongated toilets, creating more room to sit. "Many people are afraid to ask certain questions when buying a toilet. People on heart medications or blood pressure medications tend to put more into the system and so may require a toilet with the best flush," says Ferguson. The Champion toilet by American Standard has one of the largest openings into the sewer system: it's 2-3/8 of an inch compared to the standard two-inch pipe. Other models offer special features as well. Some have an anti-microbial glaze that makes cleaning easier.

Vanity, vanity
Vessel sinks, a very popular design that resembles a large bowl, are available in a seemingly unlimited variety of models. Many don't have overflow mechanisms, though, so if a tap is left running and the drain is blocked, you will have a flood. Families with children may want to bear that in mind. The surrounding vanity tends to be lower so the sink can sit at the normal height.

Although 30 inches was once the standard for sink height, the trend is moving to 33 or 36 inches, to ease back strain. Pedestal sinks are more popular these days, as are wall-mount sinks, which Ferguson says tend to make a small area feel larger and more open. With pedestal and wall-mount sinks, storage space will need to be considered.

Most countertops are still plastic laminate, though solid surfaces such as granite and quartz composites are becoming more common. Halifax interior designer Jen McVeigh, of Design by Jen, says wood is still popular for vanities, with darker species such as cherry and walnut among the current favourites.

Light and air
One of the most important things in a bathroom is ventilation. "In the 1980s, a lot of fans were installed that weren't powerful enough to ventilate the room properly," says McVeigh. In some cases, it's better to open a window than use a fan that doesn't ventilate properly. The new bath fans tend to be more expensive, but they move more air and are a lot quieter. Moisture in a bathroom is usually the cause of mold, so it's important to move it out.

Lighting is also essential for a spa-like feel. The main fixture should be placed on a dimmer to create the soft, relaxing feel of a spa, but it's also important to install adequate lighting above areas used for such practical purposes as applying makeup and shaving.

"When you do a full bath reno, you should make a list of desires and then negotiate that against your budget," says McVeigh. "Always keep the age and style of the rest of your home in mind." A claw-foot tub would be appropriate for a Victorian home and a linoleum soaker tub would be appropriate for a newer home. "If balanced properly, an older home can retain its architectural integrity while giving homeowners the luxury of modern-day conveniences," she says.