Inspiring Walls: Easy Bathroom Makeover

(Family Features) - Sometimes the smallest spaces provide the largest design dilemmas. And the solution could be as simple as using a special painting technique on an accent wall and choosing the right lighting.

Create a bathroom that's both functional and flattering with the right light bulbs and fixtures. By using multiple layers of light in your bathroom, you'll get full, balanced light for applying makeup, or you can use individual layers for a softer, nighttime ambiance.

For ambient light choose standard bulbs for a simple, covered overhead fixture. Frosted globes in your bathroom vanity bring a decorative touch that complements your fixtures. To bring out subtle colors and patterns, try GE Reveal bulbs, which filter out the more dull rays of standard bulbs.

Shaving, grooming and applying makeup all require shadow-free lighting. Position lighting above and on either side of the mirror to eliminate shadows. Recessed downlights rated for wet locations provide adequate light for tubs, showers and saunas.

You can add excitement to a wall with simple paint techniques like sponging, rag-rolling, stippling or paneling. Beautiful dapple color effects can be achieved with minimal materials and the most basic instruction. Painting a plaid pattern on a wall is simply the result of accurate measurements, taping the lines and painting within the lines.

Use a quality painters' tape that removes cleanly without adhesive transfer or damage to the wall surface like ordinary masking tape. You can find them in varying thickness at your local home center.

Your selected wall will have the same background paint color as the rest of the walls in the room. Three accent colors painted in vertical and horizontal stripes will complete your plaid pattern. Be sure to allow time for the paint to fully dry between layers.

Step-by-step directions follow below. For more information about choosing the right light bulb or for tips on lighting a variety of rooms in your home, visit www.gelighting.com.

Instructions:

• Paint entire room in the base color of the plaid design.
• Select desired wall for the plaid paint treatment.
• Plan horizontal and vertical pattern on graph paper.
• Pencil horizontal pattern plan on wall, and use painter's tape to create horizontal stripes on wall.
• Stretch painter's tape horizontally along wall; vary width of horizontal stripes to create design interest. Use carpenter's level to check lines.
• Paint horizontal stripes, using two different paint colors.
• Let paint dry and carefully remove tape.
• Mark and plan out vertical lines, following same steps you used for creating the horizontal lines.
• Tape off some horizontal lines so that vertical lines "weave" underneath.
• Highlight new wall with frosted globe bulbs to bring out color and texture of the painted pattern, This also reduces shadows and harsh glare for ideal makeup application in the bathroom.

Shopping List:

• Small paint rollers
• 1/2" and 1" paintbrushes
• Paint trays
• Drop cloth
• 3' carpenter's level
• 4 shades of paint
• Painter's tape
• Decorative shower curtain
• Towel sets
• Rug
• Votive candles and holders
• Decorative light fixture
• GE Reveal frosted globe bulbs (40-watt recommended)

Source: GE