Your bathroom as the new living room

ORLANDO, FL, October 31, 2010 (Press-News.org) The popularity of bathroom remodeling has followed this shift toward lavishness in a variety of ways.

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 of Orlando, the leading home improvement and furnishings club, 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," said Brian Cohen, owner of DirectBuy of Orlando. "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."

When it comes to creating their dream bathroom, most homeowners want features they've seen in their favorite hotels while vacationing or on home improvement shows. 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 $15,000 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 2009-10 report suggests major bathroom remodels will recoup 71 percent of the costs, to 72.1 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 Cohen.

DirectBuy offers everything you need for your dream bathroom—hot tub, showers, flooring, vanities, etc.—at wholesale prices direct from the manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. In addition, DirectBuy also employs product specialists and designers, so if you're stuck for ideas, you have professionals at your service who can create the look that works best for you and your family.

Since 1971, DirectBuy Club has helped consumers enjoy enormous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products, flooring, and accessories, by providing an avenue to purchase directly from the manufacturer. Conveniently located at 502 Sunport Lane, Suite 400, in Orlando, DirectBuy of Orlando offers consumers a comfortable, welcoming setting where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.

For more information on a DirectBuy Club membership, visit directbuy.com.

About DirectBuy Club

For more than 39 years, DirectBuy Club 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 150 locations in North America, DirectBuy Club offers its members access to more than 700 brand-name manufacturers or their authorized suppliers in the US, and more than 500 brand-name manufacturers or their authorized suppliers in Canada.

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