If you are looking for a great way to give your tired old bathroom an instant facelift try installing a new vanity. More and more often modern design is trending away from the traditional and into the real of contemporary styles. If you have even the slightest interest in design and style you may find that home décor and design can make for an interesting hobby or business.

In today's market we see many home furnishings and accent pieces introduced to newer markets and wider audiences through the Internet, magazines, and books on interior design. One of the many things you'll see in various shapes and forms is a bathroom vanity. This is a rather specialized piece when it comes to bathroom furniture. You can also find basins, grab rails, mirrors, and hardware for your bathroom in each of these sources as well.

A compact bathroom vanity is a particular style of vanity that captures the attention of many architects because of its very 'compact' nature. In other words, it is designed to not only fit into minimal space but also to optimize that space as well and make it seem larger than it actually may be.

The bathrooms of today are nearly 50% on average larger than those built 30 years ago. Older homes will have at best a 5 x 7 bathroom, which is not only minimalist by today's standards but also quite unattractive to many visitors. The good news however, is that there are things you can do in order to maximize this space.

Below you will find some excellent methods for modernizing your outdated and small bathroom.

1) Replace the old clunker of a toilet with a modern variety that is not only more compact but also more efficient than those of the days of old. Be sure to purchase one of the newer toilets with a water saving feature in order to get a bigger impact from your upgrade.

2) Try brightening the look of the room with new countertops as well as a new sink or basin.

3) Upgrade hardware such as faucets for quick pick me up when it comes to style and beauty in your bathroom.

4) Install either a wall-mounted or pedestal sink in your bathroom rather than a bulky cabinet sink that takes up valuable space and makes the bathroom appear smaller than its actual size.

Bathtubs are one feature in most bathrooms that actually ties up a good bit of space within the room. When it comes to purchasing a bathtub for your new and improved bathroom, consider some of the following options.

1) Find a 6-foot tub that offers a horizontal bottom. While these tubs are more suited for showers they can also provide satisfying soaks after a stress filled day.

2) Choose designs for your shower doors and screens that are simple rather than complex designs that will make the room seem darker or smaller. The more visual clarity in a bathroom and the more light, the larger the room will appear.

While these tips won't necessarily help you decorate your bathroom to the nines of modern design they will help you achieve the appearance of more space in a bathroom that may easily seem too cluttered and uncomfortable otherwise.

You should also consider that a nice looking bathroom doesn't have to cost a small fortune. You can achieve beautiful design and clarity for your bathroom if you plan according to your budget and approach your projects step by step rather than trying to accomplish everything at once. Little steps often make huge impacts. Over time you can have the bathroom you are dreaming of.