Wood In The Bathroom?! The New Taboo Trend Everyone is Talking About.

Bathrooms accumulate water, steam, heat and variations in temperature that are not ideal conditions for wood. Wood is not a material known for having  its place in the bathroom, except for the case of a bathroom vanity. However, more homeowners are choosing to include wood in their designs which brings a feeling of comfort and natural warmth to a place that wood is not normally invited to. How does one make it work, and should it be done?
 
Four Ways that Wood Functions Great In A Bathroom
There are several ways for wood to be incorporated into a bathroom design, although it is not a traditional material that’s been intended for such use. The growing tendency to include wood into bathroom remodeling is a far cry from its beginning long-standing use in other areas of the home. Now, is wood not only a viable option, it is being recommended to customers among bathroom remodel experts.
 
 
Finishings: Extensive wood treatments make this material more durable against water exposure. Hence, wood bathroom vanities have always been considered as a reasonable option. Now, these same treatments are becoming available for any wood, so it can be readily chosen to be used as you please throughout the bathroom.  
 
Wood Type: Different types of wood vary in their level of susceptibility to water exposure and damage. Recently, teak and other highly water resistant wood type materials have become more affordable as they have gained more popularity in their commercial usage. Wood can now be placed in locations where porous wood such as pine could never. 
 
Wood Look-Alike Tile (And Other Faux Wood): The market of wood alternatives has seen a grand increase in popularity and usage. You can now find the most realistic looking wood alternatives, from materials like tile and laminate, which also bring highly sought after water-resistant properties. 
Care and Maintenance: For such material to be long-lasting most people are willing to perform minor tasks to ensure its upkeep. Fast, daily cleaning and a regular maintenance routine is key in preserving your wood material especially if its a less water-resistant material such as hardwood. 
 
Where Can I Use Wood In The Bathroom, Other Than The Vanity?
Accessorize With Wood Bathroom Walls, Ceiling, Beams, And Furniture
Start incorporating wood on surfaces that you feel most safe using such as walls, doors and frames, ceilings and beams, as well as accent furniture. In this way, you can learn how to best keep your natural hardwood healthy and in optimum condition. 
You can then continue to use wood for larger wood furniture and inside the bathroom as an accent. Be sure that your bathroom is properly ventilated and routine maintenance is scheduled. As long as the right care is taken, minimally susceptive fixtures can be kept safe and even unfinished wood can endure.  If you prefer to have as low maintenance as possible, you can choose tile that’s made from wood-like material that achieves a polished finished look. 
 
An Ultimate No-No: Real Hardwood Bathroom Floors
Believe it or not, real hardwood can be used to floor entire wet bathrooms as long as the correct material is chosen and the right installation technique is utilized. Adherence to a regular maintenance schedule is also important. 
 
It’s ironic that wood is one of the easiest materials to use on the bathroom floor, however it’s had the biggest taboo attached to it. Bathroom remodelings are available to install wood flooring in bathroom-ready options that vary from low maintenance wood-look tile and vinyl floors, to exclusive natural hardwood. You can choose wood flooring that’s resistant to drips and spills and can be used everywhere, including the bathroom. 
 
 
Wood Showers And Shower Floors
A variety of tropical woods have water-resistant properties, which make for great use across all parts of your shower, even the shower floor.
A sight to see: wood showers. Gaining popularity through the past several years, this trend can now be considered mainstream. This bold option can be used in a simple wood shower floor or in full head-to-toe wood shower settings. Wood lookalikes can be installed. However,natural teak and other dense and oily wood are also known for their water-resistance. It is worth the extra effort to install wood-slat food over the shower pan once you have the look and feel of spa-like experience that real hardwood flooring brings.  
 
A Wood…Bathtub?
To the surprise of many, wooden bathtubs can be easily installed upon arrival and require little additional maintenance in comparison to tubs made from porcelain or acrylic. Its usual maintenance includes periodically filling the tub with water to ensure the wood doesn’t eventually get dry. Soap suds or bath salts also need to be regularly cleaned off the surface after each use. An all-wood bathtub is worth considering for your upcoming bathroom remodel project. Being a rare find, Alfi is one of the most reliable brands available and is made completely from wood that’s been sealed at the edges for a seamless look or just fused together like a barrel.
 
Fall in love with the magical sensation that wood can bring to your home. Through carefully planned installations of wood among key accent pieces or even floor-to-ceiling planks, we encourage you to incorporate these features without fTake a look at some of our bathroom remodeling jobs we’ve previously completed around Chicago. Our team is on standby for free on-site quotes so schedule a consultation today!