(NC) -- Interior designers have a favourite saying about the decision to go all-white in a bathroom – “At its best, it will be the most spectacular room you ever designed; at its worst it will be perfectly satisfactory.” In other words, always safe, and sometimes, out-of-this-world. What makes the difference?

A lot depends on what you put into it. An all-white background will showcase anything to its best advantage. Tone-on-tone white adds another dimension. Marble, quartz or gleaming white tile always brings a degree of sophistication and elegance. White towels, co-ordinated accessories and lighting all encourage an oasis-like ambience.

Not all whites are created equal. For example, there are 140 colours in the Benjamin Moore White and Off-White Collection. There are grey whites, blue whites, and pink whites. A warm white beside a cool white can , very subtly, accentuate architectural details and create a look of luxury. But, be sure to check the light levels in your room before you choose the wall colour and bathroom fixtures.

Like fine sheets, a white bathroom encourages relaxation where you can escape all the stresses of the day. It is a place where you can linger in the shower or fill the tub and use your favourite bath oil to luxuriate in your own private world.

A range of fixtures is available, including sculpted toilets, vintage faucets, rainforest showerheads and free standing soaker tubs, as well as useful, but beautiful, accessories The styles shown here can be viewed and saved online at www.americanstandard.ca.