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It's true: Theme decorated bathrooms are not for everyone. To some, just the phrase 'theme decorating' inspires sneers and visual signs of disgust. But, theme bathrooms don't have to be over the top. In fact, some are so subtle, that guests may not even realize that you decorated using a theme.

Yes, some people take their theme just as far as they can. One woman wanted a jungle theme for her guest bathroom. Guests had to wind their way around a 6-foot-tall metal giraffe while trying to get over the shock of seeing the wildest animal print wallpaper that you can imagine. Even the toilet lid was in on the act: It was in the shape of a lion with his mouth open wide.

Another homeowner wanted to bring her collection of ceramic cows into the bathroom. She painted huge cow spots all over the wall. The rugs were cow spots, the accessories were cow spots'.it was too much!

You don't have to take your theme decorating nearly that far. Here are three ideas to get your created juices flowing.

Animals

Now is as good a time as any to point out the fact that not every theme is appropriate for every bathroom. An animal bathroom might not be the best choice for your master bath, but if there are children in your home with their own bathroom, it can be a very cute choice.

Younger children especially will love being able to look at all the animals while they are in the bathroom. Keep it cute, light and whimsical. Find wallpaper with animals and then cut the animals out and make a fun border of as many different animals as possible. Buy soaps in animal shapes and find a shower curtain covered in bright colorful animals or animal shapes.

Remember, it's a child's room so different rules apply. Have fun with it, and make it interesting for your child. To make this room easier to transition when your child is no longer young enough to appreciate this theme, avoid hanging wallpaper. Instead, choose a neutral color paint and bring in elements of bright color with the accessories and border.

Beach

This is a great theme to use in a bathroom, and it's easy to understand why. Who doesn't want to feel as if they have a beach getaway right in their own home? While your bathroom certainly won't be a replacement for a vacation to your favorite hot spot, it can be a beautiful reminder of times you spent playing in the surf and sand. Hang some white bead board and then paint the walls a shade of blue that reminds you of the sky. Use sand colored bathmats and seashells and glass jars filled with sands as accessories. Find or make a sign that says 'Beach House' , 'Ocean' or something similar and hang them on the walls. Beach themed accessories are easy to find, and you can use as many or as few as you want.

Even if your beach theme consists of nothing more than a color palette that reminds you of the ocean, that's fine. Remember, the theme is just to give you inspiration for how to decorate the room. You can borrow several elements from your theme, or just take one or two.

Art Lover

Think of a beautiful art museum and the many wonderful things you find there. This theme will work especially well in a large bathroom where there is room to add architectural details as well as prints of a few of your favorite masterpieces.

Tumbled tiles, or other material that looks 'old' will lend itself well to this particular theme. As with the other themes, you are free to borrow several elements or just one.

Remember that the point is to take something that you find beautiful and find ways to bring that beauty into your home. That doesn't mean that you have to copy your source of inspiration piece for piece. Even if you never thought theme decorating was for you, perhaps now you'll at least give it a try!