Bathroom Sanctuary: How to Create Your Own Spa at Home

23.03.2020 WELLNESS 0.0 0

spa at home

Image source: Unsplash

When you close your bathroom door, you should be entering a peaceful sanctuary. You want a place that takes you away from the daily tolls of life, from screaming kids, from chores, creating an atmosphere where the daily grind is completely forgotten. Unfortunately, that much-needed R&R is often only available at a spa resort. Because creating an equivalent experience at home is just prohibitively expensive, right? Not necessarily.

It’s possible to create your very own spa sanctuary a 5-second walk from your bedroom. And it doesn’t have to be ridiculously expensive either (though admittedly we’ve added some luxury options!). Here’s how you do it.

Add a Little Bit of Greenery

Green, green, and just a little more green - if it was up to us, your home would have plants in every single room. They look fantastic, add style and sophistication to any room, and plants are also good for your health. These are just some of the benefits:

They improve mood.
Help with stress levels.
Reduce blood pressure.
Reduce headaches and feelings of fatigue.

spa at home
Image source: Renovation Kingdom

Plants clearly add to that calm zen environment you’re looking for. Inexpensive and easy-to-maintain options include the dragon plan, English ivy, Boston fern, succulents, and the bamboo plant. Even one or two plants can make an incredible difference to an otherwise stark room.

It’s All About the Lighting

When it comes to creating that soothing spa ambiance, lighting is incredibly important. Ideally, you want to be able to control the level and type of lighting based on your needs. We often think of dark and atmospheric as the default option, but it’s not always what you’ll be looking for.

spa at home
Image source: Unsplash

Let’s give you a couple of examples. If you’re taking a nice bath in the evening, you want something a little more soothing, for example. You want to help that transition to getting ready for sleep. When you’re getting started for the day, however, you look for something that will perk you up for the work ahead. SAD lighting can be particularly useful.

Clear the Clutter

Messiness causes stress; according to certain studies, at least. Clutter is responsible for a range of negative effects:

Clutter adds excessive visual stimuli. Spas are for relaxation, clutter counters that.
Mess signals our brains with this message: your work isn’t over, look at all this stuff.
It makes us anxious. That feeling of ‘too much’ may not be explicit, but it’s there.

Getting rid of clutter can be 100% free, so it’s worth spending a day configuring your bathroom. If you do want to invest a little bit of money, we recommend looking at improving storage in your bathroom. You need to be able to access your toiletries easily, yes, but you don’t want a huge pile of products out in the open. Invest in custom-built drawers and closets, if it’s within your budget. If not, then head on over to your local furniture outlet for some nifty solutions.

Underfloor Heating

Okay, this is where you’ll have to get your checkbook out. But underfloor heating really takes your bathroom to next level spa proportions. In terms of cost, you’re probably looking at around $500, depending on the size of your bathroom and the complexity of the installation.

We think it’s worth it. It gives you a comfortable experience, improves the overall aesthetic of the room, you have more space for storage and other items, and underfloor heating is also very energy-efficient. You’ll end up saving a little money in the long run.

Small Changes = Big Difference

Is underfloor heating a little too much for your budget? That’s okay. You can also invest in some inexpensive products that can go a long way:

Faux Wood Tiles

Wood tiles have an aesthetic that just oozes ‘luxury spa’. Unfortunately, the natural variety isn't great when it comes to damp. Enter faux wood tiles. Usually made out of porcelain or ceramic, modern versions are very close to looking like the real deal. Same look, just without the usual problems.

Candles

Candles cover two bases: the lighting and the smell. You get the ambiance, which we’ve covered earlier in this guide, but you also get that aromatherapy aspect going. Combine candles with quality soaps and oil diffusers, for example, and you can boost your mood and your spa experience.

spa at home

Quality Bathrobe

When you stay at a 5-star hotel, you always get a bathrobe. They’re comfortable, relaxing, and are practically always associated with luxurious rest and relaxation. We vote for a big and high-quality version, not a scratchy bathrobe made of inferior materials. Spending just that little bit extra will go a long way.

Music

Have you ever noticed that the best spas usually have a peaceful and relaxing meditation track playing in the background? It gets you into that tranquil mood that helps you forget about the daily grind. If you can’t afford an expensive sound system, a small portable Bluetooth speaker will do the trick.

A Little Bubbly

Spa bubbles come in two varieties: the kind that you put in your bath, and the kind you drink. There’s nothing better than enjoying a soothing bath bomb combined with a glass of prosecco or champagne!

Don’t Be Afraid to Start Small

We’ve given you a wide selection of options in this guide. And some of you may find that overwhelming. But instead of giving up and thinking you can’t do them all, handpick a couple and go from there.

Seriously, making just one or two changes to your bathroom can make the whole experience far more enjoyable and relaxing. Can’t afford underfloor heating? That’s fine. Then add some plants and trendy artwork and you’ve already started the transformation! It’s that easy.

Written by Theodora Evans

About the Author

Theodora is a passionate blogger from Sydney and she is someone you would call an IT nerd. Also, she takes great interest in psychology and helping people deal with their mental and anxiety issues. Besides that, she loves martial arts and enjoying the nature. Find her on Twitter.