How Can I Make My Bathroom Feel Like a Spa?
With a few additions, you can turn a functional washroom into somewhere much more calm and luxurious
Spa-style bathrooms have become hugely popular, with many of us keen to create a nurturing haven in our own homes. If you want to transform your bathroom into more than just a place to perform your daily ablutions, check out these ideas for making this otherwise practical space feel cosy, tranquil and indulgent.
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
Stock up on handy essentials
You’ll also need some luxurious toiletries, sweet-smelling fragrances and ambient candles. A few indulgent supplies will help to achieve the feeling of a luxurious spa, so hunt around for fragrances and toiletries you love. If you don’t like to waste your favourite products on everyday washing, you can save them for occasional use, but make sure they’re easy to grab when you want them.
The owners of this bathroom have a handy table for bathtime essentials, as well as plenty of wicker storage beneath the vanity unit.
Ready to revamp your bathroom? Find reviewed bathroom designers in your area on Houzz and see photos of their work.
You’ll also need some luxurious toiletries, sweet-smelling fragrances and ambient candles. A few indulgent supplies will help to achieve the feeling of a luxurious spa, so hunt around for fragrances and toiletries you love. If you don’t like to waste your favourite products on everyday washing, you can save them for occasional use, but make sure they’re easy to grab when you want them.
The owners of this bathroom have a handy table for bathtime essentials, as well as plenty of wicker storage beneath the vanity unit.
Ready to revamp your bathroom? Find reviewed bathroom designers in your area on Houzz and see photos of their work.
Pop in a chair
A chair next to the bath or shower is useful for drying your toes, applying body lotion or simply relaxing before or after bathing. It doesn’t have to be a big armchair – one like the simple rattan number in this beautiful bathroom is ideal.
If you’re going for a cushion and/or seat pad for added comfort, make sure the room is well ventilated or choose a fabric that’s water-resistant to avoid any dampness.
A chair next to the bath or shower is useful for drying your toes, applying body lotion or simply relaxing before or after bathing. It doesn’t have to be a big armchair – one like the simple rattan number in this beautiful bathroom is ideal.
If you’re going for a cushion and/or seat pad for added comfort, make sure the room is well ventilated or choose a fabric that’s water-resistant to avoid any dampness.
Surround yourself with plants
You can’t beat a bit of greenery in the bathroom. Plants create a cosy feel, provide something lovely to look at, and have the added bonus of bringing oxygen into a room. The foliage here surrounds the bath to create a lush space for relaxing.
If you want to make your small bathroom look like a spa, but don’t have enough floor space around your tub to recreate this look, consider hanging planters over the bath from either the wall or ceiling.
To see more from any of the designers whose photos are featured in this article, click on the image, then on Learn More if you’re in the app, and follow the links to the professional’s profile.
You can’t beat a bit of greenery in the bathroom. Plants create a cosy feel, provide something lovely to look at, and have the added bonus of bringing oxygen into a room. The foliage here surrounds the bath to create a lush space for relaxing.
If you want to make your small bathroom look like a spa, but don’t have enough floor space around your tub to recreate this look, consider hanging planters over the bath from either the wall or ceiling.
To see more from any of the designers whose photos are featured in this article, click on the image, then on Learn More if you’re in the app, and follow the links to the professional’s profile.
Use wood for a softer look
For a natural feel, make sure you bring in plenty of wooden surfaces. The gentle grains in timber look great next to smooth white sanitaryware and help to make a stark bathroom feel more snug.
Here, a vintage-style vanity unit and ladder shelf add character to the washroom and turn it into somewhere it would be nice to linger.
More: 18 Bathrooms Warmed by Natural Wood
For a natural feel, make sure you bring in plenty of wooden surfaces. The gentle grains in timber look great next to smooth white sanitaryware and help to make a stark bathroom feel more snug.
Here, a vintage-style vanity unit and ladder shelf add character to the washroom and turn it into somewhere it would be nice to linger.
More: 18 Bathrooms Warmed by Natural Wood
Keep things cosy
For ultimate indulgence, why not accessorise your bathroom as you would your bedroom or living room? Turn it into somewhere to relax, rather than just wash and go.
Here, the designers have included soft curtains and a wooden floor in their scheme, as well as plenty of paintings displayed on a colourful wall.
For ultimate indulgence, why not accessorise your bathroom as you would your bedroom or living room? Turn it into somewhere to relax, rather than just wash and go.
Here, the designers have included soft curtains and a wooden floor in their scheme, as well as plenty of paintings displayed on a colourful wall.
Choose tactile surfaces
As well as wood, consider introducing additional textures to soften the space and make it feel more luxurious. In this bathroom, the shower is covered with tactile pebbles, while the walls and ceiling have an almost velvety texture. These soothing finishes give the room a lovely calm ambience.
Rather than ripping everything out and starting again, ask an interior designer or plumber for advice on adding to or reconfiguring your existing design.
More: What Happens When you Hire a Bathroom Designer?
As well as wood, consider introducing additional textures to soften the space and make it feel more luxurious. In this bathroom, the shower is covered with tactile pebbles, while the walls and ceiling have an almost velvety texture. These soothing finishes give the room a lovely calm ambience.
Rather than ripping everything out and starting again, ask an interior designer or plumber for advice on adding to or reconfiguring your existing design.
More: What Happens When you Hire a Bathroom Designer?
Provide a perch
If you’re designing a new shower enclosure, consider providing a built-in spot where you can sit down – it could be handy if you need to reach your lower legs or feet. This wetroom-style shower includes a low-level niche where the owners can either take a pew or keep a towel to hand. It’s also a great place to get dry while still benefiting from the steam created by a hot shower.
Tell us…
Do you like to relax in your bathroom, or do you prefer a more functional wash zone? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
If you’re designing a new shower enclosure, consider providing a built-in spot where you can sit down – it could be handy if you need to reach your lower legs or feet. This wetroom-style shower includes a low-level niche where the owners can either take a pew or keep a towel to hand. It’s also a great place to get dry while still benefiting from the steam created by a hot shower.
Tell us…
Do you like to relax in your bathroom, or do you prefer a more functional wash zone? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
For a luxurious feeling when you emerge from the bath or shower, it’s a good idea to have some soft towels to hand. There are numerous gorgeous, inexpensive designs on the market, so this is a good way to create a spa-like bathroom on a budget. Don’t forget to include a bath sheet that’s large enough to wrap around you fully.
Do donate old towels to a textile recycling charity – find a local operation online.