Creating Your Spa Oasis at Home
With some strategic planning and investment, you can create a soothing sanctuary right in your own bathroom or backyard.
16/02/2024
More and more people are looking to bring the spa experience into their own homes for convenience, cost savings, and health benefits. With some strategic planning and investment, you can create a soothing sanctuary right in your own bathroom or backyard. Follow these tips to make your home feel like a relaxing retreat.
Ambiance and Accents
One of the keys to an at-home spa is setting the right mood. Consider painting walls a serene color or installing dimmable lights so you can control the brightness. Decorate with candles, soft towels and robes, decorative bowls or vases, and greenery like bamboo or eucalyptus. Add calming essential oils to a diffuser or mix your own custom bath salts. The goal is to engage all your senses to promote full relaxation.
Bathtubs and Showers
Transform your existing bathtub into a spa by adding a soft pad or cushion, angling it for comfort, or installing water jets. Standalone or drop-in tubs offer even more of a high-end feel. If the space allows, opt for a large two-person model. For smaller bathrooms, replace a shower-tub combo with an open shower complete with body jets, benches, and temperature/pressure controls. Treat yourself to ultra-soft bath linens as a final touch.
Keep it Clean
Be diligent about cleaning and sanitizing any water vessel, but especially an ice bath, as lower temperatures allow bacteria and fungi to thrive. Luckily, keeping it clean is easy. Before and after each use, scrub thoroughly with hot water and a mild cleanser free of dyes and perfumes which can be irritating. Periodically fill the bath with hot water and add 1-2 cups of bleach, circulating for 5-10 minutes before draining and rinsing. Allow ample time to dry to prevent buildup of mineral deposits and mildew.
Heated Floors
One of the luxuries of a spa is warm floors, even when barefoot and fresh out of a hot bath. Radiant floor heating takes some effort to install but pays off when providing cozy comfort underfoot. If that’s out of budget or feasibility for a retrofit, consider portable options like heated mats or blankets, fluffy bathroom rugs, or even slippers reserved specifically for spa days.
Saunas and Steam Showers
For the ultimate at-home indulgence, install a sauna or steam shower, either as a standalone unit or incorporated into your bath design. Saunas promote detoxification through sweating out toxins while steam showers bathe the body in moist, warm air to open pores and increase circulation. Just 15-20 minutes a few times a week provides amazing health and wellness perks. Complete the experience with chilled towels, a cold plunge pool or shower, and relaxation time afterward.
Lounge Areas
Instead of retreating to a separate bedroom or living room after bathing, create a designated space for lounging right in or adjacent to the bathroom. Choose waterproof, cushy seating, small tables for refreshments or reading material, soft lamps or string lights, and storage for towels and supplies. Being able to unwind right where you just soaked and scrubbed extends the soothing environment.
Outdoor Options
Bring the spa outdoors with hot tubs, heated plunge pools, or open-air showers surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature. Less expensive inflatable hot tubs offer a similar experience. If more privacy is needed, enclose the area with decorative fencing, plants, curtains, or screens. Nothing enhances a spa session like fresh air, sunshine, and maybe even a cool breeze or the sound of falling rain.
With the right combination of bathing facilities, plush amenities, soothing accents, and styling tailored to personal taste, it’s possible to evoke the tone and ambiance of a professional spa at home. Invest time assessing your needs and preferences, floorplan, and budget to create your own unique oasis. Then, get ready to relax and rejuvenate any time the mood strikes.