Treat yourself to a spa-style bathroom
Why go to the spa when you can create a home spa bathroom instead? You can easily draw inspiration from high-end spas and saunas to create a luxurious primary bathroom that doubles as a self-care sanctuary.
Bathroom remodels cost an average of $10,800, but you don’t need to do a full overhaul to get a spa-like bathroom at home. From relaxing paint colors to updating your shower and bathtub, here’s how to create a home spa bathroom for the ultimate in luxury.
Start by removing clutter. Clearing surfaces will give your bathroom a clean slate. With minimal items on display, it’s easy to tidy up each day after your grooming routine, and less visual clutter helps set the tone for a peaceful environment.
This is especially important in small bathrooms, where you are short on counter space and square footage. Hiding all your beauty and wellness items will create a sense of calm in your bathroom.
Here are some simple storage ideas that will make a big difference:
Simple bath caddy
Top shelves with storage bins
Beautifully designed baskets
Smaller plastic bins inside drawers to organize loose products
Tray to organize essential items
Matching containers to tuck items away
Bathroom mirror with built-in hidden storage
Suction shower bathroom wall storage to organize shower items
Hair station near mirror with hair dryer holder
Sink design with under-sink storage
A luxurious bathtub or shower is the centerpiece of a home spa bathroom. Consider an upgrade to treat yourself to a spa-like experience every day.
Steam showers can evoke the feeling of a sauna-like atmosphere and can be enclosed with walls to create a steam room. Other shower upgrades to create a peaceful refuge include control panels for water pressure and temperature, built-in benches and niches, waterproof speakers, low thresholds, or a second showerhead.
On a budget, simply updating a showerhead with a massage sprayer, rain showerhead, or high-end panel system can transform your bathing ritual and make it a more relaxing experience.
Freestanding soaker tubs with jets and a handheld sprayer make for a tranquil bath. And these luxurious bathtubs now come in compact sizes for smaller spaces like condominiums and even tiny homes.
Other popular bathtub trends to create an at-home oasis include submerged tubs along with bathing rooms where a tub is enclosed in a shower room.
Or, simply refinishing an old clawfoot tub can breathe new life into a dated bath. Talk to a bathroom remodeler in your area about your options.
Spas generally have a soundtrack. If you’ve ever paid a visit, you’ve probably heard everything from gentle harps and pianos to chirping birds and flowing waves. Why not do the same in your home spa bathroom?
Consider installing a bluetooth speaker or a portable option in your spa-like bathroom so you don’t ever risk getting your headphones wet.
To create a spa-like feel, you need to relax all your senses. Once you’ve got the sound down, consider adding candles to appeal to your sense of sight, and aromatherapy for your sense of smell.
With scented candles, you’ll get the calming look of soft, ambient lighting and the relaxing aroma of your choice. Opt for soothing scents like lavender, rose, or chamomile—whether you use a candle or essential oil diffuser.
Lighting can make or break your at-home spa. For example, bright or fluorescent lights can be too harsh, even though they’re great for applying makeup or shaving. Softer, gold-hued lighting can help you unwind, but doesn’t always provide enough illumination when you need it.
To get the best of both worlds, install a mix of lamps and overhead lights or choose bathroom lighting you can dim.
Smart bulbs are a great option because you can change their color and intensity, but they can be as bright as fluorescent if needed. Talk to a local interior lighting design company about the best options for your space.
Relaxation is at your fingertips with the convenience of mobile apps and virtual assistant technology that allow you to control a range of bathroom features. From audio and lighting to the temperature and pressure of your shower water, you should take full advantage of technology in your spa-style bathroom.
Some ideas are more of a splurge than others, but consider installing:
Bluetooth speakers
Dimmable LED-lighting
Circadian smart lighting
Whirlpool tub
Steam shower system
Automated faucets and flushers
Anti-fog system for mirrors
Heated floors
Towel warming bars and drawers
Bidet toilet attachment
Voice-activated showerheads
Waterproof televisions
Even something as simple as a showerhead with different pressure and spray pattern modes can make a big difference.
A tranquil color scheme creates a calming atmosphere for your home spa bathroom. Select earth tones, shades of white, or cool colors, which are all known for setting a peaceful tone.
A calming color scheme of earthy neutrals like taupes and warm grays creates a soothing bathroom—but you don’t have to stay neutral. Warm shades of brown, olive, rose, and terra cotta can also soothe the psyche by evoking the peacefulness of nature.
All-white spaces provide a contemporary feel while adding brightness. With white paints, warm undertones add earthiness and cool hues add tranquility.
Spas also traditionally incorporate shades like blues and greens to provide a feeling of serenity. To mimic this feeling, select softer shades that feel natural (think: sky blue or silvery sage). Other icy hues like purple can make you feel at peace while adding more personality.
Add organic-inspired decor made from materials like wood, stone, and metal, to create a spa-like bathroom with style.
Warm woods are soothing. This organic material can offset the coldness of an all-white space.
Wood elements you can add to your spa-like bathroom include:
A teak shower bench
Custom wood cabinets
Wood accents like decorative bowls or towel rods
Wood-inspired porcelain tile
The latter has the look of wood, but isn’t as susceptible to water and moisture damage.
Most bathrooms aren’t short on metal accents—from plumbing fixtures and cabinet pulls to mirror frames, soap dispensers, and light fixtures. The type of metal can dramatically change the space, even if you’re just updating your hardware.
Consider using the following metal themes in your home spa bathroom:
Gold for a glitzy, luxurious feel
Chrome for a sleek, modern look
Brass for vintage vibes
Wrought iron for a rustic feeling
Stone adds a natural and luxurious feel to the bath. You can incorporate it through major renovations or by adding a few simple decorative accents.
Here are some ways to use stone in your spa-style bathroom:
Marble with unique veining to add drama and opulence
River rock bath mat to play with texture
Stonework backsplash with beautiful striations
Stone sink for a calming but luxurious feel
Even if you don’t have a big budget, a few high-end accents can transform your bathroom into a luxury spa. It’s important to invest in quality accessories for the finishing touches, like:
High-end linens
Marble soap dispensers
Decorative, quilted leather trays
Crystal storage jars
Gold toilet brush holders, towel stands, or garbage bins
Himalayan salt lamps
Whatever you choose, the accessories should play well together. It should look intentionally luxe. A bunch of random items made from opulent materials can actually downgrade the look.
Rugs can add literal and emotional warmth to your space. You can go two routes—choose an absorbent and fluffy synthetic fabric that feels soft on the feet or choose a natural fabric that brings in organic texture.
The former plays with your sense of touch, soothing your toes and keeping them warm (as opposed to feet on cold tile). The latter instills a calming sense of nature. Cotton, bamboo, teak, or microfiber are some of the best rug materials for bathrooms.
Art can really impact your emotions. That’s what makes it so great. This comes in handy when you’re creating a home spa bathroom because you can use art to foster feelings of relaxation and tie in accent colors.
There are a lot of options, but some of the best have:
Abstract, organic shapes with calming earthy tones
Watercolor landscapes
Nature or beach scenes
Photos of water, plants, stones, and other natural elements
Images of tranquility gardens
You may not be able to bring your spa outside, but you can bring the relaxing elements of nature inside. Aloe vera and pothos are beginner-friendly and love the humidity of a steamy bathroom.
Other awesome bathroom plants include:
Majesty palms
Pilea peperomioides
Philodendron micans
Lucky bamboo
Monstera Deliciosa
Air plant
Sword fern
Snake plant
Spider plant
Orchids
If you need help creating a spa bathroom, contact a bathroom design company in your area.