These days, homeowners are looking for ways to bring elements of the spa into the home. Life is fast-paced, there are more stresses than ever before, and there just always isn’t time to head to the nearest spa. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive to create an at-home spa. Here are a few factors that you’ll need to consider to make every day a spa day.
1. Choose the Right Space
The first detail you’ll need to consider is the space you have available. An at-home spa should provide privacy. The bathroom should also be equipped with a tub or large walk-in shower. If your home has more than one bathroom, then pick the bath that will best meet your needs. What’s more, don’t forget to plan around upgrades. For example, let’s say you plan to add a steam shower: Not only will the bath need the space for this new fixture, but it will also be helpful if there is an adjoining closet in an adjacent room or some other convenient yet out-of-the-way space to place the steam generator.
2. Consider Your Color Palette
The color palette is one of the more inexpensive ways to ensure that your bathroom provides a spa-like experience. Typically, the spa experience is meant to evoke a sense of natural beauty, which is why natural color schemes are ideal for an at-home spa. There are many directions you can take to create such a color scheme. It all depends on the precise effect that you want to create. For example:
- Earth tones are popular because they evoke a rustic, woodsy feeling. Mix olive greens, muted blues, browns and other earthy shades to embrace this theme.
- Cool greens are another popular color palette. This color scheme tends to be light and refreshing, ideal if you want a rejuvenating spa experience.
- Blues are reminiscent of water. Use these tones if you’d like the spa experience to remind you of a day at the beach.
3. Which Materials Should You Choose?
If you decide to upgrade flooring or a tile backsplash — both of which are inexpensive ways to enhance the room’s ambience — then the material choices should be based in large part on the selected color palette. If you want earth tones, for example, then faux stone tiling might be the perfect way to enhance that natural appeal. In a spa bath done in greens, vinyl flooring that mimics bamboo or another light, fine-grained wood is ideal. Similarly, if you are creating a beachy blue spa bath, then you may want to accessorize with floors or backsplashes in coordinating blues or in sandy shades.
4. Think About Lighting
Lighting is another essential element in the spa experience. Of course, you’ll need enough light to see, but harsh lighting takes away from the mood that you are creating.
Traditionally, spas are dimly lit because dimmer lighting is much more relaxing. There is a conundrum, however. When it comes to doing makeup, styling hair or attending to the myriad other tasks that you need to accomplish each morning, bright lighting is helpful. So, what is the solution?
For most, this means installing LED lighting or replacing existing bulbs with LED bulbs. This type of lighting tends to produce a softer, more diffused light compared to fluorescent. Another great option is to install a dimmer switch. This is an easy and inexpensive way to get complete control over the room’s lighting.
5. Update Your Sink
Another smart technique to add to the sense of luxury within your spa is to
upgrade the bathroom sink. Consider a bowl sink or a trough-style sink. Both options are versatile enough for daily use and they’re stylish — guaranteed to add the ambience that your bathroom needs to complete the spa experience. Best of all, the investment for this project is minimal — around $100 or $200 to purchase a vessel sink. Plus, the project can be completed over a weekend.
6. Add All the Extras
Part of what makes a spa so luxurious are all the extras. This means thick, fluffy towels, all the toiletries you could possibly need, and more. When it comes to decorating, here are some accessories that you may want to add:
- With a few candles, you can enjoy the warm feeling of candlelight to your spa along with a soothing scent.
- Oil diffusers or other aromatherapy products can help you to relax or wake up, depending on the scents you choose.
- Add natural touches with plants. A potted plant or two will work if you have a window for them. Otherwise, consider decorating with sprigs of eucalyptus or other fresh-smelling foliage.
- You should also think about themed decor. For example, place a bowl of river stones on the counter in an earthy spa bath or decorate with seashells in a beach-themed spa.
7. Upgrade With New Fixtures
Finally, if you are looking for a little more out of your spa bath, consider
upgrading the fixtures. This could be as basic as adding a massaging showerhead or massaging jet panel to your shower; or as complex as adding a steam shower to the space. Steam showers, in particular, are an excellent option. Because, unlike a spa
bathtub with jets or another, more complex fixture, extensive plumbing upgrades generally aren’t required. This means you can complete the installation for as little as $1,000 to $2,000 — a small investment to make when compared to repeat purchases of day passes to your local spa.
As you can see, a spa bathroom doesn’t mean spending thousands of dollars on renovations and upgrades. Simple changes to existing fixtures and the room’s color scheme are enough to give you that spa-like experience without the expense. Even if you choose to splurge on a steam shower, the cost is not as large as you might think! Be sure to browse Modern Bathroom’s unbeatable and affordable products to help you create the perfect spa for your home.