Many thanks to Evelyn Long for her article, Embrace Self-Care and Turn Your Bathroom Into a Spa Retreat. Be sure to read Evelyn’s bio at the bottom.
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You can get the relaxing vibes of Iceland’s Blue Lagoon or Switzerland’s Bürgenstock Resort at home. Incorporate lush nature and calming interior design into any bathroom to make it the most luxurious spa. Experiment with any of these bathroom additions to embrace self-care in every corner.
1. Next Level Showerhead
A showerhead feels purely practical, but it can have some pizzazz. Install a Himalayan salt lamp version that infuses the particles with the water to provide a purifying effect. The pink glow is also perfect for creating a soothing setting. You get the benefits of a mineral bath and the light simultaneously.
Some showerheads have color-changing functions, adding mesmerizing chromotherapy elements to your bathroom spa. If you are attuned to your emotions or chakras, the changing colors add to the sensory experience.
2. Natural Accent Wall
Most people think of wallpaper or tile for accent walls. Choose something more evocative of nature’s most serene aspects. A moss panel will evoke the benefits of biophilic design while adding texture and earthy scents to the bathroom. The greenery will ease your mind, making every shower or bath a tranquil escape for your spa retreat.
You could also add a jellyfish tank or other aquatic-inspired wall feature. Lights resembling swimming jellyfish can add an otherworldly and dreamy ambience you didn’t know you needed.
3. Aroma Diffuser with Forest-Bathing Scents
Shinrin-yoku is the Japanese art of forest bathing, which encourages people to connect with their bodies and the land while surrounded by nature. These meditations are proven to lower heart rates and improve mental health. Your bathroom may not be in the middle of a thicket of trees, but you can simulate the feeling to get you in the right headspace.
Experiment with smells like cedarwood and hinoki to transport you into a world outside your bathroom. You can take things further by using herbal steam sachets in the shower. Fill a glass jar with them, so they’re easy to throw in the tub basin. It will fill the room with more herbal scents, like rosemary and eucalyptus.
4. Soundproof Meditation Nook
If your bathroom is large enough, consider soundproofing a corner. Put acoustic panels on the wall to reduce echo, and place an acupressure mat or waterproof cushion on the floor. Add a yoga mat that doubles as a piece of art to practice gentle stretching after loosening the muscles in the hot water.
Image Source: Casart Tuscan Spring Yoga Mat
You can meditate in the corner before or after a mindful shower while basking in the residual steam. If you’re feeling fancy, add a white noise machine or singing bowl collection to the nook to have a sound bath whenever you want.
5. Warming Station
Everyone loves the dreamy hug of a warm shower but loathes getting out of the tub to face the cool air. Make your post-shower routine more restorative with a few accessible warming technologies.
Heated toilet seats are an underrated staple, while a mini foot bath will take your spa experience to the next level. You can even store a sauna or weighted blanket in nearby cupboards alongside an eye mask to have a full-body detox.
6. Living Plant Chandelier
Glass chandeliers and candles are signature spa delights, but suspended air plants with dangling vines and flower buds can be equally captivating. These living sculptures thrive in the intense humidity. Experiment with natural colors in flowers and vines and see how they heighten the other visual elements of your bathroom spa retreat.
7. Stargazing Ceiling Projector
Every quality spa should incorporate some technology to make the atmosphere even more transcendent and pleasing. Get creative by displaying constellations in a dimly lit bathroom. Lay on your ergonomic pillow in an essential oil bath while stargazing. Experiment with different light designs, like galaxy prints or soft neons that resemble watercolors.
8. Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
If you prefer in-shower sounds to sound bowls and noise machines, consider a waterproof speaker. You can even find speakers that blend in with your aesthetic, including ones painted like flowers or rocks.
During your next self-care Sunday, put on some birdsong or rain sounds. If you want something more musical, lo-fi hip-hop is one of the most versatile soundscapes you can incorporate into a delightful space.
9. Monochromatic Color and Unexpected Texture
Image Source: Casart Raw Silk Sage Decor
A few well-placed plants can make the neutral colors of a bathroom spa pop, but you can also add even more personality with texture. The warm and calming aesthetic of travertine paired with the gentle ridges of vibrant wood would help anyone take a moment for themselves.
You can also use an open-storage method to show off your plush, neatly rolled and folded towels. The texture is subtle, but it can make a huge difference against a painted white wall.
10. Drink Inspired Facial Station
A spa retreat is only complete with the most luxurious skincare. Everyone wants a coffee or drink bar in their kitchen to feel like their own personal barista. You can have that same feeling in your bathroom spa with a drink-inspired facial station.
The smells evoke the flavors of your favorite drinks, from a latte to a piña colada. Deck out a rolling cart or floating shelf with these essential exfoliating and restorative materials, like a coffee ground body scrub or coconut oil moisturizer. The all-natural ingredients will make you feel even better.
The current trend is fermented skincare, popularized by Korean brands. If you are a kombucha fan, you can make an affordable alternative by having a section devoted to botanical extracts, clay masks and kombucha to massage your face. It is a probiotic-rich treatment that will make you feel brighter.
Spa-Retreat Self-Care Right at Home
You may have to wait before investing in a whole sauna or cold plunge pool, but a little wood accent here and a subtle smell there can do a lot for the body and mind. Gradual incorporations will elevate your bathroom to be an enviable self-care haven. All you need to do is ask yourself what would feel the most appealing to you and start planning your dream, spa-retreat space.
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Additional posts & resources:
- Infuse Your Home with the Beauty of Nature through Biophilic Design
- Getting Outside While Staying In
- How Do You Commune with Nature?
- Add Eclectic Bathroom Design: Bring Some Personality & Fun to Your Space
- Celebrating Summer with American Style All Year Long
Many thanks to Evelyn for her insightful article on how to turn your bathroom into a spa retreat.
About the author:
Evelyn Long is an interior design writer passionate about helping homeowners bring life and personality to their spaces.
She is the Editor-in-Chief of Renovated, where she provides interior design tips and guides.
She also contributes to sites like DecorMatters and National Association of Realtors.
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