How To Create The Spa Bathroom Of Your Dreams

You walk in the door after a long day at work. Your shoulders are tense, your back is aching, and you can’t seem to escape the problems of the day. What you really need is a relaxing day at the spa to kick up your feet. The heat from a sauna sweating away all your worries, a soothing facial complete with cool cucumber slices on your eyes.

The unfortunate reality for most of us is that it’s not possible to head to the spa every day after work. But don’t give up all hope just yet. Shift your focus to the next best thing: your bathroom. With a few affordable items, some simple design techniques and a little bit of creativity, you can convert any bathroom into your own personal spa haven.

5 Inexpensive Ways To Turn Your Bathroom Into A Spa

Transforming your bathroom into a spa doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. It’s possible to mimic a spa-like atmosphere at home on a small budget. An extensive remodel of your entire bathroom isn’t necessary, either. Small touches can make a bigger impact than you might think.

1.     Neutral, Earthy Palettes And Textures

The way color affects our moods has been studied for centuries. It turns out colors similar to those you’d find in nature have a calming effect. Earth tones on the cooler side are grounding, comforting and restful. Including soft blues, greens, browns, taupes and whites can really bring a spa bathroom to life.

Textures can also set the tone. Natural textures like bamboo, wood and stone are great for bringing in the feeling of a natural getaway. While you want to enhance natural aspects in your spa bathroom, you probably don’t want to feel like you’re sitting on a forest floor. Don’t be afraid to incorporate glass and metal aspects as well. These are great for mimicking common textures you’ll find at a day spa.

1. Tree Branch Shower Curtain in Taupe: Bed Bath & Beyond ($39.99 – $49.99)
2. Memory Foam Cobblestone Bath Mat: Amazon ($15.99 – $18.99)
3. Roxanne 3 Tier Bamboo Ladder Bookcase: Wayfair ($74.99 – $79)

2.     Greenery

Low-maintenance houseplants are an easy way liven up your spa bathroom, literally. Adding pops of green among a sea of cool browns can further enhance the nature-focused quality of the room. Low-maintenance houseplants also help naturally cleanse the air in your bathroom, removing some harmful airborne chemicals and ensuring your spa bathroom is free of toxins. Plants are a fairly affordable addition and can often be bought in clusters to save even more.

Be sure to use plants that will thrive in a humid environment like one you’d find in a spa bathroom. Some great choices are the peace lily or the philodendron. One option that can double as a useful addition to your homeopathic medicine cabinet is the aloe vera plant. The gel from the plant can be applied topically to help reduce inflammation, heal burns and even clear acne.

1. Set of 2 Aloe Vera Plants: The Home Depot ($19.79)
2. Peace Lily: Amazon ($23.99 – $29.99)
3. Heart Leaf Philodendron Set of 2: Walmart ($2.96)

3.     Music And Lighting

Color isn’t the only thing that affects our moods. According to Audio-Technica.com, listening to music alters brainwave speeds. This produces brain activity that has a therapeutic effect on the mind and body. It even triggers the release of dopamine, a hormone associated with happiness and other positive feelings. Listening to slow, calming music like the kind you’d find in a day spa can induce a meditative state, allowing you to maximize your relaxation. The best part? Most music streaming apps have pre-made playlists so you don’t have to go digging for spa songs to get the vibe you’re looking for. Just press shuffle and lay back and relax.

Now imagine you have your perfect playlist. You lay back, and you’re met with a bright white light seeping in past your eyelids. Either you’ve died and gone to heaven or it’s time to invest in some mood lighting. There are plenty of different options that get the job done. You can opt for the classic string lights or install a dimmer switch. Color changing LED lights are a perfect option for testing how different colors affect the mood of your home spa. If you’re looking to set the mood without having to plug anything in, light some candles. Each of these have inexpensive options that can still make a major difference in the atmosphere of your spa bathroom.

1. Globe String Lights: Amazon ($13.99)
2. LED Color Changing Strip Lights: Amazon ($35.88)
3. White Barn Lavender Vanilla Candle: Bath and Body Works ($14.50 – $24.50)

4.     Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy, meaning treatment by scent, has existed for thousands of years. Scent is one of the many senses our bodies use to evaluate a situation. By using scents that promote stress relief such as lavender, bergamot and eucalyptus, you’ll send the signal to your body that it’s time to unwind. You can hang eucalyptus from the showerhead and let the steam from your bath release the essence of its leaves. You could set a diffuser on the counter and fill it with your favorite essential oils, place rose petals in the bath or light some incense and scented candles. There are endless ways to incorporate aromatherapy in your space.

1. Fresh Shower Eucalyptus: Etsy ($13.99 – $19.99)
2. Essential Oil Diffuser: Amazon ($23.99)
3. Bodha Smokeless Incense: Anthropologie ($32)

5.     Minimalist Decor

Remember those 17 faded tourist-towels you’ve accumulated from every trip to Florida throughout your lifetime? You know the ones. They’re overflowing out of your towel cabinet so the door can barely shut. It’s time to thank them for their service and Marie-Kondo them out of there. Be honest, the trip is really what sparked joy anyway, not the towels.

It’s just as important to subtract things from your spa bathroom as it is to add things. We’re more stressed when our physical space is cluttered. Remove things that distract the eye or make the room feel too messy or energetic. Keep in mind the goal of spa bathroom decor is to create a space ideal for relaxation and minimal distractions. By harnessing the minimalist mindset, you can choose decor that will enhance the spa experience, not disturb it.

1. Ultra Soft Turkish Bath Towels: Amazon ($38.99)
2. Stone/Wooden Amenity Tray: Wayfair ($23.35 – $26.20)
3. Decorative Wall Shelf: Target ($44.99)

Creating a spa atmosphere at home can be done easily and inexpensively. But if you’re looking to take your spa bathroom to the next level, you can always renovate your way to an at-home spa. At the end of the day, what we really love about the spa is the opportunity to step away from our worries for a bit. After all, your responsibilities will still be there for you to tackle tomorrow. Slice some cucumbers, hop in your lavender-scented tub and set an intention only to allow yourself to relax. Can you smell the lavender already? Ahhh, serenity.