You know that relaxing feeling when you walk into a fancy hotel bathroom or spa? Wouldn’t you love to replicate that feeling in your own home? Well, you totally can. Regardless of size or fanciness, any bathroom can be turned into a spa-like atmosphere.
You don’t need to launch a full bathroom renovation project if yours is feeling a bit uninspired. Every day in your bathroom should feel like a spa day, you just need to know how to get started.
Often, we save the nice soap, towels, and thoughtful amenities for our guests. And while I’m all for making the visitors we love feel pampered and appreciated, let’s do that for ourselves too, mmkay?
How to Make Your Bathroom Feel Like a Spa
Clear Your Space
Something you may or may not have noticed about your favorite, picture-perfect spa is that there is no clutter, and counter space items are kept to the bare minimum.
It’s going to be difficult to create a spa-like space in your bathroom with a lot of clutter. I learned from organizing expert Marie Kondo that when there is visible disorder or chaos in your home, your brain absorbs that same energy.
Therefore, the first order of business in making your bathroom feel like a spa take is to clean out your vanity and drawers by tossing expired items and anything you don’t use.
Then, move any excess items from your bathroom counter into any newly found storage space. If you still want to have a few things on your counter, curate pretty essentials like perfumes onto a tray; just be sure not to over crowd it.
Even something as simple as a clean counter will make your bathroom feel more relaxing.
Elevate Your Bath Accessories
Bathtub Caddy
If you have a bathtub, then I highly recommend a bath caddy. A caddy allows you showcase bath essentials like sponges or body wash that would otherwise be on the tub ledge or floor.
The same “less is more” concept is applicable to your bath caddy as your counters. Pick your favorite body wash, add a sea sponge for an organic element, and a candle, and leave it at that.
Add Apothecary Jars
Epsom salts are a must for an at-home spa day, but they usually come in unsightly plastic bags.
Add apothecary jars for salts, bath bombs, and even extra sponges, to turn bathroom products into aesthetically pleasing yet functional spa décor.
Upgrade Your Products
In a perfect world, every product would have beautiful packaging to go with your spa bathroom. Obviously, that’s not the case.
Invest in a few special products that have pretty packaging (but that also provide results). I like to splurge on hand soap and hand lotion with nice packaging and leave them on my counter. Anything with nice packaging doubles as décor.
Here are a few products that deliver on results, and look good:
- Aesop hand soap and lotion
- Davines Oi Shampoo and Oi Conditioner
- Crate & Barrel hand soap and lotion
- JR Watkins body wash
- Grown Alchemist hand soap and hair care
If you really want to take it to the next level, decant your shower items like shampoo, conditioner, and body wash into uniform bottles. There are plenty of different styles you can get on Etsy. (I have yet to do this in our bathroom, but I do have these soap bottles in our kitchen for dish soap and hand soap and I love them.)
Incorporate Wood Accents
Add a wood accent stool, wood shelving, a wooden bath caddy, or a teak bath mat to your bathroom so a spa feel.
The natural element of wood will make your bathroom warmer and more inviting, while also bringing in an earthy element.
Add in Nature’s Elements
Items with organic elements help to literally bring nature into your home.
I’m a big fan of sea sponges, even if it’s just for décor. The neutral tone means they match any bathroom style. Use one to display in your tub, or as mentioned above, throw a few into an apothecary jar for décor (and back stock).
Greenery is a huge element in having your bathroom feel like a spa. For one, plants help to remove pollutants from the air, but they’re also mood boosting and relieve stress.
I’m whatever the opposite of a green thumb is, so I keep things as easy as possible with a scattering of succulents throughout my bathroom.
Utilize Scent
My favorite spas and locations have signature scents. Don’t underestimate the power of smell for a relaxing, spa-like bathroom.
Candles
I love lighting a candle while I’m taking a bath, but candles provide great ambience even when it’s not bath time. However, I always hate when a candle smells good in the store and gives off zero fragrance once lit.
My go-to candles that you can actually smell are:
Essential Oil Diffusers
If you don’t like candles, essential oil diffusers are another great way to inject relaxing scents into your room. Just fill the machine with water, add a few drops of your essential oils, and press the start button. I love Saje Wellness diffusers and essential oils; I have 3 around my house.
Fresh Eucalyptus
Finally, a super easy, affordable, and creative way to add a spa smell into your bathroom is fresh eucalyptus. You can find it at nearly every grocery store (I get mine from Trader Joe’s.)
Tie some string at the bottom of the eucalyptus bunch and tie it to your shower head. The steam from your hot water will help to release the natural essential oils from the plant, creating the ultimate spa experience!
Invest in Quality Linens
Buy a Good Robe
Man, I love a hotel robe. Please, just listen to me and invest in a nice, fluffy robe. It makes getting ready a little extra luxurious, and you won’t have to worry about trying to keep your towel secured.
Use the Nice Towels
Use the nice towels for you, not just for your guests. There, I said it. For years I purchased nice towels for only guests, and in reality – other than my parents – we average zero other visitors per year.
You, on the other hand, probably take a shower in your home every day.
Whenever I splurge on items, I always like to think about the cost per use, or rather, the idea that the value of an item is related to how much use you get out of it.
It’s a better use of money if you buy nice towels and actually use them, instead of having them sit in a closet.
You don’t need to utilize every single one of these ideas to make your bathroom feel like a spa, just find what speaks to you.
Start small and clear clutter, invest in nice towels, and add a plant. You’ll be surprised at how elevated and spa-like your bathroom will feel even with tiny changes.
