Bring A Spa Vibe To Your Bathroom Reno With These Tips
What is the secret to creating a pampering space?
Spas seem to have cracked the code, so it’s not hard to to see why homeowners want to bottle a little of that magic for their own bathrooms. From luxury features like wet rooms to small finishing touches like plush towels, every detail helps create a serene, spa-like feel at home.
Greenery
Designer Ashley Montgomery creates a zen vibe in her parent’s Vero Beach home with a plant placed in a wicker basket, and displaying fresh flowers in a vase. Not only do plants help to purify the air and thrive in the moist environments in bathrooms, but they incorporate nature into the space.
Bespoke Tilework
Early spa enthusiasts like Romans took mosaic tile art to new heights, creating elaborate floor and wall mosaics in their baths. In this Halifax condo by Jonathan Legate a shimmering tile installation mimics a waterfall and defines the principal ensuite, which has a curbless shower zone and is accessible to the client’s daughter, who uses a wheelchair.
Sexy Lighting
Spa’s typically employ soft illumination from multiple, warm light sources, such as wall sconces, dimmable vanity lights, or candles, for a relaxing ambiance. In this luxe L.A. home by Muskoka Living designer Cory DeFrancisco, the ensuite bathroom’s refined details include statement lighting in the form of multi-globe pendants.
Hammam Towels
Whether you favour the super-thirsty, traditional Turkish hammam-style towels trimmed in fringe, or thick white towels and robes, bath linens play a huge role in enhancing comfort. In the principal ensuite in Rosie Daykin’s Vancouver bungalow, hammam towels are a quiet foil to a joyous floral wallpaper and marble tiles. For an added touch of luxury, consider a towel warmer that keeps towels prepped post shower.
Sleek Storage
Spas famously have a clean, minimalist aura, so declutter and organize your bathroom regularly. Remove unnecessary items from counters, stash bottles in cabinets, drawers, or baskets and use matching dispensers for soap and lotions to create a cohesive, organized look. This bathroom’s Calacatta Viola marble is kept mostly bare, with open shelving for decorative display. Generous, deep drawers in the floating vanity have plenty of room for hair accessories, grooming products and fresh linens.
Wet Rooms
Create different zones for relaxation. In this West Coast bathroom, an industrial, steel and glass enclosure defines the bathing area, and separates the tub and shower from the trough sink. Steel internal partitions or doors establish a seamless transition between the spaces, allowing light to flow through the bathroom, giving the impression of more space.
Double Showers
Make room for two with an oversized shower stall. In this Laurentian chalet in Quebec, a lower-level spa includes a walk-in double shower designed to relax sore muscles after a day on the slopes. Make the shower even more spa-like by hanging a bunch of eucalyptus that emits fragrance when activated by the shower’s steam, or use essential oils in a diffuser. And don’t forget safety: a nonslip mosaic tile is used in the shower area for better grip while a large-format stone tile is used in other parts of the bathroom.
Saunas
For many, the ultimate spa experience is sweating it out in a sauna, post-massage (the homeowners of this chalet like to roll in the snow between sauna sessions). In this chalet, a classic Scandinavian sauna is updated by a modern glass door.
Elevated Fixtures
The soft spray of a rainfall showerhead delivers a luxurious experience. In designer Jonathan Legate’s ensuite wet room in Chester, N.S., he chose old-school satin brass plumbing fixtures, including old school hand sprays on the tub, for a nostalgic feel. To make it even more luxurious, install heated floors for comfort.
Statement Marble
Marble adds a luxurious spa-like feel to a bathroom whether the style is traditional, or contemporary. The principal ensuite shower is clad in Calacatta marble and the custom steel and glass doors act as a frame for the shower’s dramatic veining.
Wood
Incorporating natural textures like wood stools, teak bath mats, and stone accessories set a soothing tone. In this Maui bathroom, the wood floor, door and ceiling gives an enveloping feel. And calm the senses by streamlining the colour palette with soft neutral colours (white, black, muted green). Use a functional accessory like a wood bath tray for candles, or drinks.
Makeup Tables
Creating pampering spaces is key to a spa-like space. Wallpaper applied to the cabinets creates a one-of-a-kind garden effect in the principal ensuite. In this bathroom by Ali Budd, she carved out a makeup area beside the window, to make use of the natural light.
