Amidst our fast-paced, digitally driven daily routines, finding moments of tranquillity to rest and recharge is essential for both our physical and mental well-being. Sadly, the thought of factoring in sufficient ‘you time’ can be easier said than done, especially if you’re constantly juggling family and work life.
But with self-care becoming an increasing priority for people around the world, home improvement trends are increasingly following in the footsteps of hotels and luxury spas alike, with designs centred around escapism and mindfulness rather than efficiency alone.
As a result, the ‘Spathroom’ trend has recently exploded in popularity; reflecting the desire to create a spa-like experience within the comfort of our own homes in order to give us the space we need to look after ourselves.
(Image credit: Diana Light)
Of course, transforming your bathroom into your very own at-home spa might seem like quite the challenge, which is exactly why we’ve created this spa bathroom ideas guide to help you get started.
From small spa bathroom ideas to bathroom spa ideas for the modern home, we’ve outlined a few key spa-style bathroom ideas that you should keep in mind when designing your own private slice of luxury and relaxation.
How to make your bathroom feel like a spa
Ready to get started? Discover our seven essential bathroom spa ideas that you should consider before you begin your transformation:
1. Use luxurious materials
To begin with, the first thing you’ll want to consider with any of your bathroom spa ideas is what sort of material you plan to renovate your bathroom in. After all, if you want to mimic the luxury and comfort of a spa, incorporating high-quality materials into your bathroom design through tiles, hardware, and additional accessories is a must.
For example, good quality natural stone tiles , such as marble and limestone, are an optimum choice for an authentic, relaxing, spa-like bathroom that also captures hints of a more traditional and homely aesthetic.
Best of all, these materials not only look beautiful but also feel luxurious to the touch, giving you a complete bathroom tile makeover that enhances the senses and creates a restorative experience.
Left: Provence Bianco Limestone-effect Porcelain, Right: Ibiza Bianco Marble
Alternatively, if natural stone is not what you’re after, you may want to consider porcelain bathroom tiles, which can achieve the visual effects of natural materials with the practicality and durability that porcelain brings to the table.
Long-lasting and easy to clean, decorative kitkat tiles or travertine-effect tiles, in particular, offer stylish options with a trend-led appeal that will work wonders as a modern tile choice in a spa bathroom.
Left: Veincut Travertino Porcelain, Right: Kitkat Fern Green Porcelain
2. Declutter and create space
Next up, in order to truly create a spa-like area in your home, you’ll need to declutter your bathroom and make space. This is especially the case if you’re searching for small bathroom ideas, as the greater sense of visual space you can make, the easier it will be for you to relax.
To start with, try to reduce any visual clutter within your bathroom as much as possible. Be selective about what you have out on display and remove any unnecessary items from your countertops by storing them away in cabinets, baskets, or caddies.
Left: Marble-effect Porcelain Tiles, Right: (Image credit unsplash)
You can take this concept one step further by investing in floating vanities, alcove shelving, or hidden storage solutions to keep your daily essentials neatly organised and out of sight but also close at hand for when you need them.
A clean, uncluttered space will provide an instant sense of calm and order, helping you to capture that soothing ambience that is a core part of any spa experience.
3. Choose a soothing colour palette
The next step to consider for your spa-style bathroom ideas should focus on selecting a soothing colour palette that is crucial in promoting a calming, serene setting within the space.
Opting for more muted, soothing colours that are present in nature are ideal for forming a calm and collected feel. For example, neutral, earthy tones such as soft beiges or browns will create a grounding feel that forms an underlying reconnection to nature, while blues, green, and grey tiles represent the land, sea, and sky, evoking more of an invigorating experience.
These colours reference natural elements and provide a soothing, serene backdrop that is ideal for a relaxing bathroom space.
Left: Onyx Blue Polished Porcelain, Right: Valentina Matcha Green Metros
A timeless choice for modern spa bathroom ideas is the classic clean white decor aesthetic. However, it’s important to prevent your space from feeling cold or clinical by introducing accents of warmth through gold or copper brassware or adding touches of wood or rattan through accessories.
Finally, if bolder, darker colours are more your style, be sure to keep the overall colour scheme completely cohesive within the space to maintain a cocooning, immersive atmosphere.
4. Consider the lighting
Finding the right lighting is crucial in setting the appropriate mood for a relaxing space in both large and small bathroom ideas yet is often overlooked in many bathroom renovations.
Natural daylight offers an abundance of wellness benefits and is important to welcome indoors as much as possible throughout your home. However, if your bathroom lacks sufficient windows, you should instead opt for gentle, warm artificial lighting installed with dimmer switches to allow you to fully control the ambience.
To keep your bathroom both functional and aesthetic, incorporate task lighting near mirrors for practicality, and include ambient lighting such as sconces, pendant lights, or LED strips to create a soft and inviting glow.
5. Incorporate nature
While we’ve already touched on bringing nature into your bathroom spa through the use of natural colours, plenty of modern spa bathroom ideas also favour the use of physical natural materials within the design as well.
Bringing nature into your spaces enhances the effects of wellness and relaxation you experience in your home in almost every respect, and many spa-style bathroom ideas incorporate the addition of foliage and plants that thrive in high-humidity environments, such as snake plants, peace lilies, or ferns.
Eucalyptus is a wonderful plant to use within a bathroom, holding aromatherapeutic properties within its fragrance which can reduce stress, relieve inflammation, and stimulate energy.
Try hanging a bunch of eucalyptus in the shower as a great way to experience these benefits. The steam from the hot water releases the oils from the foliage making the scent easier to breathe in, producing an immediate sense of calm as part of your daily routine.
Left: Ibizia Bianco Honed Tiles, Right: Babylon Olive Tiles
6. Create a multi-sensory space
Needless to say, appealing to all the senses is key to creating a relaxing at-home spa experience that you can fully immerse yourself in, and it’s far easier to do this than you might initially expect.
Here are some quick bathroom makeover tips featured in some of the most popular modern spa bathroom ideas for engaging each sense to enhance your relaxation experience:
- Sight: Limit visual clutter and use natural materials and plants that promote relaxation.
- Sound: Consider installing a high-quality sound system or a humidity-resistant speaker to play soothing music or nature sounds to unwind while enjoying a bath.
- Touch: Invest in good quality, tactile materials in your space, from tile combinations and hardware finishes, to soft, fluffy towels for ultimate comfort.
- Smell: Use essential oil diffusers or scented candles with calming fragrances such as lavender, eucalyptus, or chamomile.
- Taste: Have a selection of herbal teas or infused water available to enjoy during your spa time to keep hydrated and enjoy their physical health benefits.
The Pavlou Home has created the ultimate calming experience within her ensuite bathroom. Discover how she achieved this beautiful spa-inspired space by reading her project case study.
7. Pamper yourself
Finally, once your at-home spa is complete and you’re ready to add the finishing touches, it’s important to remember that less is often more. However, this doesn’t mean you should keep it too stark. It's still important to ensure your home a place that works to meet your preferences, where you can fully disconnect, relax, meditate, or simply unwind.
Whether you choose to incorporate a selection of your favourite books or magazines, or a bath caddy displaying your collection of bath products, salts and essential oils, these small details can make a big difference in how you feel when using your bathroom.
(Image credit: Maddi Bazzocco)
The benefits of an at-home spa bathroom
Even with the simplest bathroom decorating ideas, making the most of your home’s ‘Spathroom’ potential can bring numerous benefits to your mental and physical well-being.
Creating a space where you can switch off and disconnect from daily worries and to-do lists will significantly reduce stress and anxiety by restoring mental balance – not to mention the improved convenience and financial benefits it offers if you’re someone who regularly visits costly spas and wellness destinations to unwind.
As well as offering personal benefits, investing time and money in luxury home improvements can increase your property value, and a well-designed, spa bathroom could add appeal to buyers through the addition of an extra, attractive, marketable feature.
Transform your bathroom with Stone Superstore
Now that you've read our top spa bathroom ideas and tips, you're ready to start transforming your bathroom into your own personal sanctuary. And if tiling is part of your renovation plan, that’s where we can come in.
Here at Stone Superstore, we offer a wide range of tiling options for you to explore. Browse our selection online, or get in touch today to reach out to one of our tiling experts for bathroom material recommendations.
And if you’re searching for further bathroom makeover ideas, you can learn how to get more from your bathroom by reading our tips on how to choose bathroom tiles, as well as visiting our blog for further design ideas, interior trends and tile advice.
