Escape to Your Private Spa!

Whether you're a bath or a shower person, the smallest room in the house is sometimes the best place to escape to for a moment of calm relaxation.

If your bathroom doesn't yet feel quite like a spa, read on for 7 quick and easy ways to help you transform it. We promise, it will feel like the your own private sanctuary in no time!

Image: Smith Ogden Interior Design

1. Clear the Clutter & Collate the Pretty

It's virtually impossible to relax amidst a cluttered space but there's not always as much storage in our bathrooms as we'd like. Baskets are a good way to tidy toiletries and hide away kids' bath toys.

Some toiletries, like your favourite bath oils and bubbles, are too pretty to hide away and a tray is an elegant way collate to them and create a spa-like feel. You can find a great selection of storage baskets and trays in places like IKEA and The Range but TK Maxx (or its sister store, Homesense) is usually our first port of call.

Image: Dunelm

Image: Effibeauty.com

2. Zen Lighting & Scented Candles

Dimming the lights instantly instils a calmer mood but no spa is complete without the ambience and aroma created by scented candles. The power of scent is sometimes underrated but, as soon as the heady fragrances of calming lavender or rejuvenating jasmine fill the air, your senses will be stimulated and you will feel the impact.

If you're not discovered Jo Malone's Emotions range at Zara, you're in for a treat. With scents that fill the room in the way only expensive candles seem to, at £16, they are a fraction of the cost of the price of the traditional Jo Malone candles.

Image: Zara.com

3. Add a Bath Tray

A bath tray (or caddy) is a lovely addition to your bathroom. Designed to sit across your bath, it's an ideal place to position a few pretty touches, such as a trailing plant and a scented candle. There's usually a specific area to keep all your bath time essentials within arm's reach: your book or Ipad, soap..a glass of wine! All you need to do, is lie back and relax. Bliss!

Image: dobbies.com

4. Warming Textures

Bathrooms feel much more inviting when you add tactile textures to warm up the cold, hard surfaces. Bringing in some natural materials, such as baskets or wooden elements, is a great way to do this.. A little wooden stool is always a good idea if you have room - a perfect place to perch a cuppa (or that glass of wine!) or a few, neatly-folded, fluffy towels.

Bath mats can be as chic as they are useful and some of them resemble stylish rugs - a fab way to bring a bit of luxury and character. Another option is a slatted wooden bath mat to create a zen-like feel.

Image: Weaver Green

5. Eucalyptus Shower

Hanging eucalyptus in your shower transforms your daily shower into a spa-like experience. It looks good and the steam of the shower releases the essential oils in the eucalyptus and it smells divine. It is said to bring with it numerous health benefits including stress reduction, pain relief and, of course, it's known for helping to treat sinus congestion and respiratory health. It's best to tie a bunch of eucalyptus (either fresh or dried) with string and hang it over your shower head. Don't position it directly under the water, you don't want it to get soggy.

A word of warming: please be extra careful if you have dogs or cats and make sure they don't have any access to the eucalyptus as it's extremely toxic for them to ingest.

Image: Unsplash

6. Plants & Flowers

Image: Leafenvy.co.uk

In addition to eucalyptus, plants and flowers can help convert your bathroom into your personal oasis. A vase of flowers helps to soften the colder surfaces in the bathroom and plants bring life and warmth. And, if you're not green-fingered, don't worry, the bathroom, with its higher humidity, is a great environment to help your plants thrive. It's worth a little research to see which plants will suit your bathroom most - eg Bamboo is low-maintenance and is a great plant for low-light spaces. The Heart Leaf Philodendron is a lovely option as it's a trailing plant that grows best in high humidity and it's easy to care for.

7. Set the Mood

So, you've got the lighting dimmed, the scented-candles lit and the bubble bath is ready for you. All you need now is some soothing music to help set the mood....and don't forget to lock the door, switch off your phone and RELAX!

If you feel your bathroom needs more than a few tweaks before it feels like your personal sanctuary, we can help! We absolutely love working on bathroom projects and, as well as tons of ideas, we have lots of trade accounts that which may save you some money too.

Email hello@sointeriordesign.co.uk to book a FREE consultation.

Image: Interiors Yard