February 2022

Have you ever walked into a spa and immediately felt relaxed? Even before you’ve gotten a treatment? It’s all about atmosphere. The good news is that you can transform your own bathroom with just a handful of simple changes. While you can’t staff your bathroom with a masseuse or aesthetician, you can easily create an atmosphere that soothes you to your core.

• The spa robe. Do you use a bathrobe? Is it as soft and luxurious as the ones you find at spas? If not, treat yourself to one. It’s an indulgence that can have a big impact on your mood when you’re wearing it.
• Plush towels. Like the robe, spa towels are thick, absorbent, and soft. While good towels can be expensive, chances are you only need a few. And like the robe, they’ll make you feel pampered.
• Smart speaker. Use a wireless smart speaker in your bathroom to play soothing music. Just search “spa music” on Pandora or Spotify. You’ll be amazed at how much music can affect your mood.
• Lighting. Like music, soft lighting can really set the atmosphere. Most bathrooms have bright lights to make it easier to see yourself when you’re getting ready. Tone things down by either adding a small dimmable lamp or candles.
• Scent. If you’re thinking a lot of this comes down to the senses, you’re right. So don’t forget about smell. Consider a small essential oil diffuser to get that calming spa smell.
• Plants. Spas inherently have a natural, earthy feel. Adding plants that do well in low-light, moist settings can help create that. Spider plant or Boston fern are good choices.
• Reduce clutter. Chances are, you’ve never walked into a spa that’s cluttered. Clutter can really leave you feeling unsettled. Try putting toiletries away after using them. If you have storage challenges, pick up some decorative baskets. They make it easy to contain small items while keeping them accessible.
• Keep it tidy. In the same way that reducing clutter is important, no one would go to a dirty spa. Take time to regularly clean your bathroom. Even if you add music, soft lighting, plants, etc., a dirty bathroom will make it hard to imagine you’re at a spa.