10 Expert Tips to Create the Ultimate Bathroom Spa


Imagine stepping into your bathroom and feeling like you’ve entered a tranquil spa—no appointment necessary. Just you, your favorite candle flickering softly on the counter, and the scent of eucalyptus and lavender wrapping around you like a cozy blanket. With a few simple changes (and a little creativity), you can turn your space into a bathroom spa: the kind of place you actually look forward to escaping to at the end of a long day.

Whether you’re renovating the bathroom in your new home in Shreveport, LA, adding a soothing touch with a candle for your apartment in Summerville, SC, or freshening up the vibes in your rental house in Houston, TX, this guide has everything you need to create your perfect bathroom sanctuary.

In this article:
1. Start with the senses
2. Plan a thoughtful layout
3. Change up the fixtures
4. Tune up the fine details
5. Draw inspiration from nature
6. Savor the soothing elements
7. Layer various textures
8. Illuminate your bathroom spa with lighting
9. Enhance comfort with plush fabrics
10. Consider luxurious upgrades

1. Start with the senses

If you want your bathroom to feel like a true escape, you’ve got to start with the senses. “Soft lighting, freshly washed towels, a vibey relaxing playlist, and a scented candle,” says Gabriella Alkhoury, digital marketing specialist at Nantucket Sinks, a boutique sink manufacturer based in Rhode Island. Translation? Your spa experience begins the second you see, smell, and hear calm.

Scent is a game changer, as well. Whether you’re a lavender loyalist or eucalyptus enthusiast, the right smell instantly transports you to spa mode. Barry Dowds, president of Magnitude Builders, a general contractor in the San Francisco, CA area, breaks it down: “Dim the lights, light scented candles or use essential oils, and play soothing music to enhance the ambiance.”

Dowds also recommends keeping the space clutter-free and indulging in quality bath products to complete the…