Creating The Perfect Bathroom

The perfect bathroom for me would be summed up in one word: COMFORT. Most bathrooms I’ve found are not terribly comfortable, they’re strictly for doing business and than leaving the room. My bathroom on the other hand I tried to turn into a space that I want to hang out and chill in. It has seating, books, casual furniture that you would normally find in a living room and not a bathroom. It even has a regular table lamp that provides the most lovely light for soaking in the tub and reading.

(This is a contributed post, for more information about my compensation please read my disclosure policy)

A bathroom, while most of the time is purely functional, can be something luxurious too. Many people still assume that you need to spend a lot of cash to create a bathroom that is both beautiful and functional. But actually, there are some great DIY options too. In fact, you can create an opulent bathroom with a smaller budget and some time. For example, a large vanity can be inexpensive but provide a powerful touch to the bathroom aesthetics and organization.

Here are some tips to help you turn your bathroom into something a bit more special. 

Clutter

One thing you won’t see in a magazine spread or an actual spa is clutter all over the bathroom. If you have young children or more than just you in the house, then this is going to be a bit tricky. Clutter is one of the main stressors for most people, and we don’t notice how much it bothers us until it’s gone. 

Creating storage space in your bathroom might be tricky, but it isn’t impossible. You can get a range of triangular corner units, under sink storage, and slim shelving too. You might need to create custom shelving if you have a particularly tricky bathroom shape. 

A simple tip for making the room look tidier, in general, is to use matching storage jars, pots, and baskets. It looks cohesive, and all serve a purpose. 

Color

The color of your bathroom will make a big difference in how relaxing it is for you. Most often, when you are walking in the woods or relaxing at a restaurant, the walls and decor will be nature-inspired. Shades of green, greys, natural stones, and brown give an organic feeling. You can combine some of these colors with white if your bathroom is on the smaller side. 

If you have a completely tiled bathroom, then you can experiment with tile stickers. They give you a non-permanent option and some room to play around until you are happy. 

Lighting

Strip lighting isn’t relaxing or flattering. So if you are going for the ultimate relaxing bathroom, then you might want to consider dimmer lights. Or, light bulbs with a warmer tone. If changing the electrics to a dimmer isn’t an option, then look into lampshades or bulb types that can give you the calming tones you are looking for. 

Nature

As mentioned above, nature-inspired colors are naturally pretty relaxing. So it makes sense that adding wooden panels further aids that calming atmosphere. Many people aren’t keen on installing wooden features into a damp space. 

So, faux wood panels can give the same look and style, without running the risk of water damage. 

Many plants can thrive in a bathroom environment too. Here are a few plants that you can consider adding to your bathroom:

• Aloe Vera
• Bamboo
• Begonia
• Cast-Iron Plant
• Ferns

These plants can deal with the fluctuation in temperature and the damp air too. 

Tub

If you have the space for a small tub, then it is an addition you’ll love for the duration of the time you have it. Bath manufacturers are now aware of the challenges that come with smaller bathrooms and have created lines of deeper tubs that aren’t as long. So while you might not be able to lay down totally flat in the bath, you can still get a good soak. If this sounds like something you’d like to explore further, you should check out Japanese style tubs. 

They are designed for a neck down soak, but typically have seats too. To increase the luxury and calm in your bath, you should consider something like a water filter. This will remove all of the chemicals and additions to the water typically and give you a better quality of water. Check out these Berkey test results to see just how much purer your bathwater could be.

Shower Head

If you really don’t have the room for a bath, then looking into a massage shower head is going to revolutionize your shower time. The great thing about changing a shower head is that it doesn’t take up extra room, isn’t challenging to do and is really inexpensive too. If you have to make a decision between getting a bath fitted and upgrading your shower – think about how often you will use them both, and the cost associated with them Showers can feel luxurious too. 

Towels

A smaller but very luxurious touch to any bathroom is a heated towel warmer. While many people pop their towel on the designer bathroom radiators, this can cause problems from time to time. Instead, consider getting a dedicated towel heating unit. You can have a towel warming drawer installed, or you might decide to purchase a stand-alone electric one. Towel warming bars aren’t difficult to install and will keep that cost warm post-bath feeling going. 

Scent

Our sense of smell is one of the strongest senses we have. And when you use that and create a specific medley of scents in your bathroom, you up the relaxation ten-fold. There are a few fragrances that we naturally relax when we smell them 

• Lavender
• Jasmine
• Rose

And we typically feel more alert and awake with:

• Peppermint
• Lemon
• Lime

Instead of choosing candles, consider something like a reed diffuser instead. They don’t run the risk of falling or being left alight. The other great perk to reed diffusers is that you will be able to enjoy whichever scent you have chosen every time you use the bathroom. 

Music

The final touch that you can add to your bathroom that is inexpensive but can give you a much more enjoyable experience is a wall-mounted Bluetooth speaker. You can listen to your favorite podcast, some relaxing music, or put on some upbeat music to clean the bathroom. Music can make your bathroom experience even more relaxing and fun. 

Before you embark on any DIY, think about what you want out of your bathroom. Do you want long soaks in the bath listening to classical music? Or do you want to have a relaxing shower and then grab a warm towel when you get out? Those questions will help you with your next steps. 

(This is a contributed post, for more information about my compensation please read my disclosure policy)