What is it about a bathtub that makes us gravitate to it at the
end of a long day? Just the idea of a long, leisurely soak in a
room filled with candles and music can keep me going through hours
of strenuous travel and meetings. I remember when I was researching
my book,
”
Bathrooms,
”
I came across the startling statistic that most women use the
tub for relaxing rather than ablutions.
What is it about a bathtub that makes us gravitate to it at the end of a long day? Just the idea of a long, leisurely soak in a room filled with candles and music can keep me going through hours of strenuous travel and meetings. I remember when I was researching my book, “Bathrooms,” I came across the startling statistic that most women use the tub for relaxing rather than ablutions.
Bathrooms can, and should, be much more than utilitarian necessities. Well-organized and creatively designed, a bathroom becomes a very special refuge, a sensual retreat from the stresses of everyday life, your own personal spa.
To soak in the tub with a much anticipated paperback novel is my idea of heaven. And then to know that everything you need to comfort and soothe is well within reach makes the difference between just a serviceable bathroom and a bath that is a spa haven.
No matter what the size of your bathroom – and I know from experience that they come in all sizes and shapes (in our last home, our master bath was perfectly fine and well-appointed, but it was very small) – we can all create a bathroom that captures that spa feeling and is delightful to all of our senses, a calming refuge from the outside world.
Here’s how to create a spa feeling within your home, to turn your bathroom into a haven no matter what the size:
nCleanliness is next to goddessness. I don’t mean personal cleanliness here; I am talking about in the bathroom. It’s hard to feel like a goddess (or god) in your personal spa if it is not kept spic-and-span. Keep a bottle of tub/shower cleaner handy and use it often, preferably before your time to unwind. With so many products on the market to help – disposable bleach wipes, cleaning brushes and disinfectant sprays – it’s easy to do a once-a-day wipe to keep it sparkling and ready.
nLower the lights. Avoid harsh overhead or task-style lighting when you’re trying to unwind in the tub. Dim the lights or light a candle. If you need a reading light as I do, plan for a softer, sconce-style wall light or a directed spot light just where you need it.
nAdd a fragrance. Whether you light a scented candle, apply aromatherapy massage oils or add a fragrant oil or salt to your bath, let a delightful scent help you in your quest to unwind and relax. Lavender, citrus, vanilla, water lily, musk, sandalwood, cedar or cinnamon – discover how these aromas can comfort and soothe and add to your feelings of well being.
nGo for the texture. In the tub I love rough texture – loofah, pumice, bristle – but outside the bath I love fluff. Stacks of soft, fluffy towels, a heavy, cotton terry robe, (hung near the radiator for extra warmth!) fuzzy slippers, an absorbent head wrap, or a terry-covered pillow to rest my head against the tub. nKeep all of these things nearby to keep the post-bath shivers to a minimum and make you feel enveloped and warm all night long.
nKeep a beverage handy. For me, a cup of tea is a bathing necessity – chamomile, mint, hibiscus or a fruity green tea – so I keep an electric kettle and an assortment of teas conveniently located next to the bathroom. Others prefer something chilly after a warm bath. In either case, don’t forget to bring your favorite beverage into the bathroom for the long soak or shower.
nKeep it organized. Just as I could never unwind in a bathroom that was less than clean, nor could I relax in one full of clutter or extraneous product. Make sure your bathroom contains adequate storage, even if it means just adding a shelf and containing stuff in baskets. If you have the room in your bathroom, add an armoire for storage of towels and products. If you don’t have the space, go vertical: add shelves to the ceiling, utilize the wall behind the toilet, skirt a sink and tuck baskets with your things underneath. If all else fails, roll your towels and stash them in a basket left on the floor beside the tub. However you store it, make it attractive and keep it organized and neat.
nMake your bathroom appealing to all five senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste) and you’ll be creating a room that is a pleasure for retreat. Clean, well-organized and neat satisfies me visually, music or the sound of running water, a delicious tea, a mix of interesting textures for the touch and fragrant oils and candles turn my bath into my own personal spa. I hope you feel inspired to do the same.
