I didn’t realise it at the time, but something clicked inside my brain the very first time I stepped foot into that hotel bathroom in Bali. Ah yes, the famous one. The one with the rain showerhead that cascades down from above while you sit among river rocks and bamboo accents, taking you from your average day to meditation studio in seconds.
I remember standing in that shower thinking “why doesn’ bathroom feel as amazing at home?” Fast forward a few months. You’ll notice your life dramatically improves once you spend a week living out of a suitcase in Southeast Asia, but I digress. In addition to buying coconut scrolls in bulk and adopting a cruelty-free skincare routine, I was back home “sprucing up” my bathroom.
I wanted the calming comforts of that bathroom without having to renovate my entire house or spend thousands of dollars. Spoiler alert: fancy spa vibes aren’t always about spending money you don’t have.
Soap mood lighting isn’t necessarily about quartz countertops and gold fixtures (though they are great if you happen to have the bank account to support those decisions).
It’s also about curating an environment that makes you pause – even if it’starting running down the bat show on your soul. To get started, I experimented with colour. Your bathroom colour palette sets the tone for the rest of your bathroom decor.
My previous bathroom was blah, builder-grade beige. You know it: that dreadful shade that makes you feel like you’re getting ready for open heart surgery at the hospital. I painted dozens of colour swatches over the course of many months, showing up to friends houses at all hours of the day to cheque lighting.
Ultimately, I landed on a muted sage green, reminiscent of dry eucalyptus leaves. And you know what? It worked.
Simply stepping foot in my bathroom each morning was rejuvenating. Tip: if you ever want to know how to pick spa-inspired colours, consider your bathroom lighting. That dreamy slate I fell in love with online?
Made my windowless bathroom look like a dingy basement. Cool-toned colours are gorgeous, but if you don’t get any natural sunlight in your bathroom they can wash you out. Stick to warm neutral colours if you’re stuck with fluorescent lighting.
Think mushrooms, creamier whites, warm clay, etc. Natural textures were next on my list. Again, I had to get creative spending on a limited budget.
I found a teak shower bench online that cost me more money than I’d care to admit on a single piece of furniture (more than my entire grocery bill for the week!). So instead I found a bamboo stool at a discount store, painted it with marine grade sealer. It’s held up perfectly for three years now.
Add in a couple jute bath towels (these shed like CRAZY for the first month, fair warning), some wooden shelving/storage boxes, and select plants. Okay, speaking of plants. Let me tell you about the many plants I killed.
In an attempt to bring some jungle-inspired vibes to my bathroom, I murdered at least three ferns convincing myself they would thrive in the humidity. Girl, let me tell you. They can’stay wet ALL the time.
Now I stick to low-maintenance snaking plants and pothos. It seems as though these will actually survive regardless of light or water. Countertops and fixtures may seem like they determine the overall vibe of your bathroom.
But you don’ replace everything at once. Start small. I replaced my shower head first.
Swapping out my typical spray shower head for a rainfall style shower head for around £40 changed my shower game forever. The water pressure may not feel as strong, but having the feeling of warm water gently falling onto your shoulders rather than blasting at you like bullets will make you understand why I spent so much time obsessing over this one tiny change. After that, I replaced my sink tap.
Because I couldn’ afford to replace my whole sink fixture, I opted to just swap out the tap. Going from silver to brushed brass instantly made it look like I actual spent time designing my vanity instead of buying something at the big box store. Lastly, you NEED to rethink your bathroom lighting.
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Trust me, I was guilty of this too. Yeah, those groovy bulbs that line your bathroom mirror may seem cool, but they create the worst shadows on your face. Now I layer different types of lighting: soft white overhead lighting (I use dimmable LED lights), task lighting for makeup/application (I love wall mounted sconces), and atmospheric lighting for those long, boozy baths.
Ok yes, candles are actually a thing. I too was skeptical. Another “Instagram cheating?” I thought.
But there’s something about a candle that makes you instantly relax. Place one or two on floating shelves or in baskets. Don’t go too strong with the fragrance unless you’re into fighting scent battles (candles typically + your shower products = funk overload).
Keep it light and natural. Storage was probably my biggest challenge. A lot of bathrooms that inspire me have very little stuff in them.
The truth is, though, we all have face cream, hair products, and stash our cleaning supplies in our bathrooms. Get creative with hidden storage. Invest in a bench that opens up to store towels; floating shelves with cute baskets; that annoying over-the toilet cabinet that doesn’ look cheap and medical like the ones you find at Target.
The goal is to have a place for everything and EVERYTHING has a place. If you want to go all out, invest in some high quality fluffy towels. Nothing brings down a classy bathroom quite like thin, cotton batting towels.
Spend the extra money on two luxurious towels in neutral tones versus a dozen Costco towels. Not only will they still feel fluffy three years from now, but having them displayed on open shelving adds to your zen bathroom vibe. Lastly, take temperature into consideration.
It’s the small things. I bought a small heated towel rack (don’t make it bigger than you think you need, they weren’ cheap) and it’s been one of my favourite additions. Is there anything better than wrapping yourself in a warm towel during the winter?
In the summer, I have a small fan for drying off afterwards. It’s just loud enough that you don’ get that sticky feeling typically associated with post-hot shower, but quiet enough to not disturb your zen. Lastly, smell.
I know, subtle enough that you barely notice it but there when you need it. I avoid fake smelling candles and air fresheners that assault you when you open the bathroom door. Instead, go with a reed diffuser in something light and airy – think white tea, light linen.
Or add a few drops of lavender to your bathroom cleaner. You want your bathroom to have a slight scent that makes you want to breathe deeper, not choke. Spa bathroom transformations take time.
Don’ try and tackle everything at once. You’ll learn what works and what doesn’ your space.
Don’t get discouraged if your DIY project doesn’ turn out how you planned, either!
I still kick myself today thinking about that pine shower bench that ended up rotting and molding since I lived in Florida. Oh well, you live and learn! The moral of the story?
True spa vibes are more than spending money you don’t have. It’ about intentionally creating a space that forces you to slow your health down (even if you’ doing it unconsciously) and serves a purpose for both your body and soul. It took me two years to complete my bathroom, buying one thing at a time.
Some items I got right on the first try, while some…well let’s just say I’ll never try that again. That’s ok! Now when I roll out of bed each morning and turn on my rainfall shower, feel the heated towel rack greet me with warmth, and see those gorgeous plants prospering in the corner I am instantly transported back to that magical bathroom in Bali.
It’ home, so it’ tiny balcony that doesn’ overlook rice fields. But it does remind me that luxury often comes down to the simple things we can control, rather than how big our wallets are.
