Ask A Decorator: Making A Home Spa

Dear Decorator:

I am truly a soccer mom who is always running my kids from here to there and back again. I seldom have the opportunity to go to the Spa, but have read about people setting up a spa in their own home. I would love to transform my dull bathroom into a luxurious Home Spa, but need some advice on where to start.

My bathroom is very spacious and measures 12 feet by 14 feet, with two separate his and her's walk-in closets. We could even get by with using one of these closets in our new Home Spa makeover. I'm open to a full range of ideas. Thanks.
-Sharon G.
 Portland, OR

Dear Sharon,

Lucky you. It isn't often that folks have that much available space for a new look. Take advantage of every bit that you can, and you'll be glad you did. In fact, putting a spa in one's home is one of the newest decorating trends today. Adding a well-appointed master bathroom is one of the best investments one can make to improve the value of your home. In addition to the financial results, a Home Spa can also provide a sanctuary for rest and rejuvenation, all in the comfort of our own home.

There are many great Home Spa solutions that can be added to your bathroom to truly transform it such that you will never want to leave.

You will want to incorporate items that will put you into a state of relaxation.

Let's start with the first step - the floorplan of the room. If you are considering incorporating one of the closets into the new design, you will need to know the dimensions and layout of the entire area before proceeding.

Trying to draw all of this on paper can be exhausting, but I recently found an absolutely wonderful software package that is so easy to use. You can even import actual pictures of your room to see exactly how it will look. This package is great for all of your interior design and decorating considerations, too!

Don't waste time drawing your design on paper, when you could use this Interior Design Suite Software and easily make changes as you go. You can even create several optional layouts from which to choose. Perhaps you can't decide on the wall color or on which side the whirlpool should be placed. This software will make those decisions a breeze by letting you see how each option will look.

The nice thing about this software is that there are over 10,000 objects, colors and materials, including brand named products that you can plug into your design.

Select your color scheme and see how it will actually look on your walls. Cream and sage green are great for setting the mood and are typically easy to accessorize. You can select a mellow-pattered wallpaper or faux painting technique to adorn the walls.

After you have selected the color scheme, you are ready to start putting the pieces together. I would begin with the flooring. There is a great selection of flooring options from which to choose, as well. A natural stone, such as limestone or a tumbled marble would look nice. Since you have the available floorspace, you will certainly want to consider a Whirlpool Tub, and a SteamShower.

If you can afford it, adding a Sauna would be a perfect addition and would probably fit nicely into the space now occupied by the closet.

Before you draw the hot bath or turn on the steam, be sure to have the newest accessories such as a shower tower and a towel warmer. You won't know how you lived without them.