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Spa Wanted, No Remodeling Required

Relax! You don't have to spend a fortune to turn your bathroom into a blissful retreat. Sometimes, it's all about the towels.
By Barbara Ballinger

Stay in a fancy hotel with a glamorous bathroom or spend a few days at a swank spa and you'll come away feeling relaxed, rejuvenated and ready for your own lavatory haven.

Capturing that pleasure at home, however, too often involves a pricey redo. The average cost to add and remodel a bathroom with upscale fixtures and materials runs more than $25,000, according to Remodeling magazine's latest Cost vs. Value report: a decidedly un-relaxing figure.

You can gain the effect, if not the exact look, for less, as homeowner Nancy P. Hemenway found. She and her husband kept expenses to about $10,000 by for bargain basement pricing on a shower "spa" with sprays, a gold-leaf framed mirror, hand-painted vanity with black granite top and bowl, and black toilet. The bathroom in their Arlington, Va., home "now feels great. I can stand in the walk-in shower with a vertical spa with eight body jets, hand spray and big shower head and feel soothed," she says.

The secret, according to Gretchen Halpin, founder of the Soothe Your Senses product line and day spa in Chicago, is "staging your bathroom with the right products and atmosphere and not tearing down walls," she says. Here are nine affordable ideas:
Candles, bath gels, soaps
Among the easiest changes are those that calm your nerves, relax your spirit and cleanse your body. Bring in candles, gels, oils, soaps, and teas in different scents than you've used. Halpin suggests natural fragrances such as lavender, eucalyptus, jasmine and rose

Lighting
Change light fixtures and bulbs to create a calmer atmosphere. Sconces look less harsh than vanity lights and a chandelier above a tub adds whimsy, says designer Barbara Schmidt of bstyle in Minneapolis. Instead of fluorescent bulbs, use natural white lights, says Nicole Esposito Polly, decorating and lifestyle director at Country Living magazine. Put lights on dimmers for a range of illumination, says designer Allison Bergamo, with Kitchen Masters in Denver. Light a focal point, says Terah Kathryn Collins, author of The Western Guide to Feng Shui for Romance (Hay House, 2004).

Mirrors
Framing a mirror adds a special touch, and creates bold lines around the harsh edges of the glass. Inexpensive do-it-yourself frames abound at hardware and home stores. Opt for a plain, thick wood trim to add warmth.

Walls
Many designers suggest a pale blue or green to simulate nature. Collins prefers saturated hues. If those don't appeal, consider white or tan. For the ceiling, try a lighter shade, suggests Robin Conners of Favourite Finds Interior Design Service in Martinsville, N.J. Designer Jeanene Glander, co-host of TNT's Home Makers show, suggests semi-gloss paint to reflect light and pare mold and moisture.
Many decorators advise avoiding wallpaper in bathrooms because of humidity, but vinyl papers hold up well.
Fittings and fixtures
Most plumbing manufacturers now produce a body spray or showerhead to create a waterfall or rainwater effect. American Standard's "Vertispa" is a sliding design with five body sprays that retrofit a shower without working inside the wall, says Gary Uhl, director of design. You can also change fittings on your sink to match those in your shower or tub. Many companies offer coordinated towel bars and hooks at your local home centers.
Now that whirlpool tubs and steam showers have become more prevalent, the toilet's a target of redesign. Bemis Manufacturing Co.'s Purite Personal Cleansing Spa is outfitted with automatic cleansing wands that dispense warm water.

Natural touches
Flowers, plants and branches thrive in humidity, so treat yourself to fresh flowers year-round. ProFlowers' designer Eriko J. Ono suggests potted herbs for subtle fragrances; cut flowers like lilies and roses for color and fragrance; and potted orchids, bamboo and bonsais for something that lasts. Carol Donayre Bugg, vice president and director of design at Interiors by Decorating Den, Easton, Md., suggests painting a trompe l'oeil mural or wrapping a tub in sheers.

Towels, robes
Bring fluffy towels, thick terrycloth robes and plush mats home. "Buy a few luxurious $50 towels rather than $10 ones," says Collins. Many designers recommend buying white ones for a pristine, spa feeling. Conners suggests rolling towels jelly-roll style and setting them out. Glander advises removing a linen closet door, painting shelves the bathroom color and adding baskets and towels.

Music
Nothing soothes like the sound of falling water or birds chirping from a CD or radio playing. You don't have to limit yourself to nature. Consider Debussy's "Afternoon of the Faun," says Donayre Bugg. Some homeowners like the idea of a TV, too, but Espositio Polly thinks that's too much stimulation. John Franke of The Art Institute of Pittsburgh and Comfort Council puts a radio in a closet so it's out of sight.

A few extras
Place a basket out with fresh mints, bath beads and other trinkets that say spa, Conners says. Add a tall container with potpourri or one flower, says Collins. "It's minimalism and luxury you're after, not stuff," she says. If you have room, add a place to sit, she says. Or add a small cabinet or unit with a glass shelf above and drawers below.

When you finish, close the door, have a cup of tea and unwind in your new retreat, Conners says. Keep it clean and uncluttered to retain the spa feeling.