Spa bathroom ideas — 11 ways to turn your bath space into a luxury suite

Designing a spa-like bathroom is all about selecting spa-like materials like natural wood, stone, bamboo, and marble and incorporating key design details that add that luxurious look.

In addition to the most extensive and coziest roll top, a rainfall shower, plants, lovely scents, and ultra-plush white towels are must-haves.

According to Barrie Cutchie, Design Director at BC Designs, “the emergence of spa bathrooms has sprung from a combination of people’s desire for a space to relax and unwind from everyday life” and the fact that people are traveling more and staying in hotels with luxurious en-suite bathrooms, which they look to replicate in their own home.

Bathrooms at a spa tend to be minimalist and clutter-free, so you’ll need to think about how you’ll store your belongings and the lighting and color scheme you’ll use.

Instead of using bright bathroom ideas that use colorful shades and bold patterns to create the relaxing space we all crave from a spa bathroom, consider going with more subdued colors and designs.

SPA BATHROOM IDEAS

We’ve compiled a list of our favorite spa bathroom ideas, including everything from all-over marble and wall-to-wall wood to gold fixtures and fittings and elegant walnut shelving, so you can quickly and easily create a relaxing space to pamper yourself in your own home.

1. CAN’T CONVERT A BEDROOM? GO UP INTO THE LOFT INSTEAD 

Your luxurious main bathroom can be tucked away in the eaves, up high, where you’ll hopefully be less disturbed.

If natural light is an issue in the bathroom, consider a more subdued color scheme, such as light gray walls and chrome fixtures. Glass doors are the best choice, too, as they’ll make a small bathroom look bigger.

Spa bathrooms, according to Barrie Cutchie, Design Director at BC Designs, “focus on quality materials with a focus on natural,” including texture and color palette; think marble and soft whites, grays, and neutrals.

2. BE CREATIVE WITH NATURAL STONE

The use of natural stone in a spa setting is recommended because of the calming effect it has on visitors. Beautiful natural stones are commonly found in some of the world’s most opulent spas because, in some cultures, they are believed to have healing properties, as explained by Oliver Webb, Director at Cullifords.

“This natural element added to your home’s bathroom will make you feel like you’re in a five-star spa.”

It can be used for that purpose, as well as for coloring. Typically, we consider natural stone to be a neutral material. However, as seen in the bathroom, as mentioned earlier, you can find some truly stunning slabs in shades of pink, red, and dark gray.

3. GO FOR GOLD – FOR THE ULTIMATE SPA BATHROOM FINISH

In a room, a gold finish is the height of luxury, reflecting light and exuding a sense of hedonism. You can also use brass, and it will look fine in its place.

Kingsgrove, a Chelsea-based interior design firm, came up with this beautiful idea for a wet room, and the gold trim provides the most fabulous finish and adds warmth to the otherwise seamless all-tiled scheme.

4. CONSIDER AN INSET BATH

An inset tub is the height of the bathroom, providing an experience not dissimilar to that of a day spa.

An inset bath is an excellent alternative if you don’t have room for a roll-top tub. These tubs are installed on the floor or on a wall.

It can be set up against a tiled wall, which isn’t always possible in standard bathroom layouts, and accessed via a small step up.

5. USE WALNUT VENEERS TO LINE YOUR SHELVING

Walnut is another essential material. Walnut is incomparable in color and texture, but walnut veneers will do if the real thing is out of your price range.

For instance, check out this luxurious bathroom designed by BC Designs. Walnut inset shelving on a marble wall is a great bathroom to create a spa-like atmosphere in the bathroom.

If you install glass shelves, you’ll have a stylish place to unwind in no time.

6. YOU CAN GO MONOCHROMATIC FOR A MORE DRAMATIC LOOK

You shouldn’t assume a blank slate in a spa’s bathrooms. As Jessica Davis, owner, and principal of Nashville-based JL Designs, explains, the space has a striking visual look that is spa-like and dramatic, thanks to the combination of materials used in its design.

By using a monochromatic color scheme, inherently soothing, we created an engaging yet restful bathroom while still emphasizing the room’s symmetry.

It’s been said, “The artwork’s unexpected splash of green brightens the room and makes it feel more sophisticated than it might otherwise.”

Like the bathroom art example given above, the artwork is a great idea to do just that. Sticking to a modern theme is a brilliant idea for a consistent feel in a modern bathroom. Take note that the frames complement the gold shade of the pendant.

These decorative touches are what truly set a design apart. We appreciate the decision to keep the accents monochromatic, which draws attention to the artwork.

7. PLACE YOUR TUB BY A WINDOW FOR A SPA-LIKE FEEL

Director of Waters Baths in Ashbourne, Lee Frost, has observed a rise in the desire to design a soothing bathroom interior that promotes revitalization.

If you want to achieve a soothing atmosphere in your home, positioning your bath in the right spot is essential. Even in a larger area, it is imperative that people not feel squished together. It is therefore recommended that the bath be placed in a prominent area.

It has been suggested that “customers should choose a more show-stopping, back-to-wall or corner style to help ensure the space is completely maximized” for smaller spaces.

8. GIVE AN ALL-WHITE SCHEME TEXTURE 

We can see four different bathroom tile ideas in this gorgeous spa bathroom by Texas’s Maestri Studio. These include the marble wall and floor tiles and the two metro designs on the right.

This creates a stunning visual effect in the bathroom because the textures shift as you move around the room, but they still mesh well. You can see how well the use of scale design works in this otherwise monochromatic bathroom.

9. OPT FOR WOOD IN A SPA BATHROOM

This “wood” bathroom, by the wall, is covered in wood-effect porcelain tiles from Stone & Ceramic Warehouse, and they have a textured surface and finish.

Wooden bathrooms and other wood details in the bathroom can be aesthetically pleasing, but they may not be practical, depending on the wood’s layout. To this end, porcelain reproductions excel.

In this case, we get a fabulous spa bathroom in the sleek and modern Scandi style.

10. LOVE WALLPAPER? IT CAN WORK IF IT’S SUBTLE

When planning the decor for a spa bathroom, wallpaper may not be your first thought. However, if you choose the right design in the right colorway from the variety of wallpaper ideas, it can look sophisticated.

Wallpaper is used in panels in this spa bathroom by London-based interior design studio Gunter & Co, founded by Irene Gunter. The panels add subtle pattern and decoration without overwhelming the bathroom, which is ideal for a relaxing spa experience.

11. USE REFRESHING COLORS

White bathrooms in the home can look clinical. For a more realistic spa experience in the comfort of your own home, try adding a splash of color to yours.

Natural colors like blues, browns, grays, and greens will give your bathroom an organic feel that will soothe you after a stressful day, as they are prevalent in today’s bathroom design trends.

Lighter shades of green and gray can make even a tiny bathroom feel like a luxurious spa room.

HOW DO I MAKE MY BATHROOM LOOK LIKE A SPA?

The addition of heated flooring transforms a regular bathroom into a luxurious spa. Leaving the comfort of a hot shower or tub and stepping onto the tiles is a unique and wonderful experience.

The incorporation of vegetation is another design element. Plants are prominent in spas for a good reason; they increase oxygen levels, and bringing the outdoors is an integral part of the experience.

Consider using aromas as well. Essential oils induce positive emotions and can help you unwind after a long day. Finding a single, small wooden stool in a spa or bathhouse is uncommon. They are useful for keeping tub essentials like towels and soap close.

WHAT IS A SPA TYPE SHOWER?

The showers in spa bathrooms are typical twice the size of what we have at home, and the shower heads are the size of a dinner plate.

This is available to you, too. Please choose the most extensive available size, whether round or square. A regular, tiny shower head won’t do if you’re going for a rainforest idea.

You won’t find a shower curtain in a spa shower because the entire space is tiled. Install glass doors and a wet room if you’re so inclined.