Whether you’re setting up a new bathroom or want to give your old bathroom a bit of Zen zing, Veronica Stivala tells you how to make your bathroom your own personal spa.

Our lives are getting more and more rushed and time to relax and recollect ourselves is ever-diminishing. With many of us glued to our phones it is difficult to switch off, even when we’re at home, on the couch.

Why not make the bathroom into a no-phone/no-tablet zone? And with a few of the below tips you can make this room a place where you can unwind, recharge and rest.

True colours

If you’re at the point of choosing your bathroom, opt for an earthy palette. Think about it, have you ever stepped into a spa with bright colours or stark designs or patterns?

Nature-inspired colours, such as brown, gray and green, can make your bathroom feel more organic, as well as calming.

The smaller your bathroom, the lighter the colours you should opt for, such as beige, pale green and light grey, for example, as these can give the room a spacious feel.

Let there be light

Dimming lights are an excellent idea for softening the lighting in your bathroom. Soft lighting is ideal for when you want to have a relaxing soak. Alternatively you can switch off the lights and use candles instead. I love to do this and keep a wide selection of candles, some scented, easily at hand (to avoid clutter put them in a cupboard or decorative box).

Nothing beats the soothing glow of a flickering candle as you lie in a scented bath of warm water.

An easy and relatively low-cost alternative are water-resistant Bluetooth speakers

Massage in a shower

If you don’t have time, or space for a bath, a massage showerhead is the key to a relaxing wash. Showerheads come in all shapes and sizes and you can choose from the drops from a rainfall shower, adjusting the intensity according to your needs, dual showerheads, for shared showers, or extra indulgent solo ones.

Getting warm

Ah the bliss of wrapping your freshly showered body in a nicely heated fluffy towel.

A heated towel is such a simple idea and yet so consoling, so comforting.

And this is ideal to retain the heat of your body in the cooler months.

Install tower warmers in your bathroom; these will not only allow you to continue in the indulgence after a hot soak, but will conveniently keep your towels dry at the same time.

Smells like clean spirit

Scents are known to boost our moods. In fact, many people shower with peppermint-scented shower gels to wake up their brains in the morning.

Candles, or oil diffusers, which are safer options, are easy but effective additions to making your bathroom a relaxing haven. Lavender and jasmine scents are great if you’re looking to relax or want to have a good night’s sleep.

Clear and clean

Tubes of toothpaste, multiple bottles of cleansers, toners and moisturisers, soaps, razors, packets of pills and body cream samples clutter your bathroom counter, create stress and detract from allowing you to relax in the bathroom.

Get rid of expired medicines and, if you have the space, try to keep the majority of your toiletries in wall-mounted medicine chests or wall cabinets or tallboys.

If you’re really tight for space, using jars for items such as cotton wool buds and bath salts can work wonders to calm down the atmosphere in the bathroom.

Notes by your sandals

For some, the sound of one’s voice as it sings the latest pop song or a favourite classic is enough to send one off on a personal relaxing musical journey.

For others, a silent bath, interrupted only by the occasional soothing splash as your reposition your legs in the water or the faint, fuzzy crackle of bursting bubbles, is the key to relaxation.

But for those who like it, mellow background music is just another ingredient for making your bathroom a relaxing retreat.

Sophisticated bathrooms can have speakers installed but an easy and relatively low-cost alternative are water-resistant Bluetooth speakers.

Create a relaxing playlist and leave your phone or laptop outside the bathroom as you drift away to Chopin’s Nocturnes, Nora Jones’s cozy crooning, or Ludovico Einaudi’s peaceful piano pieces.

Happy bathing!