There’s nothing quite like the calm, indulgent feeling of a spa. Now, imagine bringing that same sense of peace into your own home. Bathrooms are the place we both start and end our day, so I believe they should feel restorative, not just functional. But when it comes to designing them, the number of decisions: layout, finishes, lighting, fittings , can feel overwhelming. Learn how to design your bathroom to create a tranquil retreat where you can unwind, recharge, and feel pampered every day.
1. Embrace a Neutral Colour Palette
The foundation of any spa-like bathroom is colour. Light, soft, neutral shades immediately create a sense of calm, forming an elegant backdrop that allows you to layer in warm timber, tactile stone, and tonal metals to achieve that spa-like depth and richness. By keeping the palette understated, every detail in your bathroom, from vanities and taps to towels and accessories can shine, creating a cohesive, peaceful, and luxurious space that feels effortlessly refined.
2. Keep It Curated, Not Cluttered
A cluttered bathroom immediately disrupts the sense of calm, so a spa-like space should always feel open, airy, and orderly. Start by clearing your countertops of anything unnecessary.
I love to create little styling moments in my bathroom designs; pieces that make me happy and bring personality to the space. A small vase, a stack of plush towels, a bowl, or a natural element like a plant can instantly elevate the room without feeling cluttered. Even practical items should feel stylish; I love my faux shagreen bin and tissue box from my Addison Ross collection, which bring both function and elegance.
Having a vanity with plenty of storage is equally essential. When I designed my collection with Parker Howley, I made sure every piece included drawers, so that everything has its place. This means you can keep your countertops clear, your styling intentional, and your bathroom feeling effortlessly calm, curated, and spa-like.
3. Choose a Luxury Vanity
For me, the vanity is always the centrepiece of a bathroom. I love pieces that feel both grand and welcoming, with attention to every detail, so it not only looks beautiful but also feels solid and enduring. For a spa-like bathroom, rich, tactile timber finishes bring warmth and character, and when they’re combined with marble surfaces, they create a sense of calm luxury. The combination of natural wood and stone introduces texture, subtle pattern, and material richness – perfect for a bathroom that’s both beautiful and inherently calming.
A tip when designing the layout of a bathroom is to always position the vanity or bath in the direct line of sight as you walk in, not the toilet. It’s a small detail, but it completely changes the mood of the space.
4. Make a Statement with Your Bath and Shower
The bath and shower are where you truly unwind, so it’s worth making them feel indulgent and luxurious. A freestanding tub or a sleek inset bath with a marble surround instantly adds elegance, and positioning it near a window allows natural light to flood the space, enhancing that serene, spa-like atmosphere. For the shower, I love using stone or marble with beautiful veining, or even a mosaic, to add a sense of indulgence. Carefully paired fixtures in antique brass or bronze bring warmth and character, complementing the tones in the materials. Storage is always a consideration, so a built-in niche for products is essential. It’s also important to think about where you position the shower controls, you don’t want to get your arm wet when turning the shower on, so placing them near the entrance is ideal. This allows you to adjust the water temperature and pressure before stepping into the shower, ensuring a comfortable experience from the start.
These thoughtful, luxurious touches transform a simple bath or shower into a restorative, spa-like experience.
5. Layer Your Lighting
Lighting is one of the most important elements in a bathroom design, and getting it right is key to creating a spa-like atmosphere. For me, it’s all about soft, layered lighting that feels gentle and luxurious rather than harsh. Low-level options, such as uplighters behind a freestanding bath, create a delicate glow that’s far more relaxing than strong overhead lights.
I like to use a three-tiered system to achieve a perfectly balanced feel: ambient, task, and accent lighting.
- Ambient lighting:Â This is your main overhead light and sets the overall mood of the room. I always recommend soft, warm tones, we use 2700K in our projects to create a calming, inviting atmosphere. Angled lighting can also be used to wash walls and highlight textures, enhancing that serene, spa-like feel.
- Task lighting:Â Essential for grooming and applying makeup. Position these around mirrors and vanities, ideally with wall lights in front of you and overhead lights above the sink, to avoid shadows on your face. This ensures functionality without compromising the relaxed ambiance.
- Accent lighting:Â Decorative or subtle lighting brings dimension and interest. For niches, a single downlight can highlight a beautiful display, or for longer niches, I recommend a discreet LED strip to give a soft, even wash of light. Accent lighting can also emphasize architectural features, artwork, or textures, adding depth and sophistication.
If you’d like to learn more about lighting, including beam widths, lumen outputs, and how to create a layered lighting plan for maximum effect, we cover it in far greater detail in our online interior design course. It’s a great way to understand how to create a truly luxurious, spa-like atmosphere in your own home.
Layering your lighting in this way allows you to adjust the mood to suit the moment, whether you’re enjoying a long soak, getting ready for the day, or simply relaxing. The right lighting turns a bathroom from functional into a true spa-like retreat.
6. Add Luxury Mirrors
Mirrors are an essential element in any spa-like bathroom, they reflect light, open up the space, and instantly create a sense of brightness and opulence. I always recommend layering in a smaller vanity mirror. I designed the perfect one in collaboration with Armac Martin. It can be angled to catch the light beautifully or swivel to reveal a magnifying surface, making tasks like applying makeup effortless.
7. Consider Scent
Scent is one of the simplest ways to transform your bathroom into a spa-like sanctuary, and it’s incredibly powerful for creating a calming, restorative atmosphere. I use the Bamford Diffuser in my own home.Â
These little sensory touches can instantly make the space feel more indulgent and relaxing. Choosing scents that you love makes your bathroom a place to truly unwind and recharge.
8. Don’t skip the finishing touches
The trick to pulling this look together is being mindful of the minor details – the towel hooks, loo roll storage, and any accessories you have on display, and ensuring they all work harmoniously together. You can also add a little luxury by mimicking spa behaviours, such as decanting toiletries into beautiful bottles, folding towels in that trademark boutique-hotel way, using a tray for face cloths or using glass jars for storing cotton pads.
9. Introduce Natural Elements
Bringing nature into your bathroom is one of the simplest ways to make it feel calm, spa-like, and inviting. I love adding touches such as potted plants – my go-to is a faux orchid, which brings elegance without the need for maintenance. But it’s not just about greenery; I often include wallpapers inspired by flowers, trees, or natural landscapes. These subtle, nature-inspired patterns add depth and serenity, creating a sense of calm that feels restorative and indulgent.
10. Create Moments to Pause with Seating
If you have the space, adding seating is a wonderful way to make your bathroom feel truly spa-like. A small armchair, a bench, or even a built-in seat in the shower creates moments to stop, pause, and truly unwind. I love how seating adds both comfort and a sense of indulgence, encouraging you to slow down and enjoy the space.
These simple additions turn your bathroom into more than just a functional room, they create a sanctuary where every detail encourages calm, relaxation, and quiet moments of luxury.
For more inspiration, explore our portfolio to see how I translate timeless design principles into distinctive, character-filled homes. For exclusive behind-the-scenes content, including project reveals, product collaborations, and more insights into our design process, subscribe to our YouTube channel.
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