Spa bathroom ideas: a hotel spa, at home

What makes a bathroom feel like a spa

Calm. Warm light, natural materials, plenty of water, and nothing to clean up after.

A spa bathroom is not about one expensive fixture. It is a room where every part slows you down: a shower you want to stay in, a place to sit, soft light and surfaces that feel good underfoot. Most of the spa bathrooms we build are a master bathroom remodel, but a guest bath can get the same treatment.

Start with the shower

The shower is where a spa bathroom earns its name. A rain head overhead and a hand shower you can reach from a built-in bench. A long niche, so bottles never sit on the floor. Frameless glass that keeps the room open.

Go further with a glass wet room, with the tub and the shower together behind one glass wall. Or turn a separate tub and shower into one large double shower.

Add steam

A steam shower turns the shower into a steam room.

A sealed glass enclosure, a bench, and warm steam at the touch of a panel. Systems like Mr. Steam add colored light, scents like eucalyptus and lavender, and a vapor-sealed sound system for music inside the shower. How a steam shower works

A tub worth the evening

A freestanding or soaking tub is the other half of a spa bathroom. Set it under a window, against a feature wall with a lit ledge, or inside the glass of a wet room. If nobody bathes, skip it and give the space to a bigger shower.

Light, color and materials

Light

Soft, warm light sets the mood. Put task light where you need it: sconces on both sides of the mirror for shaving and makeup, and a dimmable light for the evening.

Color

Neutral colors like white, warm gray and beige make a room feel calm, and they age well.

Materials

Natural stone and wood bring warmth and texture. Large slab walls with no grout lines keep the look quiet and the cleaning easy. About groutless slab showers

The finishing touches

• Plants that like humidity
• Thick towels and a robe hook within reach of the shower
• Scent, from a diffuser or from the steam itself
• Music, from a small speaker or a sound system in the shower
• Clear counters, with storage for everything else

Our team has talked about spa bathrooms with realtor.com and Real Estate Agent Magazine. Press and awards

Most master baths we build land between $40,000 and $120,000, with design, labor and materials included. We price yours at the design meeting, before you commit.