The Homemade Spa: 9 Tips to Turn Your Bathroom into an Eco Spa

Everyone needs a sanctuary from the rigors of modern life, but not everyone can remodel their home and spend a fortune doing it. Here are inexpensive solutions for creating your own oasis of homemade spa pampering. Watch those worry lines disappear and feel the tension draining from your shoulders!

Conscious color: Choose low or non-VOC (non toxic) paints. If painting a color, choose blues, greens (cool colors promote calmness and serenity) and avoid hot colors (bright yellow, orange, red); however, if you love these colors, then temper them with their cool opposite on the color wheel. Color effects mood. The white color palette is always the default best for a spa feel: there are undertones from blue to yellow to pink, that give whites interest and depth.
Lighting: natural light –from skylights and windows is best, but for privacy purposes, use white or natural color fabrics coverings on the widows; another option is natural fiber Roman shades or wooden plantation shutters.
Textures: organic cottons and bamboos – have variety that you can see and touch – from mats to shower curtains (avoid plastic) to wall hangings, window shades – avoid anything artificial (polyester or plastic). Natural grasses and other fibers (linen, hemp, and wood) evoke a sublime “spa vibe” .
Linens (towels, robes, slippers): I like white because of its association with fresh, clean, and pure. Try to buy the highest quality you can afford – organic or bamboo mixture if possible. Choose non-toxic laundry products with no artificial fragrances. Avoid dryer sheets which are highly toxic.
Water: the source of all healing – make your bath soaking area as luxe as possible. Replace broken or cracked tiles, re-grout if needed to have nice clean grout. Update your bath/shower area with modern faucet sets. Install a shower head filter: just as you wouldn’t drink unfiltered water, nor should you expose yourself to unfiltered water in the shower – chlorine directly on your skin, day in and day out, is very toxic and can be the cause of serious allergies. It also fades your hair color very fast, and leads to all kinds of itchy scalp conditions. Protect your and your family’s health by investing in the best filter you can afford.
Keep your homemade spa super clean with all natural cleaning products (ex: Seventh Generation, Mrs. Meyer’s, or Method). Or use the time-tested and very effective combination of white vinegar and baking soda to scour, get rid of soap scum, disinfect and clear drains. Check online to find directions and amounts. Avoid toxic cleaning chemicals at all costs!!!
Use aromatherapy to set the mood – avoid artificial fragrance at all costs. Use only pure essential oil candles (vegetable wax is preferable to soy which has high GMO and pesticide residues; paraffin is a petroleum by-product), incense, and other scent sources. Experiment with making your own potpourri out of dried flowers and herbs and set it around your homemade spa in pretty ceramic bowls. (avoid any container that is plastic – based).
For your “Calgon” moment: soak in Dead Sea salts– along with fresh rosemary, lavender, and mint. See below for some homemade spa recipes using essential oils (which should be organic, if possible; source plain Dead Sea salts online very easily). Always keep the water temperature at lukewarm when using the salts – the purpose is for your body to absorb the healing minerals and if the water is super hot, your body will be flushing out in response, rather than absorbing.
Finally, and most importantly: use your spa time as sacred retreat time. Meditate, do deep breathing, and most of all, visualize peace and rejuvenation. You deserve them!