Coming home to your very own spa-like bathrooms seems, to most, like a faraway dream.
But at Rehome, we’re here to make the impossible possible. As the UK’s number one Kitchen, Bedroom, Bathroom outlet, it’s our job to help you make the most of your budget.
If you’ve dreamt of freestanding tubs, marble flooring and rainfall showers for years, but never quite made money stretch, Rehome’s pre-loved products are the solution.
Our simple tricks will show you how to design a spa-like bathroom that not only looks straight out of an interior design catalogue, but doesn’t break the bank. If you’re browsing for ideas that won’t blow your budget, learn more today by reading along.
1. Declutter your space
When have you ever seen a messy spa? Never! If you’re prone to leaving half-used handwash and empty shampoo bottles strewn around your counters, it’s time to bring visual calm to your environment. Start by taking every product out of your cabinets, whether it’s makeup in your vanity or towels in your cupboards. Work cabinet-by-cabinet, asking: do I need this, do I use this often?
Check the expiration dates on any shampoos, conditioners, and body wash, making sure to bin those that're way past their use-by date (a hoarding habit we’re all guilty of). Then, reassess your current organisation system: what goes where? Have body washes snuck into your cleaning cupboard over time, or have haircare products found their way onto your vanity counter?
Sometimes, learning how to design a spa-like bathroom is less about big-ticket purchases and more about reconfiguring your current layout.
2. Update hardware (taps, showerhead)
You'd be surprised how impactful minimal spa bathroom ideas can be. A switch as simple as swapping old-fashioned taps for sparkling bath taps can make a real difference, especially when you want your space to feel fancier.
Most DIY-handy homeowners can complete a fixture replacement themselves. With a little know-how and a few tools, you can have household names like Roca and Westco in your bathroom in under an hour.
Keep things minimalist with unadorned mixer taps, or take your tech to a new level with sensor taps. To achieve a cohesive, ‘spa-like’ look, be sure to choose the same finish across the board, whether that’s silver, gold or brass.
3. Increase bathroom storage
If you’re struggling to declutter all your lotions and potions, it may be worth shopping for extra storage space. While space-dependent, incorporating another small cabinet or vertical shelf can be one of our surprisingly cost-effective spa bathroom ideas!
Bathroom cabinets don’t have to be massive: something as simple as a wooden worktop unit from Dasani can improve your organisational efforts tenfold. You may even want to add an undersink cupboard, like those from Duravit.
If extra cabinetry isn’t an option, there’s always floating shelves! A common sight in spas, here, you can keep your most-used bathroom products to hand.
4. Towels, towels, and more towels!
We all know that plush bathroom towels are one of the best parts of a spa. Replicate this in your home with a quick trip to your local shopping centre.
Super-soft, Egyptian cotton bath towels are relatively inexpensive and often come in sets. Bundles that include facecloths, hand towels, and bath towels can be easily stacked in vertical storage areas, ready to grab when you need them.
You can even get creative by learning how to fold arrangements: bath towels folded into swans, for instance. There’s no fancier spa bathroom idea than that!
5. All-white palette (or any calming colours)
Why are most spas white? Well, lighter colours on the monochrome palette are more commonly associated with cleanliness.
While some people may think of this as a downside (as white tiles, walls and flooring are known for showing dirt more easily), it can also work in your favour. You’ll be able to prioritise and stick to a cleaning routine.
An all-white colour palette can also create the illusion of greater space, especially great for small bathroom renovations. But if your love of colour is too strong, white works equally well with pale lavender, pistachio green and aquamarine.
6. Shower bench
Water-resistant seating and walk-in showers are a match made in heaven. Luxury spas know best, which is why you’ll often see them in washing areas.
So why not make this one of your spa-like bathroom ideas? Take some measurements and select a style that complements your interior. It could be a brown and black marble-effect bench or a curved white seat that attaches to the wall. They’re great for busy days when standing up feels like too much. Use them as a surface for shampoo, conditioner, body wash, or face wash – anything your shower routine calls for!
7. Hang eucalyptus
There’s something about the smell of a spa bathroom that instantly soothes the senses. More often than not, that smell is eucalyptus. A staple in aromatherapy, eucalyptus is favoured for its calming, decongestant properties.
It is believed to relieve muscle tension, ease breathing and have a cool, refreshing effect on the body. Spas may dilute eucalyptus oil in water and use it in a diffuser, but in the UK, it’s easier to create a shower bundle!
As UK bathrooms do not have electrical outlets (for safety reasons), homeowners can tie a few stems of eucalyptus together with twine or a rubber band, then hang them upside down near your shower head. The steam from your shower will help release the eucalyptus oil. Again, knowing how to design a spa-like bathroom isn’t all about big-budget purchases: it can be about enriching the senses!
8. Invest in a mirror
If your current mirror is covered in scratches and smudges, treat yourself: shop for ex-display and approved-used mirrors with Rehome.
Typically hung over a vanity unit or sink, bathroom mirrors can have a massive impact on your space (they’re actually one of our favourite spa-like bathroom ideas). One that’s too large will look domineering, while one that's too small may make your bathroom appear smaller than it actually is.
It’s time to get your tape measure out again! We’ve got plenty of options here at Rehome, including one-of-a-kind products from Simone Guarracino and Duravit.
9. Open shelving
Short on space? Even the smallest of spas have space for essentials!
Install open shelves on empty walls, perfect for keeping toilet paper, skincare, and small towels handy. You can even use it as a place to display easy-to-care-for plants, such as spider plants or cacti (in decorative plant pots, no less).
Shop for pre-loved, ex-display bathroom products with Rehome!
We’ve said it once, we’ll say it again: understanding how to design a spa-like bathroom is all about those small, thoughtful touches.
If you’re looking for low-cost inspiration, be sure to do your research: create a mood board, sample some paint swatches and check out our approved-used and ex-display bathroom collection.
