How To Make Your Bathroom As Nice As A Hotel

6th April 2020 | By Astrid Carter

We’ve swapped Friday nights at the pub for long soaks in the bath, Sunday brunches for self-care routines, so what better time to upgrade your bathroom than now? Don’t worry, we know gutting your bathroom, installing a roll top bath and a walk-in shower is off the cards for most, but you can still add some spa-like luxury to your space with easy updates.

From fluffy new towels to indulgent candles, luxe accessories to mood-boosting botanicals, there are plenty of affordable ways to make your bath or shower room feel like a five-star hotel, even if it’s the most modest of spaces.

Scroll on for our edit of the best…

Boost your mood with a bounty of botanicals

Add a calm oasis vibe to your bathroom with some houseplants. Said to calm the mood, they are the perfect addition to bathtime and will add a pop of natural colour to an otherwise neutral space.

Hand tumbling String of Pearls above the bath, pop some luxe planters at bath rim height for an instantly serene space or simply add a bunch of eucalyptus hung upside down into your shower – it will let off a spa-like aroma when the steam from the water hits it.

And if you’re far from green fingered, there are plenty of faux botanicals on the high street that will offer the easiest upkeep possible.

Find out all about the houseplants that will breathe life into your home, here. 

Decorative accessories will make the room look more expensive

If you thought decorative accessories were reserved for curated coffee tables and stylised book shelves, think again. Nothing says “luxury” more than some utterly useless trinkets adorning a room.

Metallic touches work particularly well with a clean white palette so look for gold framed mirrors or trays to house your favourite beauty products and candles on.

The high street has a wealth of options that won’t break the bank either – how sweet is Zara’s turtle-shaped box, perfect for squirreling away cotton wool pads or earbuds out of sight. Or a chic piece of agate to impress your houseguests with.

Art is also a great way to add luxe to a bathroom or loo space. Desenio is our go-to when it comes to affordable art – we’re loving their palm prints for immediate tranquility.

Check out our edit of affordable art prints here. 

Upgrade your towel situation

A five-star must have good towels – the fluffier, the whiter, the better. The high street have loads of options that belie their humble price tags, from H&M’s pastel-hued guest towels to The White Company’s thick hammam-inspired options. Plus, a fresh, waffle knit gown is going to leave you feeling brand new post-bathtime.

Add luxe with furniture

If you have the privilege of space in your bathroom invest in a cabinet to store fresh towels, beauty essentials and toiletries no one need see or a bench to elevate your self-care time. We love natural woods like walnut or light ash.

If you’re bathroom comes more small but perfectly formed, a wooden stool is perfect for adding a touch of luxe and is perfect for harbouring things like candles, pumice stones and jewellery dishes.

Make your storage solutions chic

Small touches from decanting your hand soap into a stylish dispenser, storing vanity products in glass sweetie jars and investing in a nice laundry basket can make the world of difference to your bathroom space.

Look for marble or marble-effect finishes, natural woods and glass for a clean, modern touch – everywhere from H&M to Zara have great options at affordable prices.

Always use the good hand soap

If you’ve been saving the good hand soap or luxury candle you got for Christmas for months surely a global pandemic is the time to get it out? Indulge in some me-time with some of our favourites, from a Diptyque candle (you can’t go wrong with one of their scents) to Byredo’s expensive hand cream (well, if you’re not going out for dinner or drinks you may as well spoil yourself somehow).

And with all the extra hand washing we’re doing, it might be time to invest in, what we think is, the world’s best hand soap, Aesop’s Reverence Hand Wash which cleans and exfoliates in one – fancy.

Upgrade your self-care routine with our guide to the best face masks. 

The products on this page have been selected by our editorial team, however, The Handbook may make a small commission on some products purchased through affiliate links.


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