How to Create a Relaxing Bathroom for Under $100

Stick to one color in the bathroom for a calming atmosphere.

The bathroom is often the only room in the house where you can go to relax and enjoy privacy. For a relaxing bathroom under $100, start with a thorough cleaning and recreate a soothing spa environment in your home with a few inexpensive additions. Add a calming color to the walls, and choose your accessories carefully to avoid overcrowding the space. Keeping things simple and clean will make your bathroom a relaxing retreat in which you'll look forward to spending time.

Things You'll Need

• Cleaning supplies
• Paint
• Paintbrush
• Candles
• Plants
• Towels and washcloths
• Old books
• Inexpensive picture frames

Instructions

1. Clean the room well. Scrub the bathtub, shower, sinks and vanity. Wipe down the mirror and faucet. A clean room is instantly more relaxing that a dirty one. Place unattractive items in the drawers and cabinets. While you need your hair dryer and shaving cream in the bathroom, they don't need to take top billing on the vanity. Save that space for something like a plant or favorite picture.

2. Paint the walls a soothing color. A calming blue or green or a clean white are good choices for a relaxing bathroom. Look for paint on sale for around $15 per gallon.

3. Place a lamp on the vanity. Bathrooms require bright light for makeup application and shaving, but harsh fluorescent lighting is anything but relaxing. Place a small lamp in the room to give you softer lighting when bright lights aren't required. A small table lamp will give the room a soothing glow.

4. Group candles beside the bathtub. Choose scented candles to increase the relaxation factor. Vanilla and lavender are subtle scents appropriate for a bathroom.

5. Place a plant in the corner to bring a bit of the outdoors in. Peace lilies and ferns thrive in moist bathroom environments. If you don't have a green thumb, choose a realistic silk version to brighten a dull corner of the room.

6. Use matching towels and washcloths. Having all of your bath linens the same color introduces order and calm to the space. For a cohesive look, match your towels and washcloths to the wall paint.

7. Cut out botanical prints from old books and place them in inexpensive frames from the dollar store. They are an inexpensive way to add quality artwork to your walls and tabletops. You can also frame cherished snapshots.

References

• Show Mom the Money; Give Yourself a "New" Bathroom for Under $100; Nicole Dean;
• Gardening Know How: Plants for Your Bathroom