A spa day is such a relaxing experience — wouldn’t it be great to have one anytime you want? By incorporating elements of a spa in your home bathroom, you can turn that space into a restful and rejuvenating retreat.

A more modest bench in this bathroom still makes for a comfortable and plush seating option.

This bathroom by Teuco includes a modest yet plush looking, deeply tufted ottoman.

Or, go for the latest in technology with a 3D printed faucet like this one from American Standard.

Vanico’s slate basin is very natural, evoking the feeling of a small natural pool.

This marble pedestal sink is a modern addition.

Underlighting works with all sorts of vanity and bathroom styles, as in this Nortesco design.

A bathroom by star designer Shawn Henderson lets the view dominate.

A more genetically shaped sink can still have an organic feel when it has a natural edge.

If you happen to be building or renovating a bathroom, it’s the perfect time to add spa features to your design. If that’s not an option, there are still things that you can add or change out in your bathroom space to make it feel more calming.

How to make a bathroom feeling like a spa

It’s All About the Mood

Creating the spa atmosphere in any bathroom – large or small is really all about conjuring up the right mood. Sure, you might spend most of your time in the bathroom rushing to get ready for work but doing it in a more Zen-like space is a great way to start the day. Plus, at the end of the day, there’s a relaxing spa-like experience waiting for you. To create the right vibe, reevaluate everything that’s in your bathroom. Does it have the correct feel? You don’t have to spend a lot to do this either. It could be as simple as removing the cute wallpaper and painting the bathroom a serene color, swapping out the plastic cup holding your make-up brushes for a cooler option from somewhere else in your home, or placing your vanity top essentials on a small wooden tray. Think creatively!

Color it Calm

Speaking of repainting the bathroom, part of creating the right mood hinges on using the right colors. Have you ever seen a spa with bright red or neon colored towels? Nope. You don’t want anything in the bathroom that’s going to be a jarring assault to the senses, which is why the colors should be earthy, neutral and serene. As you’re re-evaluating the space, eliminate anything that doesn’t fit the vibe. It’s time for that cutesy novelty shower curtain to go!

Focus on Luxury

The other major element of a spa-like feeling is luxury. This doesn’t have to mean new fixtures and a major bathroom renovation. Change the things that you can afford, starting with the smallest elements. Use the best plush towels that you can afford and the cushiest bath mats, such as those with memory foam. Add some candles and special bath time accessories – essentially anything that makes the basic experience feel special. If the bathroom feels cold, maybe you can splurge on a towel warmer so that as you emerge from the tub or shower, you’ll feel warm and cozy. Remember that the feeling of luxuriousness mainly comes from the small details, so think about the little niceties that will make your bathroom feel more spa-like.

Here are some common elements among spa bathrooms that can fuel your own plans for a better bathing experience.

Clear the Space

Neutral colors and a natural view make helps create a leisurely feeling.

Relaxing bathrooms have a clean and tidy look. A soothing color palette and dreamy features like focal point tub and light and airy window treatments her create a serene space. One of the things you notice about a spa is the lack of clutter or mess, which helps keep the vibe calm. That doesn’t mean the space has to be modern or minimalist. A more traditional or country-style bathroom can still have a calm, spa-like feeling. Careful chosen accessories, a white color palette and natural wood pieces can work together for a relaxing feel.

Mismatched antique furnishings fit the style and keep the mood relaxed.

Include Storage

Clutter is never soothing, so stashing away all your bathroom necessities is paramount in creating a serene environment. Whether you choose all closed cabinetry or include some open shelving, everything needs to be neat and organized. Items stored or displayed in any open shelving must be precisely stacked or stored in attractive containers.

L-Cube bathroom furniture by Christian Werner is clean lined and modern.Multiple vanity levels and a combination of open and closed storage makes for a functional and sleek bathroom.Open shelving above the tub makes the most of a bathroom corner.

Add Special Hardware

A spa-like bathroom should be serene, but not boring. Amp up the design by switching out your hardware and faucets. Smaller changes like these will make big difference in the appeal of the bathroom, even if you can’t renovate the entire space. Adding personal touches or specialty hardware that reflects your personality will make it your own.

Watermark offers faucets that add a touch of understated bling to the bathroom.Even a serene space can include a touch of color like these Nortesco faucet knobs.Or, go for the latest in technology with a 3D printed faucet like this one from American Standard.

Choose Extraordinary Tile

Tile of some kind is a bathroom necessity, but by choosing a special pattern, texture or style, it elevates the space from mundane to marvelous. The kind you choose should reflect what helps you be relaxed and calm. Shiny metallics might be too bold for some, while for other people, they are perfect. The bathroom is a private space so it really needs o be all about you and your desires.

Walker Zanger has spectacular three-dimensional sculptural tile that is perfect in a neutral palette.Artistic Tile offers a variety of shiny, metallic tiles like this foiled style.If a Persian motif is more your style, this one from Tilebar might be appealing.

Choose a Stone Sink

Many spa bathrooms include natural elements like natural wood and stone. One way to make stone a major feature is to choose a stone sink. Whether you choose a light colored material or a darker one, it adds an earthy touch to the bathroom.

Vanico’s slate basin is very natural, evoking the feeling of a small natural pool.A more genetically shaped sink can still have an organic feel when it has a natural edge.Vessel-shaped stone sinks give a particularly natural feel.

Install a Roomy Shower

A big part of a spa bathroom is a luxurious bathing experience, whether that’s in a bathtub or in a shower. Being cramped in a tiny shower is not the stuff of dreams, so you’ll want to have the best shower that your space and budget will allow. Some showers now include LED lighting and sound features.

Vessel-shaped stone sinks give a particularly natural feel.

Add a Rainfall Showerhead

Sometimes it’s the little things that make a showering experience special. Even smaller showers will benefit from a waterfall shower head or other luxe shower sprayer or hardware. This can be one of the more affordable investments in creating a spa experience at home.

A regular shower an be updated with a new rainfall shower component.Luxe shower heads come in all kinds of styles and sizes.

Incorporate Seating

Spa experiences are leisurely and relaxed, and that’s hard to achieve without some sort of seating in the bathroom. If space is plentiful, it’s possible to include expansive or luxurious seating. If not, sometimes a small bench or stool will do the trick. Remember to keep proportions in mind.

This bathroom by Teuco includes a modest yet plush looking, deeply tufted ottoman.A larger, deep chair is an important piece in this spacious bathroom from Teuco.A more modest bench in this bathroom still makes for a comfortable and plush seating option.

Keep Background Lighting Low

While you need good lighting for personal tasks like shaving and make-up application, softer, lower lighting is critical in creating a serene vibe. Low background lighting will keep the mood calm and spa-like.

Softly directed spotlights work well in a spa bathroom.Concealed lighting, like this example under the mirror, adds ambiance without casting harsh light.Underlighting works with all sorts of vanity and bathroom styles, as in this Nortesco design.

Opt for a Soaking Tub

Soaking in a deep tub is a true luxury and today’s new tub designs are well-suited to a spa-style a bathroom. Whether it’s a stand-alone tub, antique claw-footed model or a newer jacuzzi model, they are all indulgent choices for a luxe bathroom space.

Underlighting works with all sorts of vanity and bathroom styles, as in this Nortesco design.An old-fashioned claw foot style is meant for luxuriating.A more modern built-in style can still be relaxing.A modern soaking tub can still be useful for the entire family.

Add Some Marble

You can add upscale materials like marble to your spa bathroom without adding too much bling or shininess. Marble is a versatile, top-shelf choice for a spa space. Whether it’s for a basin or a vanity top, it can elevate the design.

This marble pedestal sink is a modern addition.

Install a Fireplace

If you have the room, adding a fireplace to the bathroom will definitely encourage you to spend more time in the space. Perfect near a soaking tub or even a luxury shower, it provides physical warmth as well as mental relaxation. Today’s sleek gas models make it easier to include this feature in a bathroom.

A bathroom with plenty of space can include a stand-alone fireplace unit like this one.,

Pick minimalist sinks

Sometimes a sleek sink is all that’s required to create a more spa-like feel in a bathroom. Minimalist and modern, they draw attention in a good way. A low profile and sleek hardware contribute to the special feel.

Cool and modern, these sinks are definitely different.Independently standing double sinks offer functionality with a sleek, spa feel.

Feature the View

If you’re fortunate enough to have a killer view from your bathroom, make the most of it. There’s nothing like gazing at a spectacular skyline, blooming garden or rolling waves of the ocean to calm you down. Make sure that your spa bathroom offers you the opportunity to look outward.

A bathroom by star designer Shawn Henderson lets the view dominate.

Use a Lighted Mirror

Add task lighting and create ambiance all at once with a modern lighted mirror. Today’s designs are as functional as they are artful. The lack of switches or cords adds to the appeal of these mirrors.

A bathroom by star designer Shawn Henderson lets the view dominate.

Add a Sauna

in the ultimate spa experience, homeowners with cash to spare can now include a self-contained sauna unit. Not only are these unites electronically controlled, they are stylish and feature extras like aromatherapy and colored LED lighting.

Visually attractive and physically indulgent, personal saunas are the ultimate in spa features.

Add Natural Materials

Being in nature is known to be very relaxing, which is why you typically find lots of wood and nature-inspired elements in a spa. Whenever possible, bring elements of nature into the bathroom, especially if you live in a rental with a bathroom that’s more like a tiled porcelain box. Add plants, wooden accessories, a nature print or any other elements that remind you of the outdoors. You could even consider a removable peel-and-stick product for an accent wall that features a wood-like print or a nature mural.

Related: Top 7 Tips for a Successful DIY Bathroom Remodel

Even a small touch of natural materials makes a big difference. This mirror from Klem has an organic shape and a natural wood frame, which emphasizes the spa feeling in this already Zen-like bathroom design. Of course, this type of mirror can be added to just about any style of bathroom.

An accent wall covered in wood is a great way to add natural materials to the bathroom, but it may not be the most practical. Now, however, large-scale digital printing has made lifelike wallpaper versions of natural surfaces possible, so it’s far easier to add these to a bathroom. This is perfect for a rustic style bathroom that needs a touch of wood to be more nature-focused.

Load Up on Small Luxuries

As we already said, the devil is in the details so add as many small luxuries as you can to make your bathroom feel like a spa. Set up a wireless speaker tuned to your favorite calming station so it can stream at the touch of a button. Luxe soap or bath salts in your favorite scent, candles or a diffuser, a bath caddy for reading in the tub or a bathtub pillow – whatever calms you is the perfect detail to add.

This great tub from Victoria and Albert has a moveable shelf that puts everything within reach while you’re luxuriating. Perfect for bathing accessories, a cup of tea or a book, this caddy is one of the little extras that makes a big difference in ramping up the luxury factor in your bathroom.

Candles are another great spa bathroom luxury, not just for the scent that they disperse but also for the mood they create. Sure, you can get the right vibe with a dollar-store candle, but for real luxury, try a more opulent style. These candles from Ooum come in a gorgeous marble container that’s refillable – so good for the environment too. Plus, these look so much better than a little votive style candle.

Upgrade the Seat

If your bathroom toilet getting up there in age, it’s time for an upgrade. Not only do newer models save water, but they come in different heights and designs. Even if a new toilet isn’t in the budget, a new toilet seat can make all the difference, and we’re not talking about the 1970’s padded style. Today’s toilet seats come in heated versions as well as bidet models that are easily added to an existing toilet.

Kohler’s Persuade Curv toilet has the slim yet curvy profile of many new toilet designs, which are also available in what is called a comfort height. While a standard toilet is 15 inches high, these models range from two to four inches taller, which is great for tall people or those who have mobility or knee issues.

Spend more time in the tub and less time cleaning the bathroom with a new model toilet that keeps itself clean. Kohler says its Continuous Clean technology keeps the fixture clean five times longer. New water flushing technology has more power and a full swirling motion that sweeps the whole bowl, plus the CleanCoat™ surface treatment keeps bacteria and mineral deposits from sticking to the inside.

Related: Why You Should Consider a Bidet Converter Kit

Upgrade the Towels and Rugs

It may seem like the smallest item on the list, but towels and rugs are among the most important elements in the bathroom. Plush, luxurious towels make even a rushed shower a more calming experience. With regard to bathroom rugs, the most Zen-like is a bamboo bathmat for outside the shower, but it you prefer something warm and cushy underfoot, pick something thick and easily washable for the best spa bathroom experience. These are not items that you want to skimp on.

Pretty towels and plenty of them create a mood of abundant luxury. This bathroom has a stacks of all sizes, from hand towels to bath towels, all nicely displayed. If your bathroom isn’t big enough to have them all out, try keeping a selection rolled and nicely displayed in a basket, even if it’s just the hand towels.

This bathroom – already pretty serene and reminiscent of a spa – has a lovely basket of towels by the tub. This not only looks luxe but also is very handy for the person bathing. It even has a number of the other essential elements that we’ve mentioned.