3 Luxurious Ways to Relax in Your Bathroom

For many homeowners, a bathroom is more than just a functional room – it’s a space where they can retreat to at the beginning or end of a long day to relax and unwind. A variety of fixtures, products and systems are available to enhance relaxation, providing ways to transform the utilitarian room into a space with the ambience of an exclusive spa.

Here are three luxurious ways to relax in the privacy of your own bathroom:

Steam Showers

A soothing steam used to be an indulgence that only health spas and luxury resorts could offer, but today, a broad array of steam showers are available for the home as well. Some can be installed into an existing shower stall, and others are free-standing steam and shower units. A stand-alone generator provides the power for existing showers.

These generators are highly efficient – heating water to a steamy temperature in about one minute. A pipe carries the moist air to the shower’s disperser, which distributes the vapor throughout the shower unit. Some models feature a built-in well for aromatic oils, turning the steam into an aromatherapy experience.

Free-standing steam shower units come with the generator built into the stall and often include amenities like built-in seating, storage for bath products, and towel bars. Steam showers typically come equipped with keypad operation and with safety protections that automatically turns the steam off should the steam reach unsafe temperatures.

Radiant Floor Heating

When a long soak in a bathtub at the end of a busy day is the ideal way to relax, luxury can come in quite a primitive form: warmth. With radiant floor heating, that warmth is provided by electric wiring or hot water tubing installed beneath the floor.

Electric radiant systems use loops of wiring to spread the heat evenly over the surface. Hot water systems use a boiler or water heater to send warmed water through lengths of polyethylene tubing. Radiant floor heating is great for smaller bathrooms, as the heating elements take up no floor space and operate silently.

Radiant floor heating is becoming an increasingly popular choice for bathrooms with stone or tile floors, materials that are naturally cool to the touch.

Entertainment Centers

Once seen only in expensive five-star resorts, televisions and sound systems designed for a bathroom environment are now available for home bathrooms as well. Those who prefer an invigorating shower or steam to get them going in the morning may enjoy listening to music piped from built-in speakers.

For bathers, fully waterproof televisions are available, too. The televisions feature heated screens that prevent them from misting over in humid environments, and they come with completely waterproof remote controls that are designed to float in bathtubs.

Most people would rather enjoy a spa experience in the privacy of their own homes. Whether installing amenities like steam showers or whirlpool bathtubs, or whether adding lighting, heating or entertainment systems, the best bathroom improvements will transform a hard-working bathroom into a luxurious, personalized space.

Image by PPacificVancouver, and licensed under Creative Commons.

This guest post was written by BathandKitchenStudio.com, which offers a large variety of discount Bathroom and Kitchen fixtures. Check us out for great prices on designer faucets and accessories!