8 Steps to Turn Your Home Into A Spa

March 29, 2015

The word spa conjures images of ultimate relaxation, cleansing and renewal. Whether part of a fulllength vacation or just a day off, spas offer ways to detach from our stress-filled daily routines. However, a full spa experience can be expensive, making it difficult to incorporate if you’ve chosen a budgetfriendly staycation. Although, with a little effort, any cluttered home can be transformed into a meditative retreat.

1 Get clean. Really clean. Nothing is less spa-like than dirty dishes and dust bunnies, but nothing can ruin a staycation more than spending days cleaning the entire house. The solution: splurge on a one-time maid service.

For the cost of a nice dinner out, companies like MaidPro will send a team of professionals to tackle soap scum and vanquish hard to reach spider webs. Provide plush linens and they’ll even give the bed a complete turndown service.

2 Clear the air. As spring advances, allergies are sure to rear their ugly, runny-nosed head. Air purifiers can trap allergens like pollen, dander and dust to help you breath easy. Spas don’t just purify their air, though; they infuse it.

Adding eucalyptus oil to a vaporizer or humidifier will fill a home with the fresh aroma of a five-star massage room. Unlike scented candles that are merely aromatic, eucalyptus oil vapor helps clear sinuses and chest congestion and relieve symptoms of asthma.

3 Make your own scrub. Hydrating and smoothing, body scrubs not only help skin feel better, they also open pores allowing it to better eliminate toxins. There are two primary forms of scrubs: sea salt and sugar. Since salt granules have jagged edges, use a salt scrub for areas requiring deep exfoliation such as feet, heels, elbows or knees. Sea salt also helps draw toxins from the body and can act as an antiinflammatory for sore muscles. Sugar granules are far softer and make excellent bases for cleansing more sensitive areas such as the face or lips. Brown sugar, table sugar or powdered sugar all make suitable bases. One simple recipie takes one cup sugar, a quarter cup coconut oil and five to eight drops of any essential oil – peppermint, eucalyptus or citruses are among the most popular.

4 Think super luxe plush. There are towels in the bathroom already, but are they spa-worthy? With time and repeated washings, towels lose length, width and color. Acquiring a few plush towels to pamper a freshly primped self can add the final extravagant touch to a spainspired soak. Ultra-soft towels found in spas are typically made of Egyptian cotton or pima cotton; with longer threads, these towels offer quicker dry times and luxurious feel. The Good Housekeeping Institute ranks Macy’s Hotel Collection their best of the best for absorbancy, quick drying and a soft, plump feel.

5 Get ready to sleep. While it seems obvious, prioritizing sleep often gets overlooked. Spas make catching some extra zs easy by following some simple rules. The colors of a room can have an impact on a person’s mood, so bedroom colors should elicit feelings of relaxation and calm. Typically, that means painting bedrooms a blue, green or lavender hue to lower blood pressure and invite sleep. Lighting also plays a substantial role in setting the mood, whether it’s bright and airy or low and sultry. Investing in a dimmer switch with a remote allows for light adjustment even from the comfort of a cozy bed.

6 Best of all, dimmers are economical and easy to install. Wake up slow. If an alarm must be used, consider swapping out that abrasive unit for one that gently progresses a person to wakefulness. Waking up slowly can set a whole new mood for the day, and newer alarm models use slowly increasing light, aroma scents and nature sounds to gradually wake even the soundest dreamers.

7 Stock the refridgerator. Spas pay special attention to the food they serve their guests, so prepping the pantry will ensure homemade delicacies that nourish, as well as satisfy and ignite energy. While spas often hold firm opinions on food, most spa cuisine shares similar foundations. Fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables, such as berries and leafy greens, dominate much of the spa menu. Nutrient rich nuts, whole grains and protein rich foods like black beans make powerful and filling meals, while salmon and other types of fish offer lean protein options.

8 Explore your green thumb. Plants improve air quality in the home by removing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, but research by NASA now shows they also eliminate gases and toxins in a room by as much as 87 percent in just 24 hours. Studies across multiple fields have shown indoor plants reduce stress, improve cognition and creativity and increase feelings of well-being and optimism. Adding flowers can create pops of color during the drab, muddy start to spring. The ability of plants to provide a mental and emotional boost can put the finishing touch on any