It seems almost impossible to make a bathroom space feel luxurious without putting in a large soaking tub. Every image in my mind of self-pampering includes scented bath salts, deep warm water, and stacks of fluffy white towels. So, in designing my forever bathroom in my forever home, there should be no question over a bathtub, right? I drew several plans with a large feature tub centered prominently in the bathroom. And then I drew several more trying to tuck in into a corner to save space. I kept battling myself over whether or not I really wanted this luxury. What I really need in a bathroom, is a nice workable space to clean up and get ready for the day. It’s not very often I actually take the time to fill a tub in the evening and relax. Most days, I’m happy to just get my teeth brushed and hit my pillow before my eyes fall out of my head. So long story short, the bathtub got erased from the drawing board.
Clean, efficient, roomy without being overly large, and a touch of luxury. These are the qualities I decided I really wanted in my bathroom. A simple vanity with double sinks, a walk-in doorless shower, and a linen cabinet— these are the main components of this room. Everything I need and nothing I don’t.
However— To say that I don’t have a tub is not quite fair. We had a little backup plan for the times when I really want to warm up and relax in some hot water. Just on the other side of the exterior door, is a small private yard with an outdoor hot tub. Always hot. Always filled. And I can even add scented salts if I want. So I guess I get to have my cake and eat it too, as they say. I have a minimal and efficient bathroom that does the everyday work I need, without the extra facilities to clean around that I don’t use frequently. And, I have a way to luxuriate in hot water when I want, with the added bonus of outside fresh air and a starry sky.
A bathroom gets a lot of use and has a lot of parts to make it useful, including some you don’t see. The other luxury I added to this room, is a heated floor. It’s not something that you can make look good in a picture, but the joy of having a warm floor when you step out of the shower is worth a thousand words. Also, there is just the right amount of storage in this room to hold what I need and keep everything within easy reach on a busy morning.
A couple of art prints, a linen cabinet stocked with fresh white towels, and a faux plant for texture, complete the feel of a personal spa and add to that touch of luxury I was looking for. All I need now is an uninterrupted evening and a candle to fully pamper myself and take advantage of my simple, but just right, bathroom.
