Pamper yourself with a new spa in your home

Dreaming of a vacation at a relaxing spa where you can unwind in an oversized soaking tub or luxurious steam shower? One way you can escape, and enhance your home’s value, is to turn your master bathroom into an in-home retreat. In fact, making the bathroom a place to slow down and relax is one of today’s most popular home remodeling projects, as homeowners seek to create the ultimate spa experience without leaving the comforts of their own homes.

According to the American Standard Bathroom Habits Survey, American consumers revealed that they would spend between $2,500 and $7,500 to remodel and decorate their bathrooms. And, 30 percent indicated they would be willing to spend more than $10,000 to convert their space into a relaxing sanctuary. It’s well worth it, and for more reasons than just chillin’ out. Bathroom remodels add value to your home and can generate up to a 90 percent return on your investment.

But, where to begin the journey? Following are some bathroom tips and trends to help you design a bathroom that beckons you to relax and unwind.

Wash the Day Away

Homeowners are knocking down walls to make their current bathroom larger, more functional and comfortable. Expanding the size of the room allows homeowners to design “his and hers” private space, such as separate showers, deep double sinks, dual mirrors and adjustable vanities.

Today’s showers offer more sophisticated features than ever before. Imagine standing under a cascading rain-fall shower head, while being massaged by six shower streams strategically encircling you. Or, decompress by taking a stress-reducing steam shower. More than ever, homeowners are opting for showers with automatic temperature controls and frameless edges that present a “clean” look in the bathroom. For homeowners yearning for a relaxing bath, consider a near total emersion whirlpool bathtub that continuously re-circulates heated water.

All of this down time can be made even more enjoyable while listening to soothing music from a surround sound entertainment system or watching a new plasma television. This kind of technology, typically reserved for family great rooms, is growing in popularity for the master bathroom.

Buck Tradition

Homeowners today are including furniture like chaise lounges, chairs and even recliners for reading and relaxing in their remodeled bathrooms. Even fireplaces are making their way into master bath space, to help complete the warm and inviting haven.

Include nontraditional furniture such as an armoire for linen storage or as an entertainment center in your new bath. More homeowners are selecting vintage pieces to use as vanities or for decorative accents such as towel racks or sitting chairs. Traditional-styled cabinetry, made to look like freestanding furniture, is growing in popularity as well.

Tile Creates Unique Designs

Today’s heated tile flooring will take the edge off stepping out of your warm shower or bathtub. Brilliantly colored tile floors now come in myriad designs and materials, allowing homeowners to create personal designs.

Not only are homeowners using tile on the floor, but they are creating unique designs for the shower and tub area. Consider using ocean colored glass tile to create a warm and relaxing shower atmosphere. To create the look on a budget, many homeowners are opting to combine glass and porcelain tile to craft accents or borders that are more affordable.

To help you create your perfect in-home retreat, contact a professional remodeler. For information on hiring a professional remodeler in our area, contact the professionals at the Spokane Home Builders Association at (509) 532-4990.

If you want to see firsthand some of the latest and most innovative products and services available, plan to attend the Premier Home Show April 21-23 at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center, presented by the Spokane Home Builders Association, Country Homes Power and Marquis Spas. Come see what the trends are, not only in master bathroom retreats, but every other aspect of the home, as well. For show and ticket information, visit our Web site at www.shba.com.