Friday, March 23, 2012

Steals and Splurges: 20 Ideas for a Spa-Inspired Bathroom You’ll Both Love

It's shopping time ladies and gentlemen!

Article taken off ivillage.com

Steals and Splurges: 20 Ideas for a Spa-Inspired Bathroom You’ll Both Love


Choose Calming Curtains

Satisfy both your decorating styles with a solid shower curtain. Made from organically grown European hemp, Rawganique’s eco-friendly shower curtains are chemical-free and come in 10 colors. Choose natural or ivory to tone down a colorful bathroom, or try indigo to add drama to a more subdued space.

Splurge: Hemp Shower Curtains, from $50 at Rawganique.com

If you're looking for something cheaper, but don't want to skimp on style, this pleated curtain from Bed, Bath and Beyond will do the trick. With a neutral color and a bit of texture, it's an affordable way to spruce up your shower.

Steal: Haven Pleated Fabric Shower Curtain, $9.99 at Bedbathandbeyond.com


Add a Spring to Your Step

Cotton bath mats never seem to stay in place plus they get grungy fast. For a true spa-like feel, try a wooden one. This teak mat has a silky-smooth finish and will keep water from pooling around your feet.

Splurge: Teak Bath Mat, $99 at Frontgate.com

Transport yourselves to a serene place with this pebble mat that’s made of natural stones and is heavenly to step on with bare feet.

Steal: Pebble Mat, $44. 95 at Cb2.com


Set the Scene with the Right Scent

For a real spa-like setting, light some candles. Diptyque’s Vetyver candle blends the masculine and feminine with hints of juniper, cedarwood and their floral fragrance, Vetyverio.

Splurge: Vetyver Diptyqe Candle, $60 at Diptyqueparis.com

If spending $60 on a single candle seems absurd, try this soy candle gift set from Pacifica. You’ll get nine 3-oz soy candles in sexy scents such as Tuscan Blood Orange, Mexican Cocoa and Mediterranean Fig.

Steal: Soy Candle Gift Set, $45 at Pacificaperfume.com


Keep Dirty Laundry Where it Belongs

Spas rely on hampers for a reason: piles of dirty clothes make it hard to relax. Put one in your bathroom to keep dirty socks and wet towels from covering the floor. To keep white and colored clothes separate, go with Pottery Barn’s Savannah Divided Hamper. Made from handwoven seagrass, it has cut-out handles for easy transport and removable cotton liners.

Splurge: Savannah Divided Hamper, $149 at Potterybarn.com

A cheaper alternative is this oval hamper that’s made from hand woven banana leaves. Use it for dirty laundry or to store bath towels.

Steal: Cost Plus World Market Hamper, $49.99 at Worldmarket.com


Organize Your Bath Accessories

Keep the spa theme going with a matching set of bath accessories. Made with capiz shell veneers on fiberglass, this glamorous one has a soap dish, tray, pump dispenser, tissue box cover and wastebasket.

Splurge: Natural Capiz Bath Accessories, from $45 at Horchow.com

Handcarved in India using soapstone, this minimalist set is smooth and serene.

Steal: Stoneware Bath Accessories, from $8 at Westelm.com


Contain Clutter

Keeping clutter to a minimum is essential in a spa-like bathroom. A glass cabinet like this one can hold all your extra bath products and linens while adding some vintage flair at the same time.

Splurge: Small Cabinet with Glass Doors, $395 on Etsy.com

In a smaller space, a floor standing ladder can keep bigger bathroom essentials organized. This one has from Pottery Barn has four shelves for everything from bath soaps and scrubs to a bunch of plush towels.

Steal: Floor Standing Ladder, $199 at Potterybarn.com


Kick Back and Relax

To make the most of your tub, buy a bath caddy. This one has space for a book, your favorite bath products and even a glass of wine. Bonus: it’s made from teak, a wood that’s great for high-moisture areas.

Splurge: Aquala Bathtub Caddy, $49.95 at Umbra.com

This nickel bath caddy from Bed, Bath and Beyond will also make tub time a treat and even has space for a candle.

Steal: Across-the-Tub Satin Nickel Caddy, $29.99 at Bedbathandbeyond.com


Put Your Makeup in Its Place

Women usually outdo men when it comes to toiletries. A makeup organizer can help you keep track of your cosmetics and create a sense of calm in a shared space. This stylish wooden one features 21 holes for everything from makeup brushes to mascara. Not only will it keep your cosmetics organized, it'll look cool too.

Splurge: Wooden Cosmetic Makeup Organizer, $140 at Etsy.com

If you have less space to work with, give this makeup and jewelry organizer a try. Designed by a newly married man who wanted to contain his wife's clutter, it's a compact design that comes with two removable trays.

Steal: Compaca Cosmetic, $25 at Umbra.com


Never Fight Over Toilet Paper Again

To keep you and your partner from bickering over who did or didn't refill the toilet paper, it's best to keep spare rolls nearby. The trick is to find a storage container that isn't a major eyesore. Umbra's toilet paper stand offers the best of both worlds: it dispenses one roll while holding five others in reserve, so no one(guests included!) will need to scramble to find a new roll.

Splurge: Tucan Toilet Paper Stand, $30 at Umbra.com

If you'd like a separate storage container, this smaller model has an over-the-tank design that keeps spare rolls right where you need them.

Steal: Over-the-Tank Three-Roll Tissue Holder, $14.99 at Bedbathandbeyond.com


Keep Plush Towels

Nothing makes a bathroom feel more like a spa than big, fluffy towels. Macy’s Hotel Collection Bath Towels get rave reviews for being ultra-soft and absorbent. Available in a selection of soothing pastels, they take bath time to the next level.

Splurge: Hotel Collection towels, from $17 at Macys.com

Made with 100% Turkish cotton, these stylish Diane Von Furstenberg Studio towels come in gorgeous jewel tones and are super absorbent. Even better: they won’t break the bank.

Steal: DVF Swirl Wave towels, from $8.99 at Bedbathandbeyond.com