Turn your bathroom into a dedicated space for embracing mindfulness.

This is the concept of being completely present in the moment and paying attention to your thoughts, the way your body is feeling, and your immediate surroundings. It encourages you to forget the past and the present, and to be fully conscious in the now.

Mindfulness comes with a wide range of wellbeing benefits and is even used as a treatment for serious mental health issues. It can break negative thought patterns, boost your emotional resilience, and improve your focus for benefits that extend far beyond your bathroom.

To create an interior that encourages mindfulness, declutter the space and focus on reducing sensory noise. Low lighting and soft textures, for instance, are often gentler for your senses and give you the mental space you need to be utterly in the moment.

A messy, cluttered environment is known to directly increase stress levels. By creating a serene bathroom, you can lower cortisol (the stress-causing hormone) and find peace, even in the middle of a hectic day.

Focus on reducing clutter by incorporating functional storage. Opt for units with drawers or doors so that you can hide away any mess, and add handy wicker baskets and pots to your shelves for aesthetic organisation.

Limit bathroom decor to items that enhance relaxation. Explore options for candles and oil burners, for instance, and use calming essential oils like lavender and bergamot orange. A jar of bath salts and a stack of fluffy, neatly folded towels will add to the spa-like aesthetic.

Your bathroom is the perfect space to embrace biophilic design. This is an interior design concept that’s heavily inspired by nature, helping to blend your interiors with the peace and restorative effects of the great outdoors.

Biophilic design has been found to improve relaxation while reducing stress and symptoms of depression. It’s also linked to a reduction in chronic pain and migraines, boosting both physical and mental well-being.

To embrace biophilic design, start by choosing natural materials, like stone tiles and wooden furnishings. Introduce nature-inspired tones through decor like rust-red towels, sage green curtains, or emerald wall tiles.

House plants make for fantastic, nature-inspired decor that perfectly suits bathrooms. Moisture-loving plants, like ferns and ivy, thrive in humid environments, and their ability to draw water from the air can help fight mould in your home.

For a functional biophilic bathroom, you can also hang a eucalyptus bunch around your bath or shower. The steam of the water will trigger the eucalyptus to release natural, fragrant oils into the air, helping you breathe easier and creating a serene, nature-inspired space.

If you struggle with insomnia, incorporating relaxing bathroom ideas into your evening routine could help you sleep better.

A warm bath or shower, for example, can encourage rest and improve your sleep cycle.  The water slightly raises your body temperature, which then cools when you step out and dry off. This temperature fluctuation signals to your body that it’s time to wind down, helping you fall asleep quickly and achieve deeper rest.

Incorporating calming elements into your bathroom design can make this nightly ritual even more effective. Focus on spa bathroom lighting, for instance, with soft, warm-light bulbs and dimmers to transition your lighting from day to night. Add a diffuser or candle with calming essential oils for a fragrant wind-down.

By making your bathroom a sanctuary, you create a space that encourages healthier sleep hygiene, too. This is a space to let go of the day and relax, rather than scrolling on your phone and watching TV. You’re embracing activities that work alongside your circadian rhythm for deeper, more restorative sleep.

A beautiful bathroom is a space you want to be in. Doing your evening skincare is no longer a chore, but a chance to reflect on your day and have a moment to yourself. This encourages you to maintain a consistent self-care routine, which does wonders for well-being.

When carried out mindfully, self-care helps you feel better both physically and mentally. It reduces stress, increases positive feelings of self-worth, and is an effective treatment for mental health issues (when used alongside other professionally-led treatments). In the long term, it can transform your quality of life for a healthier, happier you.

A bathroom you can relax in encourages you to embrace self-care habits, like:

• Taking a relaxing shower
• Treating yourself to Epsom salt baths
• Doing a weekly hair mask
• Moisturising your skin after washing

You might even light a candle or play relaxing music while you do this, taking the time out of your day to focus on you, and you alone.

While self-care should extend to other practices, like exercise and cooking healthy meals, a serene bathroom is the perfect place to start establishing your routine.

One thing all these benefits have in common? They make you happier. A calming bathroom that you love to step into is an instant mood booster. It’s clean and warm, away from the chaos of the day, and a haven that’s designed entirely for you.

There are also plenty of chances to increase your dopamine levels, which is one of the feel-good hormones in your body. Take a cold shower to trigger dopamine and serotonin (the happy hormone), before wrapping up in a warm, fluffy towel. Enjoy the scents of your soaps and candles, and the feel of a soft bath mat under clean feet.

By being mindful and opting for wellbeing-led design, your bathroom can become so much more than a functional space. It transforms into a retreat to lift your mood, set you up for a great day, and help you wind down when it’s over.

Just remember to choose your decor wisely and opt for natural bathroom tiles to embrace the spa-like feel of your space.