By Margareth Montenegro
After a long day of dealing with stress at work, homeowners are seeking a place where they can get away from it all. Most homeowners are turning their master bathrooms into an-in house luxurious retreat. With new technology, and environmentally friendly and energy efficient products available, homeowners find it easier to turn any bathroom into their private haven. According to the National Association of Home Builders Remodelers (nahb.org), homeowners are creating a spa-like sanctuary in their own bathrooms, investing a good amount of money to remodel, and increasing their return up to 90 percent.
In the past, bathrooms were made small and cramped, and were not considered a place people would spend much time in. Now, wanting a place to relax, homeowners are expanding that space to accommodate all the offerings available for peace and quiet. When remodeling, they are using the space of adjoining rooms to extend the bathroom for the sake of mind and body indulgence.
An endless array of new concepts like steam saunas or showers, multiple shower heads, air bath therapy, tubs with reflective colors and fragrances, luxurious sinks and toilets, warm floors, and silent ventilation can give any bathroom the soothing comfort offered by a spa.
A popular choice in whirlpools is the air-jetted kind. An air-jetted tub gives off gentle, champagne-like bubbles by forcing air into a high-pressure stream of water. With an air-jetted tub, a homeowner can receive the full experience of a spa by adding bath oils, sea salts, or bubbles that won't clog or damage the system. An air-jetted system doesn't circulate water, lessening the build up of residue and the growth of mold, bacteria and fungus. It also prevents hair or small objects from getting sucked into the openings.
Consumers have a choice of adding other therapeutic benefits with an air-jetted tub. Some homeowners prefer adding chromatherapy for mood stimulation, by installing lights inside the tub controlled by a remote. Chromatherapy is a way of using colors of the rainbow as a holistic healer to adjust ones mood and emotions. Air-jetted tubs can also be enhanced with inline heaters, which maintain water at a warm temperature. A few manufacturers are offering a combination of water jets and air jets with the added options for that extra relaxation.
Water-jet whirlpools are still an economical option that many homeowners can have in their bathrooms. A water jet sucks in water and shoots it back, creating stronger blasts through fewer and larger openings, and causing some bathers to scurry away. A drawback to a water-jet whirlpool is the potential growth of fungus, mold, and bacteria because the water from the system doesn't fully drain out. Water jet tubs offer therapeutic massages, but proper maintenance is required to get its full effect in every use.
Air and water jet tubs come in different sizes, finishes and styles. Both offer a wide range of shapes that contour to the body instead of lying in flat. Both can either be place to fit into a corner or fit into a normal size tub space. However, only air-jetted tubs offer hydrotherapy right in your own bathroom.
Another popular trend in creating an ultimate place of serenity is having soaking tubs instead of whirlpool tubs. These tubs fill up to the chin and immerses the body in warm water. A good example of deep soaking tubs is the Japanese barrel or an antique claw foot tub. Soaking tubs also come in various sizes, styles and finishes, offering luxury and relaxation.
Those who don't like the idea of having a bathtub taking up space or the idea of taking time to fill up a tub with water may opt for a vertical shower spa. Instead of filling water up and soaking in it, consumers enjoy the pulsation of multiple showerheads hitting their body, large showerheads cascading down soaking the entire body, and having the control of the water temperature. Many homeowners who expand their bathroom are including two vertical shower systems to fit two people while showering. Some vertical showers are being installed with steam units and a bench to sit on while the steam consumes the bath, creating a personal sauna.
Showers and baths are not the only things that can transform a bathroom into the warm environmental comfort of a spa; the flooring is also an important aspect. Homeowners are installing heated systems run by electric or water underneath their flooring. Consumers prefer stepping out of a warm bath onto a warm floor instead of stepping on to a floor that sends chills up the spine. Not only do these floors add warmth to the floor, they also warm up the entire room from floor to ceiling.
A built-in entertainment system can offer bathers an array of music and programs while relaxing. Part of the entertainment system is having televisions placed in mirrors, radio controlled by waterproof remote, and built-in wall speakers. Most homeowners can't afford having an entertainment system installed, so a portable radio can still offer the soothing sounds of a spa.
Upgrading faucets, sinks and toilets will also contribute to the ultimate spa experience by providing luxury. Many new fixtures come in unique designs and styles enhancing the look to a bathroom regardless how large or small the remodeling budget is. Faucets and sinks are chosen by material they are made of and the style they will give to the bathroom. Materials such as granite, quartz or marble offer a luxurious look. Toilets are a major element in a bathroom. Many homeowners are giving their toilets their own areas by building walls around them.
Homeowners with small bathroom-remodeling budgets can still find ways to be in tune with this new trend of turning a bathroom into a spa. Painting the bathroom in a light or pastel color can create a sense of harmony. Buying a few accessories such as aromatherapy candles, fog-free mirror, towel warmers, or new lighting can add the relaxation and soothing experience a spa offers. Upgrading the showerhead with one that offers different settings creates an inexpensive, invigorating spa experience. Investing in a portable jet spa that attaches to the side of the tub and releases air bubbles around the body is also an inexpensive way to get the massaging effect of a whirlpool tub.
Homeowners who create the ultimate luxury spa take their ideas from television, a magazine, or from a visit to a spa or hotel, wanting to replicate what they see. They are willing to spend any disposable income on any size bathroom for the added value, not just on the return, but also on health. Consumers seek comfort, relaxation, luxury, and warmth from a bathroom that offers a place to escape in the safety and privacy of their homes.
Natural At Home Spa Treatments....Arriving next week!!!
