I don’t know anyone who doesn’t work hard and has their post-work rituals. Personally, my decompression and relaxation start before I even arrive home. I often listen to something that brings laughter or inspiration on my way back. Once home, I remove my shoes, wash my hands with moisturizing soap to stay germ-free, and work out. After exercising, I head to the shower, where my complete decompression process occurs, albeit with some modifications over time.
Spa Retreat At Home
1) Showerhead The power of a good showerhead is never underestimated, and if you are renting, it is a modification your landlord won’t mind you making. A good showerhead can do wonders in the relaxation and decompression department. Another feature, especially if you live in a cold climate, is a nice feature that will help you decompress warm towels.
2) Warm Towels on a cold fall or winter day can relax your muscles and help decompress the mind. If you are lucky like me, you have a cast iron heating system in your bathroom, but if you do not have heat in your bathroom or you have electric baseboard heating and would like to avoid the stress of a fire hazard, the next best thing is a towel warmer. You can find towel warmers where you hang your towel on a rack, or you can find a bucket style. A towel warmer can be a luxury that doesn’t have to break the bank either. Many online retailers have them available for under $200. Here are a few of my favorites
TMWINGS Towel warmer bucket. I like this one since it won’t allow towels to overheat. You can stick multiple towels. You can set up the towel warmer for 15-60 minutes. It only takes 6-10 minutes to heat up. It doesn’t take up much space in your bathroom, which is excellent for folks who live in Boston, where bathrooms might not be super large. TMWINGS Towel Warmer is only 20.5 high and 13.2 wide. Depending on the thickness of the towels, you can fit at least two bath towels and some small hand towels. Or you can put a bathrobe and towels in it. 
Amazon has a Stainless Steel Black Mat towel rack if you want a towel rack vs. a bucket. It heats up quickly in under 10 minutes, with six bars to hang towels. It also comes in silver; best of all, it’s under $100. You might need special permission to install a different drying rack if you rent. The drying rack you do also plug it in, but the cord is pretty long, so you should have some flexibility.
Luxury Linens
2) Bathmat Another area of the bathroom that can help you decompress and will also help keep your bathmat dry and not smelling musty is a bathmat heating pad. You put the heating pad on your floor, plug it in, and put your bathmat underneath it. The heating pad is waterproof; you can get out of the shower and feel warm from your feet to your head. The heating pads are available in all different sizes so you can buy multiple ones for other rooms in your house. The Bathroom pad is a 2 X3 Rug. If you do not want to go the heated route. You should invest in a bathmat that holds up well, is easy to keep clean, and feels good on your feet when you get out of the shower.
3) Towels Quality towels are essential for creating a spa-like atmosphere in your bathroom, enhancing your relaxation after a long day. Notice how upscale hotels often have plush towels? You don’t have to splurge to get them; stores like TJ Maxx, Target, and CB2, to suggest a few. Invest in soft and fluffy towels that you can touch and feel. Try washing them with white vinegar and regular detergent to maintain their quality. One cup of white vinegar can significantly affect your towel’s look and feel. Give it a try in your next laundry load! I promise your towels will feel like they did when you first bought them and will not smell like vinegar.
Set the Mood
Set the mood the best you can. I always have two essential items in my bathroom and don’t always choose the cheapest option. One is fragrant moisturizing soap for both myself and my guests. The other varies between a homemade reed diffuser I started during COVID and a quality spray scent. If you want the DIY reed diffuser, please message me for details. When I don’t use reed diffusers, I opt for an elegant candle to create a spa-like ambiance and a pleasant fragrance. They set the mood to decompress and relax.
Candles
Despite not being a candle enthusiast, I’m a big fan of Lumiere Lauren, a local company based in Marblehead, Mass. Their soy-based candles have subtle scents and attractive containers, and they also create beautiful flower arrangements, making them an ideal choice for holiday centerpieces. Apologies for going off-topic, but I genuinely love Lumiere Lauren; their candles can transform your bathroom into a spa-like oasis. As for hand soap, it must be gentle on sensitive skin. While Soft Soap for sensitive skin is a reliable choice, I also have two year-round favorites and a seasonal treat.
4) Power of Good Soap
- Dove Antibacterial is excellent for sensitive skin and keeps hands moisturized, which is essential during winter. You can find it at most Target and Amazon.com.
- Moulton Brown, I have to be honest. I love all their hand soaps and lotions. They smell great, and they never make my hands dry. Yes, it’s not super cheap, $19-$24 for hand soap, but it’s a nice splurge once in a while
- William Sonoma Winter Forest smells excellent and kind, says New England. They sell a small 16-oz container of Soap for $14.95, and the refill is $22.95. They also make candles and diffusers in the same scent.
Spa Features bonus touches.
To make your bathroom a more spa-like experience to help you decompress, you can change the decor and find some great ideas in renter-friendly ways to update a bathroom. If you can change out the lighting in your bathroom, paint your bathroom in calm, relaxing colors. Colors like blues, greens, tans, white, and gray all have a cooling feel. Last, adding Lavender or Eucalyptus and using both in your shower can help you relax and decompress.
Power of Music
I am a person who loves music, so throughout my day, I often listen to music; so, taking a shower, why would you expect anything different? I powered up my iPad, recently invested in a Bluetooth speaker, paired them, and listened to whatever was playing on Sirus XM. By the time I get out of the shower, the day might not have washed away, but I feel alot more relaxed and find I sleep better at night.
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