The latest luxury master bath innovations put health at the forefront, inviting homeowners to reinvent a utilitarian room as a space to unwind and recharge.
A well-designed home offers a retreat from an increasingly frenetic world—but what if you need to retreat just a little more? As Americans increasingly embrace holistic self-care, savvy companies are reframing the bathroom as a sanctuary of calm and wellness. Against a backdrop of luxe fixtures and showy tile, the hottest new amenities evoke spas, meditation centers and experiments from the Goop Lab.
“Time is a precious commodity that the majority of Americans wish they had more of,” says Beatriz Sandoval, director of brand marketing for kitchen appliance brand Thermador. “Now more than ever, designers are looking to create customized rooms for focus and self-care for their clients. Whether that’s a space to apply a face mask while enjoying a glass of wine, or stretching after a difficult day, a relaxing room to retreat to is essential.”
Product manufacturers have stepped up to deliver the ultimate wellness-minded experience, from aromatherapy and chromotherapy to a zero-gravity bathtub that relieves joint stress. Even Thermador is in the game, marketing its under-counter refrigerator drawer as a bathroom essential for cooling towels and storing temperature-sensitive face serums. It makes sense that the bathroom would be the first stop for a wellness makeover: “Everyone has a bathroom and a shower. Now you’re adding on amenities of relaxation,” says Mitch Altman, CEO of steam shower manufacturer ThermaSol.
With the deluge of new products on the market, it can be hard to discern what’s actually good for you and what’s just a gimmick, but that’s the thing about wellness: It’s subjective. What’s relaxing for one person may be annoying to another. There’s no “right” way to design a bathroom for wellness—it’s about personal preference, and often indulgence. Here’s a look at seven products that aim to make the home bathroom a little more spa-like—and maybe help a stressed homeowner chill out.