The Best Bathroom Upgrades for a Spa-Like Experience at Home
Photo: Kara Mercer
I don’t know why we treat bathrooms like afterthoughts. You start every day there. You end every day there. If any room deserves an upgrade, it’s this one. The good news is that turning your bathroom into a spa experience doesn’t mean a full renovation. Most of the difference comes from textures, scents, and lighting, not construction.
I’ve renovated a lot of bathrooms, including the ones at Casa Tierra, where guests expect actual spa vibes. Here’s what I’ve learned about the upgrades that matter most, in order.
I’ve got more ideas to upgrade your bathroom! Check out Easy Bathroom Upgrades (That Don’t Require Renovation)
Photo: Kara Mercer
best bathroom upgrades
Start With the Towels
You wash your face in the morning. The first thing to touch it should feel like a spa. Cheap towels are the single biggest tell that a bathroom is not a spa bathroom. Swap them first, swap them all.
See my picks for the Best Towels on a Budget.
best bathroom upgrades
The Robe and Slipper Moment
A good robe and real slippers change how you move through your morning. Invest in a waffle robe, or if you run cold, a terry robe with a hood. Slippers, actual spa slippers, not the ratty ones from 2017.
Photo: Sara Ligorria Tramp
best bathroom upgrades
The Showerhead Upgrade
If you rent and can only change one thing, change this. A good rainfall or high-pressure showerhead is under a hundred bucks and unscrews in ten minutes. It’s the highest-impact bathroom upgrade under $200, full stop.
See my picks for the Best Showerhead Upgrades
best bathroom upgrades
Eucalyptus in the Shower
Every spa does this for a reason. Hang a bunch of fresh eucalyptus from your showerhead. Steam releases the oils. Your shower smells like a high-end resort for three weeks. Ten dollars. Game-changing.
Photo: Sara Ligorria Tramp
best bathroom upgrades
The Bath Products
If your bath products live in the plastic bottles they came in, we have work to do. Decant everything into matching apothecary bottles. It’ll look ten times better, and you’ll use them more. The visual noise of a bunch of mismatched plastic bottles is exactly what’s killing your bathroom.
Photo: Sara Ligorria Tramp
best bathroom upgrades
The Bath Tray (if You Have a Tub)
A proper bathtub tray changes the bath from a chore to a ritual. Book holder, candle spot, wine glass. Suddenly, bath night is on Tuesday instead of once in March.
best bathroom upgrades
The Candles or Diffusers
A bathroom diffuser or a candle changes the whole experience. Pick a scent that matches how you want to feel. Eucalyptus to wake up. Lavender to wind down. Palo santo for reset.
best bathroom upgrades
The Tiny Upgrades That Matter
A Beautiful Toothbrush Holder
No more pastel plastic cups. A ceramic or marble one will stop your morning from starting on a visual sour note.
A Proper Soap Dish
If you use bar soap, put it in a ceramic soap dish with drainage. It’ll last three times longer.
A Cotton Swab Jar
Glass jars are spa-like. Plastic containers are hotel-ish in a bad way.
A Good Bath Mat
A proper cotton bath mat, washed weekly. Not a shaggy synthetic disaster.
A Plant
Even one plant in a bathroom transforms the whole room. Pothos thrives in humidity and bad light, which is what most bathrooms are.
best bathroom upgrades
The Full Overhaul
If you’re ready to go bigger with upgrades, bring in a heated towel rack, heated floors, and a steam shower. These are real money, but they’re the difference between a good bathroom and a hotel bathroom.
Bottom Line
You don’t need to remodel! You need to upgrade five things: towels, showerhead, lighting, scent, and dispensers. Do this this month, and your bathroom will feel like a different room.
