How to turn your bathroom into your own wellness sanctuary
Winter is irreversibly on the way, and not the most welcome of seasons either. Just as we’d gotten used to staccato heatwaves and late-evening sun, it’s all getting reeled back in in favour of early nights, long nights and cold nights. For those of us unlucky enough to be burdened with Seasonal Affective Disorder, these are some of the most difficult months on the calendar.
As someone with SAD, you may be looking to make a change this year. Active steps to managing symptoms are always a good thing, and you might be looking forward to investing a little more in yourself during these generally-dreary months. The bathroom isn’t the most glamourous place to start when thinking about starting new winter routines, but it may well be the most impactful. Here’s how to make your bathroom the winter wellness sanctuary you well and truly deserve.
Declutter, Declutter, Declutter
The enemy of any harmonious living environment is clutter. This is just as true for your lounge as it is for your garage, and it’s just as true for your bathroom as it is for either. How many of your products have lain unused for more than six months? And do you think you’ll need to keep them for another six? This is a great place to start with both freeing up space and refreshing your inventory.
New systems for keeping and organising other bathrooms can also be extremely helpful. There’s nothing better than a fresh, nicely-folded towel to grab straight after a hot shower; keep your stock clean, fresh, tidy and within reach for a blissful morning routine.
Lighting
The bathroom gets short shrift when it comes to thinking about lighting. We’re all on the ambient-lighting train, no matter how few or how many lamps you’ll admit to having in your living room – but the bathroom somehow remains a harshly-lit and generally unpleasant space to be. Why not work in something warm, for a better bathing experience? Wall sconces and even candlelight can be great for creating soft atmospheric lighting.
The harsh light is there for a reason, mind – but it doesn’t need to be so bright and inconvenient for its task. Rather than relying on fluorescents for your morning skincare, try illuminated mirrors for clear, gentle lighting better-suited to addressing skin or makeup.
Sights, Sounds, Smells
All of your senses matter when it comes to deriving enjoyment from a space. This rationale should be applied to your bathroom just as much as anywhere else. Use the three Ses – sight, sound and smell – to guide your thinking. Soft painted walls and ceilings make for a pleasant room, as do humidity-loving plants that bring a little of the outside in. A discreet Bluetooth speaker makes it easy to dictate the mood of the space, and a combination of essential oils and scented candles give you dominion over how your bathroom feels.
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