030209_spa.jpgWhen we first saw Matt's bathroom we oohed and awed over how clean, bright and spa-like it felt. We want a bathroom like that, we thought. We'd be so relaxed if we had one like that. We've been working long days and have been spending more and more time at the boyfriend's and find the bathroom is our moment to be quiet, to relax and to unwind after a long day. Here are our tips for making your bathroom a sanctuary without having to go and buy all new stuff!

1. Cleanliness is Next to Godliness: Decluttering and cleaning are pretty much free and nothing makes a small space feel better than having it be spotless. Here are 5 things that might be cluttering up your bathroom and how to clean the tub in 3 minutes.

Take a look at your countertops, are they overflowing with products? Take time to put things away (wrangle them on a tray from the kitchen or into the cabinet or simply let go of the things you don't use). If you keep the catbox in the bathroom make sure you stay on top of scooping and keep a little broom or dustbuster handy to clean up the sand that inevitably spills out. We hate stepping out of the shower and into a special pile of crunchy litter.

2. Invest in Fluffy Towels on a Budget: We've had really good luck with Thomas O'Brien towels from Target. They're pretty inexpensive, very soft and they come in lots of pretty colors. If that's not your bag, or you want some other options, check out the best towels of 2008 right here.

3. Work on Lighting: A lot of bathrooms now have CFL bulbs which are easy on the environment but not always soothing on the eyes. A big part of relaxing is lighting so take a look, do you need more flattering light, do you need to turn out the lights and light a candle? Set the mood with good lighting.

4. Great Bath Stuff: We posted a cheap way to make your own bath salts that smell great and a bonus, using the same ingredients you can make an air freshener too.

5. Make the Time: You could have the greatest bathroom in the world, but if you never make the time to take a bath, take a deep breath or just enjoy silence and being alone then what's the point? Put time aside at the beginning or the end of the day to just sit. Maybe it's 3 deep breaths before you go out to face the day or 3 at the end to help wind you down for sleep.