i think wood surfaces, stacks of soft white towels and simple plants help make a bathroom feel more spa-like. hinoki wood and bamboo should hold up well in the damp environment and can be used to make shelves or as wall covering.

uncluttered simplicity is key to a calming spa atmosphere. i would remove the curtains & accents you have now - those items read more like you're trying for a luxe 80's bath than a serene spa to me.

i wouldn't do a stencil; i'd just paint the walls a mossy green, a deep eggplant or a grey-blue and add either wood wall art or a large-ish mirror on the wall facing us in the photo. i'd replace the pillows and vases with low candle holders and a wooden shelf for washcloths and nice spa-quality bath accessories.

looks like a fun project! enjoy & be sure to show us the "after" photo!

My first reaction - the color should be a cool one. The cream/yellow is bright and cheery, but I do not find it calming. You need some grey/green or blue or aqua in that space. It looks like there is one or more of those in the tile. Could you paint the wall a cool color and add towels, wall hangings (or are they curtains? I'm sorry), and a neck cushion to match? Same with the plant and vases on the right side. What a great project!

Color makes a huge difference in creating a "mood". Also think about textures and patterns. For instance, a shower curtain could change a whole room! I found some awesome ideas at www.myuniqueshowercurtains.com. You can search by "fabric" or whatever keyword you want.

Hope this helps!

I recently stayed at an incredibly luxurious hotel in Costa Rica. The bathroom was most magnificent, and had a tub setup similar to yours. If I didn't have such a small bathroom, I would love to recreate the look!

What made the space especially romantic and relaxing were a few simple things:
1. sheer floor length curtains in front of the tub, pulled back. This "enclosed" the area a bit, giving it more intimacy and a feeling of privacy.
2. a large, framed mirror on the back wall of the tub (you could do large artwork if you prefer)
3. a simple towel arrangement on the ledge of the tub
4. soft lighting above the tub

You should remove everything from the side walls to avoid the risk of looking cluttered. Good luck! I hope that you can achieve the feel you're striving towards!

Have you been to many spas?
What were the colors and materials used in those spaces that appealed to you?
Were there batiks and other ethnic textiles or all white terrycloth?
Were there woods, stone or ceramics?
Were there fresh flowers, curly branches or leafy plants?
Were there glass, metal or ceramic accessories?
Were the walls painted, plastered or wallpapered?
Was the lighting cool and industrial or ornate and romantic?

There are many different types of spas with many different types of atmosphere - I'd go back and look at the colors, materials and objects in those spas that appealed to you and use them as your inspiration.

Hi Nicole, can you define for us what colors and materials and scents make you feel relaxed?
See for inspiration the list posted by bepsf.

How big is your budget?

well, i think it has to do with natural elements. wood (lots of it), stone (just have a couple of stones somewhere or have a wall in concrete), plants.. and of course, the best towels money can buy.

look at japanese spas. i personaly think they're very inspiring.

I'll admit that I've really never been to a spa so I'm pulling this out of my... imagination, but I think large isolated groupings or fixtures would be more calming than the scattered effect you have now. Group all the plants together (larger plants as well?), fold the towels up on the ledge, remove the shelves or put up one large shelf. maybe put your bath products in a basket by or on the towels? By grouping the pillow with this all the textiles will be in 1 large area, not scattered.

I suspect the area appears yellower in the photo because of the light, but maybe a dark moody, misty grey, soft dove grey or slate would be better on the walls. Also if there is anything you can do to bring the lighting lower than the ceiling (battery LED lamp, candles, whatever is safe) that would be calming. I see you have some candles on the shelf, but I think they'd be more flattering when lit, and safer, on the tile ledge by the tub.

I also like how you've used the curtains in the corner to extend the space and decorations all the way up to the ceiling; I still think they should be grouped together or replaced with some other textile. Try to bring in some more texture, either with bulky woven or silvery cloth or baskety things, wood or even chrome, but keep it simple. I like what you've got with the bottles and pillow already.