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- Home >> Mind-Body: Soothing
Environment:
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- How to Create a Spa
in Your Bathroom
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- (ARA) - It
used to be that Americans wanted their bathrooms to revive them.
Pulsating showers, bathtubs with jets, and even strong, spicy
soaps were designed to be invigorating, to wake you up and get
you ready for the world.
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- Times have
changed. Now we want to relax and be soothed when we're at home;
and when it comes to the bathroom, we want to be pampered like
we're at an expensive spa. Most of us can't install large steam
showers and Japanese soaking tubs, but it is possible to turn
an ordinary-sized bathroom into a luxurious sanctuary.
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- "Just
a few inexpensive items can transform your bathroom," says
Todd Imholte, president of Minnesota-based Environmental Graphics,
a company that makes decorative products for the home. "All
of those trendy bathroom fixtures can add up, and most people
don't have room for them," he adds.
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- Follow these
easy tips from the design experts at Environmental Graphics to
create a personal spa in your bathroom without the high costs
of renovation:
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- * Change the
color of your walls to something soothing like a gentle blue,
a pastel green, or even a pale lilac.
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- * Keep large,
thick 100 percent cotton bath towels close at hand. They will
maintain their softness if you only use them for certain occasions
(like your spa days).
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- * Get some
aromatherapy candles to match your color scheme. Not only will
the soft glow make you feel relaxed, the scent will be calming
as well.
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- * Create a
rain forest effect with Stick'n Stile design appliqués.
These decorative accents of leaves and tropical plants can easily
be applied to bathroom surfaces such as tile, porcelain or mirrors.
Soften your stark white tile with a peaceful design of your own
creation. You can also choose from other shapes and styles including
dragonflies, flowers and tropical fish.
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- * Make your
own bath oil by combining sunflower oil or sweet almond oil with
a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Store in a decorative
glass container.
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- * To soothe
achy muscles combine Epson salts with a few drops of essential
oil and add to your bath water.
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- * You can
also blend Epson salts with kosher salt and grapeseed oil for
a body scrub that exfoliates and seals in moisture.
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- * Fill the
bathtub with extra-hot water and let it heat the porcelain for
10 minutes before getting in. This will also allow the salts
or oils to diffuse into the water. Make sure you check the temperature
with your wrist before you step in.
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- * Move a portable
CD player into the bathroom and gather up some relaxation music:
nature sounds or soft classical works well. If you don't have
anything, check your local library.
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- * Make sure
you have plenty of soft washcloths, scented soaps and face masks
on hand. Many spas offer samples of items that you can take home
for use in your personal escape.
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- Just before
you get into the bath, make yourself a cup of hot, soothing tea
to sip. You'll feel relaxed and rejuvenated, all without making
a single appointment.
- To see all
the Stick'n Stile appliqué designs, visit www.sticknstile.com.
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- Courtesy of
ARA Content
ARTICLE POSTED
MAY 10, 2003
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