If Your New Year’s Resolutions Include More ‘Me Time,’ Try Designing a ‘Spathroom’ at Home


Each week, Mansion Global tackles a topic with an elite group of designers from around the world who work on luxury properties. This week, we look at turning a bathroom into a spa-like experience.

For pampering and decompressing, there’s no better room to splurge on than a bath. Enter the spa-inspired bathroom or “spathroom,” a curated haven ideal for spoiling yourself at home.

Todd Paolillo, project architect at KAA Design Group in Culver City, California, said words like “escape, sanctuary and serenity” come to mind when we imagine a spa-like bath, but a true spathroom should tie to the outside and present a pleasant distraction from everyday life. 

“Having a connection to nature via a simple view, an outdoor terrace garden or in the most limited circumstances, the gentle trickle of water, give the mind something to focus on,” Paolillo said.

Mansion Global asked a few design pros for tips to create a spa-like haven at home. Here’s what they recommended.

Often, Less Is More

“Regardless of personal aesthetic, spa-like bathrooms should be streamlined for peace of mind and elegant without being fussy or overly decorative. I like to take a less is more approach when designing a spa-like bathroom in terms of color and accessories. Instead, invest in the best and most luxurious materials and let those do the talking for you. Whether opting for a minimalist vibe with wood paneled cabinetry, or something more traditional with painted cabinets and ornate hardware, marble and other natural stone is the most luxurious choice for countertops, floors, and showers. Nothing says spathroom like loads of marble. 

Designer Caitlin Kah recommends streamlining a spa-inspired bath.


Carmel Brantley

“While going all-white might seem like the obvious choice, be mindful that you’re choosing the right shade of white. I’d suggest looking for a white with warm undertones to keep the space from looking too clinical. But white isn’t the only color to consider; I also love using natural wood in chic applications. Either way though, make sure you keep your color palette to a minimum of two colors—like blue and white, or sage and cream—and use them throughout to keep it streamlined and tranquil.”

—Designer Caitlin Kah in Palm Beach, Florida

Integrate Calming Elements

“When I think of a spa-like bathroom, I think of one that has been designed with a focus on cleansing and purifying the body, and would include calming elements and water in any and all forms—showers, steam, pools, saunas, hammams, etc. A bathroom might have a combination shower that includes a rain shower and a hand-shower or a body-shower; there might be wet or hydro tables, pedi-spas, a hot tub or whirlpool, a plunge pool, a mud bath, a sauna, a steam room. 

“Stone, wood and plaster are our preferred materials as they are all waterproof, and when used together, can reinforce a monotone palette. In one spa-like bathroom, we used Hinoki wood for the floors, the walls, and a traditional Japanese soaking tub. The material evoked a spa-like feeling, as the client requested, but it also added an aromatic layer, as Hinoki wood from the Hinoki Cypress tree is naturally fragrant. 

Hinoki wood and a Japanese soaking tub evoke a spa-like feeling in this bathroom by MR Architecture Design & Décor.


Francois Dischinger

“There should be as much indirect lighting as possible, and the lighting should be dimmable. Dimming is key, because while less than full light is essential for a calming atmosphere, you also want to be able to bring the light up to carry out tasks.

“A ‘spathroom’ could have a place to lounge, like a chaise or even a large ottoman. An upholstered piece can add softness to what is otherwise usually a very hard, cold space. An antique wood piece of furniture like an armoire or dresser can have a similar effect if there is space.”

—David Mann, founding partner at MR Architecture + Décor in New York

Tie the Design to the Locale

“A spa-like bathroom is uncluttered and each element—the vanity, the tub, the shower—should be appropriately scaled so the bathroom doesn’t feel like endless ribbons of built-in countertops, storage and glass partitions. 

“Tying into a sense of place, connecting to nature and locale, and harmonizing with surrounding environs should be the guiding principle to select stones, tiles, woods, and textiles, not forgetting luxuriously plush linens, soft woven mats, even slippers next to the tub.

The ultimate spathroom connects to nature in some way, according to Todd Paolillo.


Roger Davies

“Does the surrounding home sit in a mossy woodland that can lean on natural slate [and] rustic wooden planked ceilings and floors? Tropical retreats highlight regional teaks, bamboo, and woven grasses. Even mosaic tile patterns can hint at local culture and tradition. This isn’t to say everything needs to exude ‘organic.’ A spa bath in a cosmopolitan high-rise may rely on polished marbles, refined chrome, even masterworks of art to celebrate a sophisticated sense of the urbane, to escape from city chaos while luxuriating and still being in the middle of it all.”

—Todd Paolillo, project architect at KAA Design Group in Los Angeles

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