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Designing Your Spa Retreat
A "Spa Retreat" is a soothing, calming, relaxing escape or refuge. It is a room that evokes the emotional feeling of calm for you. It may suggest luxury. Color, pattern and texture along with natural materials are the key ingredients to achieving the calm relaxing refuge, the Spa Retreat.
You can have a “Spa Retreat” in any number of decorating styles including Roman, Victorian, Asian, Minimalist, Scandinavian, etc. It’s not the style that gives it the ‘Spa” label, but the implementation of various elements.
To create a Spa Retreat, keep it simple when it comes to your architecture and walls. If you have lots of moldings and built-ins, keep them white and paint the walls a soothing color like blue or green and keep it light in tone. Wood or cork walls would also work if they are light in tone. Keep your seams running horizontally as this is more Zen than vertical lines. If you have stained wood moldings keep the walls in the warm beige family.
For a Spa-like feel, floors are typically finished in a hard surface such as wood, bamboo or tile. Warm up the floors with textural areas rugs made of natural materials. Good suggestions are sheepskin, sisal, jute or wool (like a shag). If the rug has a pattern, keep the print small so it appears more textural. Large prints are more dynamic and attract too much attention.
To bring the comfort of the Spa to your home, invest in high quality upholstered pieces. Solid fabrics or tone-on-tone prints are best. Keep patterns to a minimum. Choose colors that are light in tone and earthy (think land, sea and sky). Curves should be gentle. A low horizontal sofa will be more Zen than a high-back sofa. Keep it straight, simple, tailored, classic.
We usually use accent fabrics to add color and tie elements together in a room. In your Spa retreat, accent fabrics should be found in pillows and window coverings. For windows, use natural fibers, like wood, cotton, linen or silk. Color should be earthy. For your windows, hang blinds inside the window frame. They tend to be the least fussy and are light in feel. For example, woven wood blinds are made of natural fibers and add calming texture to a room. Another option would be simple panel drapes in lightweight cotton or linen.
For pillows you can introduce a little bit bigger pattern as long as you stay within the soothing serene color palette. Also consider pillows with natural fiber embellishments like coconut shells.
The non-upholstered furniture in the room should be made of natural materials like wood, bamboo and rattan. Glass, marble, tile and metal can work in small doses. In large doses they will be too cold for the space while the wood, bamboo and rattan will make it warm and cozy. Built-in storage should be painted white or a light natural wood. Stay away from dark or black finishes on large expanses (they are OK as small accents). Consider coffee tables, end tables and accent pieces of natural woods or free-form wood. Asian inspired pieces have a Zen feel. These accent pieces can have an architectural or sculptural feel.
When it comes to accessories – less is best! Again, natural materials and an earthy color palette are key. Keep the accessories simple and to a minimum. Try repetition of the same object multiple times, like 3 candles in a row, or three vases.
Lamps should be made of natural materials and/or soothing colors. Lighting should be layered. Stay away from harsh fluorescent light bulbs and gravitate toward warm incandescent ambient sources. Use Halogen for accents and candles for the calming mood.
Use plants as accents. Plants should be soothing. Cacti are out. Palms and Banana leafs are in. If you don’t have a green thumb, consider artificial plants. Artificial flower arrangements can look terrific for years. A bonsai plant will be more peaceful and serene than a large floral centerpiece with lots of color and texture.
For the finishing touch, fill the room with your favorite scent that that brings the outdoors in. Floral scents are great in summer, while woodsy scents like cedar and sage are winter favorites. Fruity scents work year round.
In general, use soothing colors throughout the space. Muted tones, neutrals or earthy colors that reflect the land sea and sky are perfect for the calming effect. Make sure they are light in tone (like a pastel but no darker than a mid-tone). Horizontal lines should dominate and lights should be clean and straight, with a few gentle curves to soften. Use soft fabrics, natural fibers, and small simple patterns. Use lots of texture. Light is warm and natural, accented with candle light. Use scent as the finishing touch.
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