Hello and happy New Year 2019 dear Passion Shake readers! It’s Jaana here with the monthly Home Story from Finland.
Speaking of New Year, did you make any resolutions for this year? I’m not big on heavy New Years resolutions but I do however see it as a perfect opportunity to do small tweaks and improvements towards more meaningful and healthier life. A start of a new year is a great time to look back a bit and figure out if there is something that need to be changed in our lives. This year one of my goals is to make even more intentional decisions what comes to taking care of myself. I can’t think of a better and more enjoyable way to kick start my self-care year than start having regular spa moments at home.
January in a way means a new beginning and possibility for a fresh start. But often than that it is also really hectic and stressful time of the year. It can be difficult to find the time or the energy to take care of oneself when there is million other thing to do that can feel more important and urgent. The more hectic the schedule the more we need to take time for ourselves and clear our mind.
Everybody needs a little bit of relaxation and luxury in to ones life; moments to balance out that busy life that we are living. It’s important to unwind and recover and do this on a daily basis. We all have our evening routines, so why not make those everyday habits a little bit more special every now and then by having a spa moment at home. These small luxury moments in our everyday life can make a big difference. Nourished skin and relaxed mind are reasons enough to make time for these energizing pick me up routines.
Nothing beats the weekends spent at spa with its steam rooms, deep cleansing mud baths, slouching in white slippers and bath robe all day. Sounds pretty amazing, right. But the truth is that this kind of scenario is more part of rare occasional treats or holidays not so much something that we experience on a regular basis. More important than to indulge with a spa day once in a decade is to take care of ourselves all year round. One way of doing that is to create a spa like experience at home where you can pamper regularly.
Luckily a tranquil spa feeling can be achieved at home whether you already have your dream bathroom or if you are like me and it exist only in your Pinterest board. Creating a relaxing space can be done quite easily with just a few adjustments, small things that makes you feel relaxed and calm. Here are some of my ideas on how to create home spa feeling in any space.
In order to find out how to exactly create a tranquil space, it’s useful to break down what are the elements that make that relaxed mood we are going for. First, think of that feeling when you go to a spa. Think what makes the space and experience feel special and luxurious. What would my dream spa look like? What kind of mood there is and what feelings it evokes? Will there be music or other relaxing sounds or is it the silence that works for me? Will my dream spa experience be solely something that goes on in the bathroom or will there be a separate space where I can relax or meditate maybe? What colors there would be? Is there some decorative items that make me think of a faraway beach and sea breeze on my face?
With these questions in mind you start to perceive what your dream space would look like.
Here are some guidelines how to turn your bathroom into a mini day spa.
1/ Start by creating a calm backdrop. Decluttering is the first step to make a space feel more stress-free. It is hard to take a moment to pause if the space feels too chaotic and unorganized. Start by clearing the laundry piles. Hide necessary but not so pretty items and products in cupboards or baskets. Leave into sight only those products and bathroom essentials that you use daily and fit that spa like aesthetics.
2/ Choose a neutral color palette. White is a really good color to freshen up any room. Consistent color palette with neutrals and whites gives the room some lift and that airy luxurious spa like vibe. If there is too many different colors and patterns in the space, it start to feel busy instead of calm. By keeping colors of the textiles and details monochrome the overall look stays minimal and relaxed.
3/ Soft textiles in quality materials equal instant luxury spa feeling. There is nothing quite like the feeling to wrap yourself in the biggest and softest towel after a long hot bath. Good way to soften towels and keep them soft is to let them air dry properly after each wash. If possible, it’s a good idea to go easy on those chemical filled detergents that are bad for the delicate fibers and also for the environment. Nowadays there are plenty of ecofriendly alternatives to choose from.
4/ A good night sleep is a reason enough to make a regular habit out of your evening spa moments. Nice way to prolong that spa vibe is to take all the bedding outside and give them a good shake. This will freshen them up and good night sleep is guaranteed.
5/ After choosing the textiles (and sidetracking in to bedding) the next step is to add some finishing touches. Incorporating natural materials into a room is a great way to calm the space down. Natural and organic materials like wood also balance out the clinical feel that our bathrooms tend to have. Wooden bath brushes and loofahs are great choices both by their function and for their looks. I also like to add some small decorative elements into the mix to make it more put together and luxurious without taking too much space. Small marble details, natural stones and seashells have that perfect spa vibe to seal the deal.
6/ Set the mood. To emphasize the ambiance add elements to stimulate all the senses. Scented candle, incense or a diffuser smells heavenly and enhance the calm atmosphere. Use scents like lavender or eucalyptus that are known for their calming and relaxing effects. Music is another good way to set the mood. Listening to a playlist of slow pace instrumental songs can be very effective way to relax and unwind.
7/ Pamper yourself with homemade products. Affordable way to transform your home in to a luxury spa is to make your own feel good beauty products. Different kinds of body scrubs make a delightful yet practical addition to your at-home spa experience. It’s important to exfoliate the skin regularly, especially during cold winter months when skin tends to dry more easily. Next time you have a spa day at home, pamper yourself with this simple yet luscious lavender body scrub.
Lavender coconut body scrub
What you’ll need:
- 1 dl Organic coconut oil
- 2, 4 dl white sugar
- 5-10 drops of lavender essential oil or other essential oil of your choice (check the dosage instruction of your product to ensure the measuring)
- 20 ml Almond oil (optional)
- Dried lavender flowers (optional)
If solid, melt the coconut oil in a double boiler on your stove top. You can also melt it in a microwave using microwave safe dish. Pour liquid coconut oil in to a bowl. Add the white sugar and the almond oil. Stir well until all the ingredients are mixed together. Add approximately 5-10 drops of lavender essential oil and mix until completely combined. Finnish it up by adding dried lavender flowers. Sugar exfoliates the skin but it’s more gentle option than salt and for that a good choice if you have sensitive skin. Coconut oil and almond oil leaves your skin moisturized and soft with added calming, relaxing and balancing benefits from lavender. Gently work the scrub into wet skin by massaging in a circular motion. Rinse in warm water. Store leftover scrub in a clean airtight glass jar. Use the body scrub weekly.
One of my favorite spa day habits is to put on my bathrobe and my slippers on and let my facemask do its magic while I’m relaxing, sipping tea and browsing through all my magazines that I haven’t had time to read earlier. The fun part of having the spa day at the comfort of your own home is that you can completely tailor it into your own likings and extend your spa way beyond your bathroom.
I’m wishing you a great day and many happy, spa moments in 2019!
Jaana.
Styling, photography and text: Jaana Niittynen for Passionshake.
