You've only to step inside a spa environment to feel the stresses of life ebb away. Create this haven at home and you can be sure to enjoy a place to escape and unwind each and every day

Is the time you spend in your bathroom calm and collected, indulgent and relaxing? If it's more a frenzied get-ready quick zone, it's time you took a look at its surroundings.

If you long for a safe haven in which to wind down and get away from it all, here is all you need to turn your bathroom into a boutique-style spa. From natural wood shelves displaying luscious potions and fluffy towels, to organic looking stone floors and vibrant shiny mosaic tiles; a spa-style bathroom is designed to lift your spirits and calm your mind, body and soul.

Colour
The key to this look is the calming colour palette and natural, tactile materials that create a harmonious surrounding. White bathroom suites remain the preferred choice (although the addition of glass in its pale tinted natural state has made a huge impact in recent years.) Or try something a little different and create a cosy atmosphere with soft cocoa and coffee colours, with a little hint of pale blues and greens. Bathroom paint, £14.99, by Crown (www.crownpaints.co.uk)


Fixtures & Fittings
High street bathroom specialist, Bathstore.com has a fabulous range of walk-in showers with jet and steam room facilities. Consider transforming your space into a wet room, by enlisting a trusty builder to assess the potential of making it water-tight.

For suites and furniture, MFI have a large range of modern bathroom suites including basins, wall-hung WC's and baths enclosed in Zen-like wooden furniture. Available in Walnut, Oak, Cherry and Maple, the furniture is designed to create a tranquil bathroom that's both functional and beautiful.

A hand wash basin in an earthy shade sited on a wooden basin stand is a great way to introduce materials. Sinc black basin, £215, and Spa oak freestanding sink unit (left), £305, both Habitat (08444 991111, www.habitat.net).

B&Q have a competitive and beautiful collection of bathroom suites, including the Boxi square hand basin (above), £169, and the dramatic Zone freestanding bath (above), £699 (0845 850 0175, www.diy.com)


Tiles
Pale watery tiles in tiny mosaic or large format echo a smart boutique hotel spa - just be sure to stick to a palette of aqua, blue, green or turquoise. Flooring in pale limestone or slate is stunning and investing under-floor heating offers the ultimate luxury.


For a less expensive option, try the new stone composite tiles. Castle Travertine floor tiles, £18.98 and mosaic border (both left), £14.98, both from B&Q.

B&Q also do a fabulous range of mosaic tiles in marble, slate, ceramic, glass, luster and matt finishes. Montage luster glass mosaic tiles (above), £24.98 (0845 850 0175, www.diy.com)

Next: Furniture, accessories, textiles and candles

Furniture
To add to the elements, find space for natural wooden storage, a tall unit in one corner to stack crisp white towels, or wall hung cube shelves to display your lotions and potions if space is limited.

Ikea have an entire bathroom shop that rivals any high street specialist. Highlights include the Molger solid Walnut bathroom furniture range that includes a tall cube unit (above), £29.90, slatted linen bin cum stool (right), £19.99, mirror cabinet and wall-hung accessories; for less than £100 you could transform a simple bathroom into spa haven in one afternoon. (0845 355 1141, www.ikea.co.uk)


Accessories
You don't need to spend a fortune on the little luxuries either. Even the supermarkets have spa-inspired gems to explore.

Sainsbury's - known for its exclusive Sanctuary bathroom products - has introduced a collection of bamboo bathroom accessories (above), from £4.99 to £12.99, and pale jade bath towels, from 75p (0800 636 262, www.sainsburys.co.uk). Whilst at House of Fraser, you pick up this trio of pale aqua accessories (right) from £2 each (0870 160 7268, www.houseoffraser.co.uk)



Textiles
For a true comfort zone, surround yourself and your bathroom with plenty of tactile towels, robes and cushions to wrap your rested body and get comfy whilst enjoying the ultimate pamper. Turquoise reef design dressing gown (left), £28, matching wash bag (right), £7, and selected cushions (right) from £10, all from Habitat (08444 991111, www.habitat.net).



Take a leaf out of Kelly Hoppen's design book and pile a lavish collection of the cotton bordered hand towels, from £8 each, designed for BHS (0845 196 00 00, www.bhs.co.uk).



Candles & water features
Now, to get you really in the mood, you'll need to stack those shelves with all the lotions and potions that will help ease away the tensions of the day; light a few scented candles and even relaxing to the sound of a water feature could help with creating a chill-out ambience. Two great product ranges that are easily available in store are Clarins Aroma Tonic body range (www.clarins.com) and Decléor's Arôme body collection (020 7313 8787, www.decleor.co.uk)

For the perfect relaxing bath, light a few floating candles - try Sainsbury's wax candle bowl and flower floating candles (left), (£4.99, 0800 636 262, www.sainsburys.co.uk) - listen to the sound of trickling water (Water feature (above), £99, Habitat (08444 991111, www.habitat.net)) and let your worries slowly float away...