How to Design and Style a Spa Beach Bathroom

Ohh how we love a good spa day! When we think of a spa day, we think of feeling clean, pampered and relaxed – sounds pretty good, don’t you think? Theres no reason you can’t feel that way every single day when stepping foot into your own bathroom. Sound too good to be true? Come with us as we take you through the design and styling of of our Coastal Spa Bathroom at the Sea Loft. 

Bathrooms are functional spaces so they need to work well, this does not meat that you should forgo feeling pretty and refreshed in the room. Our first hurdle in this bathroom was to take out the old, tired and grungy fixtures and replace with bright, clean and simple. You can see the “before” situation over on our post Creating the Perfect Beach House. We chose to keep the layout of the fixtures the same as before as this is a small room and we really didn’t have much square-footage to play with – also moving pipes and plumbing was not on our list of priorities. So instead we scrapped what was there and came in with some sparkly new. 

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The Tile Elements

We really wanted to lighten up the space so we chose a clean, smooth white tile to not only line the walls of the shower, but to also continue along the wall behind the toilet and vanity. Although more expensive, this creates a big impact and practically speaking, helps with water resistance should there ever be a leak from the three water sources in the room (those pesky showers, toilets and sinks!) This gives us peace of mind since this is not our full-time residence, but a space to unwind from the everyday and enjoy with friends, should something happen, damage is minimized with tile wall coverings. 

For the floor of the shower we chose a Carrera-like “pebble” tile that we simply love. The pebble, mismatched shape gives us the natural beach vibes we know and love and the coloring goes with our bright, neutral color scheme. We splurged on the drain and chose a very modern, sleek drain in chrome that runs parallel to the far wall. Our shower head is also simple and clean in chrome offering us a luxe rain shower whenever we please. 

Beach Vanity Choice

Talk about choice overload. There are simply SO many options when it comes to choosing the correct vanity. First things first, you need to know how much space you’re working with – that will influence the size and function of your vanity – sending lots of drawers and storage space vibes your way. For us, we knew that we wanted to keep as little as possible on the counter top and store most of our things in the drawers (no one wants to see your used toothbrush or deodorant hanging out in their spa), so, storage space was a must for us. We also have a nice shelf underneath the cabinet where which houses a large basket to store extra towels etc. In keeping with our theme, we chose a white vanity with a clean, white top and chrome, sleek handles that compliment the shower fixtures tying the whole space together. 

Mirror and Lighting

Two very important elements when it comes to your spa bath is the lighting and mirror. We simply love our mirror because it doubles as both. The modern, rectangular mirror has a frame that lights up illuminating the occupant quite nicely. We also opted to install a light fixture similar to this one above the vanity in case someone wanted to opt for a softer light. This fixture also has a modern feel with chrome accents for continuity. 

Bringing in the Style

Greenery

Once the main fixtures are installed in a bathroom space, it’s imperative to soften the space and style it up for yourself or your guests. This is when the spa feel comes alive! We always recommend having some sort of greenery or natural element to immediately relax the space. This could be a clear vase with fresh flowers (this bouquet came from Trader Joe’s and we LOVE the tropical vibes), you can also utilize an orchid (as we did in the shower) or even some fresh eucalyptus sprigs in a nice vase. You can also use the vase itself as a styling moment. We love a few of these options to create a “wow” effect.

Vanity Top

Of course, the bathroom being a functional space, you’ll need to keep your hand soap and a hand lotion at the ready on the countertop for guests (and then hide everything else in your handy drawers). There are many options for stylish soap containers, but if your favorite soap is not so pretty, you can purchase beautiful, matching soap dispensers to refill when you need to. We love these options. And hey, use the same method for your shampoo, conditioner and body wash – these ones are too cute! When it comes to placing these smaller items on the vanity, we love the look of grouping them together on a tray so it looks finished and styled. We love a good wood tray to bring in warmth, or a marble tray to make it a little more sophisticated. Complete the grouping with a nice smelling candle or fragrance diffuser, you’ve transformed your bath into a spa – bravo!

Towels & Bathrobes

You’ll also need towels, both hand and body for your bath space. Don’t miss this styling moment! We love housing a beautiful hand towel on a hook next to the vanity for easy access and color. In addition, we love some good wall hooks for displaying your bath towels. Whether you opt for a stylish Turkish towel, or a spa-like fluffy white towel, you’re sure to please! Bonus points if you incorporate matching robes. We custom made our towel hook bars, but if you’re looking for some simple options, we love these ones.

When we think of bathrooms, we generally want to spend as little time in there as possible. But what if you were able to transform your thinking (and your bathroom) into the relaxing spa experience you crave. Investing in a space that you use everyday and making it more enjoyable – we’re in! 

For more Coastal Style inspo, take a look at our other spaces in the Sea Loft: Creating the Perfect Beach House, The Design of a Modern Coastal Bedroom, Styling a Kitchen with Coastal Design Flair & Elements of Styling a Modern Coastal Interior

Photography by: Rafael Bautista & Ali Beck Photography