When you’re stressed, it’s easy to indulge in serenity and pampering in the comfort of your own home with a DIY spa experience.

Tips to Create a Spa-Like Experience at Home

When you are creating a spa-like experience at home, the goal is to create an environment that promotes relaxation, self-care, and rejuvenation. This might seem intimidating at first—but don’t worry, there are plenty of tips that will help you create a relaxing and rejuvenating spa experience in the comfort of your own home.

Setting the Mood

One of the easiest—and most important—things to do to create an at-home spa experience is to get the mood right. When you’re at a spa, there are no stressful distractions like notifications on your cell phone, others asking you questions, or your pets making a mess. 

Instead, create a calming and relaxing ambiance by doing things like dimming the lights or using softer, warmer lighting in your space. You can also consider lighting scented candles or using essential oils to fill the room with a soothing fragrance.

As a bonus, put on background music, instrumental music, nature sounds, or a relaxing playlist. Take care of all of your senses when setting the mood—so don’t be afraid to make a warm drink and grab your favorite blanket, too.

Declutter and Clean

When you are in your own home, it’s easy to take on the feeling of the space around you. When it comes down to it, our homes are an extension of ourselves. When our homes are cluttered, we are inherently more stressed out.

A spa day shouldn’t involve any stress, so clear away any clutter or distractions from the area of your home where you plan to have your spa-like experience. If you plan on relaxing in the bedroom, be sure your clothes are put away. If you’re lounging in the living room, double check there are no loose Legos on the floor.

Cleanse the space by doing the basics like tidying up, dusting, and ensuring everything is neat and organized. This way, you aren’t scrambling to find things when you’re trying to relax. A clean environment contributes to a more tranquil experience.

Designate an Area for Relaxing

Designating a specific area of your home for relaxing will allow you the opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the relaxation. It will also help your brain associate that space with relaxation, thus enhancing the serenity each and every time you create a spa-like experience there.

Whether you choose to make the area you relax in your bathroom, a corner of your bedroom, or a cozy nook in your living room, there are ways you can customize it to be uniquely yours for relaxation. 

Consider stocking your designated area with all of your self-care needs to truly make it feel like it’s solely your spot to care for yourself. Mini travel-sized products are perfect for this. You can also get plush towels, comfortable pillows, comfortable pajamas, loungewear, or a soft robe to enhance your space’s comfort levels.

Get Creative with DIY Spa Treatments

Getting creative with DIY spa treatments is the perfect way to turn an evening of self-care into a fun, creative experience. Instead of taking a warm bath in regular water or with the same old bubble bath you’ve used before, consider a new combination of bath salts or essential oils. 

Because different products can help with different things—like soothing your muscles, relaxing your mind, or promoting a restful night’s sleep—experimenting with different combinations can be a fun way to mix things up. 

Try mixing up a DIY face mask with ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen, like oatmeal, honey, and coconut oil. You can also steam your face with a face steamer, or simply use warm water and essential oils. There are many DIY exfoliating scrubs and moisturizing treatments you can incorporate into a manicure or pedicure, too!

Stay Hydrated and Nourished

It’s important to stay hydrated and nourished when enjoying an at-home spa experience. Water is essential for muscle relaxation, healing, and the look and feel of your skin. Stay hydrated during your spa-like experience by keeping a refreshing pitcher of infused water nearby or brewing up a pot of herbal tea to pour. 

You can also prepare some nutrient-rich snacks to take care of healing your body from the inside and outside. Fresh fruits and light finger foods are great options to snack on during your relaxation time. Nourishing your body properly will complement the overall rejuvenation process.

Products to Stock Your At-Home Spa

When purchasing products to incorporate into your at-home spa experience, remember to choose products that align with your preferences. If there is a particular scent that you enjoy, look for products with that fragrance.

If you know that your skin reacts negatively to tea tree oil, avoid products with it on the ingredients list. When selecting products, prioritize natural and high-quality ingredients first to ensure the best experience during your home spa retreat.

Bath Bombs

It’s essential to incorporate a bath bomb into your spa-like experience! To settle in for a good soak with an invigorating explosion of colors, scents, and fizz, select a bath bomb in a scent that’s perfect for your preferences.

Bath bombs are effervescent balls—or a variety of other shapes, like the ones sold by Lush—that you can add to your bathwater. They often contain essential oils, soothing salts, and fragrances. When dropped into your bathwater, they dissolve, releasing their ingredients and creating a luxurious and aromatic bathing experience.

Bath bombs are a great way to help relax your muscles, moisturize your skin, and provide a sense of tranquility. Because they come in a variety of combinations of fragrances and ingredients, you’re sure to find one that suits your needs for a relaxing bath.

Essential Oils

Essential oils are just that—essential. They’re highly concentrated plant extracts known for their aromatic and therapeutic properties. If you don’t have your own collection of essential oils yet, be sure to purchase a carrier oil alongside the essential oils if you plan on using them directly on your skin!

Essential oils can be used for a variety of relaxing activities, like as a massage oil (when used with a carrier oil), dropped into your bathwater, or used in a diffuser to fill the room with a calming scent. Some popular relaxation and stress relief choices are lavender, chamomile, eucalyptus, and peppermint.

Face Masks

Face masks are a wonderful addition to any spa experience. If you aren’t up for DIY face masks, purchasing a face mask product is an easy alternative. They come in various forms and offer a range of benefits depending on your skin type and concerns.

• Sheet masks: These are thin, pre-cut masks that are soaked in serum. They adhere to your face, providing a concentrated dose of hydration and nourishment to your skin.
• Clay masks: Clay masks are made with clay such as kaolin or bentonite. Clay helps to draw out impurities from your skin while absorbing excess oil, tightening pores, and leaving your skin feeling purified and refreshed.
• Gel masks: These cooling and soothing masks have a gel-like consistency that provides hydration and helps to calm and rejuvenate your skin. They are a great option for soothing inflammation or boosting hydration levels.
• Peel-off masks: Peel-off masks dry down to a rubbery texture and are to be peeled off. This allows them to assist in removing dead skin cells, unclogging any congested pores, and leaving your skin smoother and brighter.

Some ingredients to look out for when purchasing face mask products are hyaluronic acid for hydration, charcoal for deep cleansing, or aloe vera for soothing effects.

Body Scrubs

Body scrubs are an exfoliating treatment to help remove dead skin cells from your skin. They leave your skin both smooth and rejuvenated, and you can find many pre-made scrubs in stores. 

If you’re in the mood to get creative, you can use home ingredients like sugar, salt, or coffee grounds mixed with oils or moisturizers.

Once you have selected (or made) your body scrub, simply gently massage the scrub into damp skin in circular motions. You can then rinse it off to reveal softer, more radiant skin. 

Aromatherapy Candles

Candles are a fantastic way to add a wonderful fragrance to the space where you’re having your spa-like experience. By utilizing aromatherapy candles, you can select a scented candle that has been made with essential oils to enhance relaxation and promote a calming atmosphere. 

Not only do aromatherapy candles smell lovely and provide you with the benefits of essential oils, but they also offer a soft glow of candlelight to create a tranquil ambiance. Look for candles with scents like lavender, vanilla, or jasmine to create a serene spa-like environment.