Oh, to steal away for a spa weekend, free of worries and stress. Sounds delicious, doesn’t it? Although real life doesn’t often allow for luxurious getaways whenever the mood strikes, it’s actually rather easy to transform a bathroom into a spa-inspired sanctuary. The tiles above from Evit are phenomenally soothing and have major tactile appeal, but what really makes them pop is their light aqua color, reminiscent of the sea — an inspiration point upon which most spas draw in their design.

Moving on to one of the grandest indulgences we’ve ever seen, take a look at this disco ball bathtub featured at the Mondrian in Miami:

While the Mondrian’s tub in particular is completely over the top, the introduction of reflective surfaces — think mirrored bath accessories and wall hangings — and a white-on-white palette can transform a bathroom, large or small, into a gleaming getaway fit for a king or queen (or both).

Although ofuru and ofuru-inspired tubs are available on the open market today, the principle can still be applied to any tub. The idea is nearly as ancient as Japan itself, and its application is available to anyone with a bathroom…walk-in showers notwithstanding. But even in those cases, there’s something sublime to look into if a little stress reduction is in order.

Photo credits: Furniture Fashion, Ocean Drive, Rapsel and SouthCape Tapware.

Years ago, bathrooms only came in a few colors, and most of the time they were neutral or very feminine colors. Today, bathrooms have become a focal point in many homes to bring drama, mystery and a wow factor! Whether you are looking to impress in your guest bathroom or you want to add drama to your master bathroom, color and light are the two top factors to make it happen. See how your bathroom can become that dramatic space that you always envisioned.

• Bold and dramatic color: If you are trying to turn on the drama in your bathroom, adding dark colors is the top way to achieve this gorgeous look. From wallpaper and faux finishes to chocolate browns and deep royal blue colored paint, dramatic color evokes a sense of mystery and sophistication. To achieve the look without your bathroom feeling like a cave, ensure there is plenty of natural light or a mix of light finishes. Pairing white subway tile, flooring, or wainscoting is a good option for dark walls above.

Photo credit: Pinterest

• Create a focal point: Drama can lie in color, but drama can also lie in where the eyes are drawn to in your bathroom. Creating a focal point in your bathroom, such as using gorgeous vessel sinks atop a bold vanity, or an above ground tub that will make your mouth drop at the first sight of it. Add drama with a valance or fabric swag above your bathtub for added texture and visual interest. Consider adding contrasting hues of tone-on-tone color throughout your bathroom for attention grabbing ambiance.

Photo credit: Greige Design

Long gone are the days where the bathroom was a place where you hurried up and ran out. In today’s homes, you want to linger, relax and enjoy the ambiance of a dramatic bathroom. Try using these tips in your master bedroom and borrow decor ideas to bring into the main bedroom. A guest bathroom or powder room that is used to impress is the perfect place to try out these eye catching, dramatic details.

Photo credit top: Old Alresford House

Grande Quadra, the brainchild of Italian Architects and designers, Ludovica and Roberto Palomba of Kos, is a large sumptuous inset bathtub.

The tub sits 500mm into the floor, with a step 200mm above which forms the edge of the bath. At 1800mm squared, the tub is more than spacious, providing enough room for four if desired. On the side is a deck-mounted bath and shower mixer, with temperature control.

The rain shower from the roof is of course optional, but the effects of one with any inset bathtub forms a beautiful natural setting, the effect being that of a waterfall going into a pool.

Made up from five modular components, Box can easily be transferred from one location to another and reassembled with ease. It has all the comfort and functionality of a normal bathroom, with the added attraction of being mobile.

The five parts consist of the following:

Part 1: Toilet and washbasin
Part 2: Shower enclosure, a seat and two shelves with towel racks
Part 3: Extra space with furniture storage units.
Parts 4 & 5 act as doors at either end end of the bathroom.

There is a water tank which comes with Box for the WC, basin and shower. Electricity supply is also needed for temperature control in the shower and for the taps, which are also electronically controlled. A bathroom concept like Box would make an ideal solution for bands and sports teams who are constantly traveling.

Crafted in a stylish lavender and white, L’Alizee has a total of one hundred and eighty nozzles to distribute water, and a further fifty to create bubbles to give the massage effect. The fully programmable massage runs on 6 anatomical zones, and has an automatic rinsing and draining system. Massage baths are excellent for people with disabilities and ailments, as helps relieve muscle tension and aches and pains.

With its stylish lavender base, L’Alizee would fit very well in a bathroom adorned with girly furniture and other pink and lavender accessories.

This collection from an Italian company, Novello combines the refinement of ceramic wash basins and capacious of traditional bathroom furniture. The washbasin cabinets in asymmetric and charming shapes are complemented with wash-basins tops made of different materials like crystal, stainless steel and corian. There are also many kinds of wall mount cabinets and creative shelves in this collection, which are in perfect harmony with the wash basins. The mirrors are offered in various finishes and can be supplied with LED lights along the frame. The most attractive of them is the violet bathroom set.

Any bathroom designs could have a great look with such a furniture set. The furniture dazzles with bright and elegant color solutions.

The vanities available in the Metamorfosi range incorporate many different styles – floral, butterflies, surf, landscape, retro pixels and patterns – meaning there is a vanity unit here which should appeal to all.

The pink vanity units, and those with floral prints, are perfect for girly bathroom furniture designs. The more masculine designs with landscape print and surf pattern appeal to those wishing to create a more masculine bathroom.

As with the majority of modern wall-hung bathroom vanities produced over the last decade by contemporary bathroom furniture manufacturers, Metamorfosi utilizes simple forms with bold colors to create a sleek and minimal theme.

The bathtub is a swish minimalist bath with an elegant back that is as comfortable as it is stylish. With it, one can either use a wall-mounted faucet, depending on where the bath is situated, or with a standpipe and tap.

The basin, which looks unique with or without the tub attached, is a wide spacious wash area in the shape of a curved oval. Attached is a chrome single lever basin mixer.

Love is fabulous because it is not only unique in its design, but also has a simple feel to it, ideal for modern minimalist enthusiasts.

The design of the taps is very flat and precise, sharp angles are offset by the actual faucet which is curved and allows for a waterfall effect into the sink. Waterflow is managed by sensor touch, running ones hand underneath activates the water.

Chrome, being the most popular finish in the bathroom, always needs other strong colors to give the overall design a balanced look. Adding any touch of red, yellow or orange will achieve a measured and harmonious look.

The set includes visible parts for a concealed bath mixer, bath spout, single lever basin mixer, single lever bidet mixer, concealed single lever wash-basin mixer and visible parts for a single lever wash-basin. The contrast of green and black make these ideal for a modern eco-friendly bathroom with a green theme.

The inset whirlpool bathtub creates an extra-deep bathing space that offers cocooning warmth as you bathe. A variable-speed motor with an integral heater produces a range of spa treatments, from a light bubbling effect to a full revitalizing massage, all this controlled by remote control.

The shower area can be used as a walk-in area or enclosed by choosing from a number of stylish pivot shower doors. Like the faucets, the shower valves are available in either crosshead or straight handle design. The slimline shower tray is crafted from cast iron and has a slip-resistant finish.

The luxurious bathroom furniture is a modular system made from a natural grey lavastone material. It can be wall-mounted with countertop brackets or installed atop a Purist wall-mounted vanity. The sinks fit nicely on the natural lavastone countertops.

The Purist bathroom sinks – or wading pools as they are known – have a sleek flat, rectangular design, and are used with a wall-mounted faucet. The toilet is the opposite – with a smooth oval shape.

The faucets are available in six different finishes – polished chrome, vibrant polished nickel, vibrant French gold, brushed chrome and vibrant brushed nickel – and come with either crosshead handles or straight.

A number of bathroom accessories are availble with the Purist suite, including towel bars, glass shelf, towel ring, robe hook, toilet roll holder, soap dish and toothbrush holder, all of which can be matched in the same finish as the faucets.

Regular tiles are beautiful, but installing them can be a hassle. You have a lot of work to do before you can even consider applying the tiles. Regular tiles don’t stick to just any type of surface. The surface needs to be prepared in order for the tiles to stick to them. Wallpaper or paint needs to be scraped off and holes need to be filled. Finally, everything needs to be sanded down afterwards for the redecorating process to even begin. If you choose to install self adhesive tiles to your wall, you’ll need virtually no preparation in order to get things going. In fact, the only thing you’ll need to do is clean the surface to which the tiles need to be applied. Self adhesive tiles can stick to virtually any clean surface. They can even be place over regular tiles. They are perfect for redecorating an entire room or for just adding a little extra touch to an existing tile wall.

It is always recommended to buy extra tiles when you use regular tiles because some of them will be destroyed in the process. Resizing tiles by cutting them is tricky. Even some professionals have a hard time doing it correctly. If you need to contour a mirror for example, it might take several tries and tiles before everything is the right size. Self adhesive tiles are much more user friendly. All that needs to be done is to trim the panel with a regular box cutter and fit it on the surface that needs to be tiled. No tiles get broken in the process, and you get it done correctly in just one try!

Not only are regular tiles hard to work with, they also cause a mess. After the application with mastic is done, everything needs to be patched up with grout. Using grout is just as tricky as cutting tiles; it has to be done right the first time. You need to put enough grout on the wall to make sure the tiles stay in place, but, you have to be careful not to grout over your tiles because that can leave some permanent stains that probably won’t go well with your decor. If you’re using self adhesive tiles for your project, all you need to do is peel and stick, but be careful, once the tiles have been placed on the wall, they are very hard to remove, so make sure you are certain of the spot you want to put them on before you do it.

The walls have been prepared, the tiles have been installed, the grout has been put on the wall…you should be done with the project right? Wrong. Even after all those steps have been taken care of, you need to apply sealant to the grout to make sure it stays dry. If you want your wall to retain its original beauty for the longest possible time, you’ll need to repeat the sealing process once every few years so that everything stays pristine for many more years to come. On the other hand, self adhesive tiles will retain their beauty for a very long time. They are heat and humidity resistant on top of being unbreakable. You just might get tired of your design and will need to update it before your tiles show any sign of deterioration.

Valerie Gravel is a guest blogger for Smart Tiles . Smart Tiles self adhesive tiles come in a vast array of collections and can be used to instantly redecorate every room in your home.