Discover the most relaxing self-care bathroom ideas for the best bath routine to help you wind down, as well as restore your body and mind.
I’m a daily bath taker, and I have been my entire life. Whereas my husband has his “man cave,” I have my cozy bathtub. In fact, one of the main reasons we purchased our house was because it had a jacuzzi-sized tub with jets. This, as well as my reading room, were my two big wish list items.
Usually, my bath time routine occurs in the early evening, and I use it as a chance to wind down, warm up (I’m always cold), and feel cleaner and more refreshed after a long day. Naturally, I love to read for some time, as well as enjoy self-care bath products to boost my bathing experience.
(My personal favorite bath routine products are listed below.)
When I was younger and went away to camp (a place that notoriously lacked personal hygiene), my mom would always have a warm bath and a robe waiting for me when I got home and, to this day, she jokes that I always say I’m getting out of the bath when she calls.
Recently, I’ve even gotten my husband to enjoy a self-care bath routine on weekends. Occasionally (especially for Winter self-care when it’s cold), we’ll grab some champagne and bubble bath, put on some jazz tunes, and have an especially soothing happy hour relaxing by way of this indulgent self-care experience. It always reminds me of the Friends episode in which Chandler discovers the joys of bathing and refuses to get out of the tub!
Anyway, since I adore my own self-love bath ritual so much, and since a relaxing bath is such a great place to read a book, below I share the benefits of having a bath and how to have the best bath with my self-care bathroom ideas to enhance your experience.
Benefits of Having a Bath
The science-backed benefits of baths include reducing your stress and anxiety, soothing your joint and muscle pain, hydrating your skin, and helping you sleep better.
Personally, I also just love that they help increase my body temperature and make the necessity of a shower routine more fun. The bathroom can also feel like a very personal and private space where the harsh realities of the outside world don’t exist for a few minutes. In this way, it’s like reading, and that’s part of the reason they make such a good pairing!
Now that you know the benefits of baths, below you can explore my personal favorite bathroom ideas to enhance your self-care bath routine. I have placed them in order of preparing your bath, experiencing your bath, and concluding your bath.
Self-Care Bathroom Ideas for the Best Bath Routine
What do you put in a self-care bath?
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy and essential oils are such an important part of your bathing experience. Scents play a huge role in how we feel, and I always use lavender in the bath because it’s known for making you feel relaxed.
My personal favorite lavender-scented aromatherapy is Voluspa’s French Cade and Lavender Candle. It’s light and not overpowering, as well as cost-effective.
(By the way, I highly recommend the candle version over the diffuser for the best volume of scent.)
Bath Bombs or Bath Salts
Bath bombs and/or bath salts are one of my most highly recommended bath ideas for relaxing. While you don’t want to use them in your bath water all the time (as there can be negative side effects), they are a fun treat once in a while. They add aromatherapy plus skincare benefits all at once. I especially like to use them on weekends! (And I always drink water afterward to rehydrate.)
I am extremely particular about which ones I use, as many can contain toxic and/or irritating ingredients. One of the only brands I will use is Pacha and, again, I prefer French Lavender since it’s a relaxing scent.
Drinks and/or Food
Nothing says happy hour like food and drinks during bathtime! Water is always a good idea to stay hydrated, but you can enjoy tea, coffee, hot chocolate, wine, or whatever beverage you wish. A chocolate pairing feels so luxurious, and a salty snack or cheese plate sounds fun.
My favorite bathtime beverage is champagne! I’m not afraid to get fancy on the weekend and, once in a while, Veuve Cliquot (my favorite champagne overall) is a refreshing treat as bubbly as your bath itself. These Veuve Cliquot glasses are acrylic, so they won’t break if you knock one over!
We like to keep the bottle in this Crate and Barrel marble wine chiller while we relax.
Bath Tray
Every bookish bath lover needs a bath tray — period. As you can see, they conveniently hold not just your book while you bathe, but also your phone, beverage, and more. The bath tray I use is bamboo, expandable, and ergonomically designed.
Entertainment
When it comes to bathtime entertainment, you can “choose your own adventure.” When I’m alone, I most often read on my phone, but you can also watch a video, show, or movie or listen to a book, meditation, or podcast.
When my husband joins me in the jacuzzi tub for our bath routine, we use our Bose waterproof Bluetooth speaker to listen to relaxing music. This little gadget is, quite simply, one of our favorite things ever. It packs such a punch for a small size (and price), and you can store it anywhere in your bathroom without worrying about it getting wet.
Lighting
One of the most relaxing bath ideas is to set the lighting. It makes a HUGE difference in ambiance. I always adjust the lights very carefully, but if you can’t do so, then battery-operated fairy lights can work well.
You can place them in jars around the tub as you see in the image above to keep it super easy (and dry)!
Hair Accessories
If you have lengthy hair, you may want to keep it dry during your bath, as I do, since I don’t wash my hair every day. There are all types of terry cloth headbands and turbans, as well as shower caps, you can keep in your bathroom for bath time.
I usually place my long hair in a top knot with these Kitsch satin scrunchies. They are soft on your hair and don’t stretch out as other similar products do.
Pillow
One of the most relaxing self-care bathroom ideas is a bath pillow. You can get really fancy with these if you want. They really make your bathroom look and feel like an oasis.
Personally, I am simple when it comes to my bath pillow, and I use it every single day for resting my head while I read in the bath. It’s such a little thing that makes a big difference.
Face Masks and/or Hair Masks
The bath is a great place to use a face mask and/or hair mask since you need to wait a while before washing them off. The cooling feeling of a face mask is comforting in and of itself!
I don’t often use hair masks unless I have a sample, so I won’t link any suggestions, and I’m not extremely particular about face masks, but I’ve always done well with the brands sold at Whole Foods, like Pacifica and Andalou, for simple, clean, cost-effective options.
Body Wash
My absolute #1 recommendation for your bathtime skincare routine is Necessaire’s The Body Wash, an Allure Best of Beauty Winner with a “cult following,” including me.
This is one bath product that’s worth all the hype. It’s so incredibly luxurious and softly perfumed, in addition to its key ingredients (it’s packed with niacinamide, vitamin C, vitamin E, omega-6, and omega-9). When I used my last drop, I actually thought about it every single day until I finally gave in and decided it was just one splurge I HAD to have.
I usually use the popular Eucalyptus scent, but I also love Sandalwood for a warm and cozy, comforting scent in the Winter.
Exclusive Offer: Because I am a Necessaire partner, you can get 10% off sitewide at Necessaire when you use my code 10JULES.
Related Post: Full Review of Necessaire Products
Bath Mitt
This little bath mitt is a bit pricy but it makes a BIG difference in your bath routine. I have been using it for years, and nothing has made my skin softer, smoother, or more even. It’s great at getting rid of little bumps as well.
Body Oils
To keep my baths hydrating, I like to add a few drops of Necessaire’s The Body Oil, an award-winning, nutrient-rich, organic, cold-pressed treatment oil with no additives. It pretty much guarantees my entire body will feel hydrated when I step out of the bath, and it never feels greasy either.
Exclusive Offer: Because I am a Necessaire partner, you can get 10% off sitewide at Necessaire when you use my code 10JULES.
Exfoliants
Another one of my favorite self-care bathroom ideas is some good old-fashioned exfoliation. I don’t do it all the time, as you kind of have to pick and choose what you want each bath to be about in terms of your skincare, but when I do I always use Necessaire’s The Body Exfoliator.
I love that it contains both physical and chemical exfoliants, which I haven’t seen in other exfoliators. The physical exfoliators are really tiny and gentle, and the gel holding them turns nice and foamy when you lather it.
Again, I usually use the popular Eucalyptus scent.
Exclusive Offer: Because I am a Necessaire partner, you can get 10% off sitewide at Necessaire when you use my code 10JULES.
Brush
A good bath brush is another one of my favorite self-care bathroom ideas. Not only does it help you clean your back, but it can also be used for dry brushing, which detoxifies skin and stimulates blood circulation for smoother skin. ALL my brushes are from the EcoTools line.
I’ve found them to be better than even professional brushes.
Bathmat
A good bath mat may be one of the least talked about bath ideas for relaxing, but stepping onto cold tile after such a soothing experience has such an ick factor that I had to mention this as one of my top self-care bathroom ideas.
We use this Ikea microfiber mat, and it both feels good and soaks up excess water really well.
Towels
Believe me when I say I never wanted to like Weezie Towels. Why? Because they are pricy. But, sigh, they really are the plushest and most luxurious towels out there, and they are beloved for very good reason. Naturally, they also wash very well.
After testing out a robe I got on sale and falling in love with the quality, I knew I had to splurge for a towel set too. I have no regrets, and I really do think this is one of the absolute finest of these self-care bath ideas that you can incorporate into your bathroom.
Occasionally, you can take advantage of discount codes for seasonal sales or when you sign up for emails or texts. If you get a code, that’s a good deal!
Lotion
One of my final bath ideas for relaxing is locking in your hydration afterward. I use Necessaire’s award-winning, fan-favorite The Body Lotion as part of my bath routine because it is neither too thick nor too thin, and it’s not greasy at all. It also absorbs better than the last lotion I used and doesn’t leave any residue behind. It’s a fantastic product loved by many, especially those with sensitive skin who need a truly fragrance-free product.
My favorite thing about it is that I can still feel its effects the next day. I don’t use Necessaire products because I’m a partner — I’m a partner because I use Necessaire products!
I have yet to also mention how luxurious they look in your bathroom!
Exclusive Offer: Because I am a Necessaire partner, you can get 10% off sitewide at Necessaire when you use my code 10JULES.
Robe
I mentioned that I tested a Weezie robe and felt compelled to buy the whole towel set. The women’s short patterned robe is the one I wear. As mentioned, this terry material is extremely plush and luxurious, and it washes really well. It helps you dry off after your bath routine in no time. I especially like the short sleeves so I don’t get any skincare product or makeup on it after my bath.
If it’s on sale, that’s a good deal! Sale products and sizes can sell out fast.
I got my normal size, but I wish I had sized up. Worth the hype? 100% yes.
Conclusion
Those are the best self-care bathroom ideas for your bath routine from a lifelong daily bath taker. So, grab your current read and test some of my favorite bath care products to enhance your next bath, including:
