Going with the flow

There are several reasons for going to a spa, such as to de-stress, to relax, to beautify, to fight the ageing process, and to forget life’s problems for an hour or two. Whatever the reason for indulging in a massage, facial or body wrap, it ultimately comes down to feeling good and improving overall health – something you can do in the comfort of your home.

Key to the feel-good factor is to create a space that feels calm. Draw inspiration from the onsen of Japan to give your bathroom that Zen feel: think natural materials, such as wood and stone, and pared-down design. Move away from superfluous detail.

When it comes to wooden elements, look to the work of Japanese studio, Nendo, for ideas. Under the direction of Oki Sato, the studio has created a set of linear, wooden and ceramic basins, bathtubs, storage systems and planters. Nendo also recently created a bathroom range as part of its KI collection for Scavolini, featuring rounded white boxes for use as storage or planters, and wooden shelves and drawer units. The look is clean and pure – perfect for the Zen bathroom. Rapsel’s Ofurò tub is another great choice for the Japanese-inspired bathing space; it is made of movingui and larch wood, with a tactile finish.