Eight design trends and ideas to create a spa-like bedroom and en suite bathroom at home.
Between work and school, happy hours and playdates, our calendars are packed with commitments that can make life feel a little chaotic. That’s why it’s crucial to cultivate a space at home where you can unplug and unwind—without interruption. For many, their bedroom and en suite bathroom is the answer.
“A beautiful bedroom and bathroom help keep my soul at ease. When I come home at the end of the day and I see my white bedding and soft lighting, it’s comforting and cozy,” says Mary Ellen Dalman, a designer with Wooddale Builders. “Luxury doesn’t have to be expensive, but it’s important for everyone to have their own personal sanctuary.” Here, Dalman and other local design pros offer their tips for creating a relaxing retreat at home.
Floor-to-ceiling white was the reigning color choice amongst homeowners for years, but as that trend fades, a palette of new neutrals is emerging. Taupes, shades of blue, and sage green add depth while still offering the softer aesthetic desired in an owner’s suite. “Color plays a big role, and cooler hues will prompt a more calming effect, while warm hues can often be energizing,” explains Danielle Matthies, an interior designer at Homes by Tradition.
Well-chosen accents in an owner’s suite bring a spa-like atmosphere to life. While matte black hardware has become popular for kitchens, en suite bathrooms shine with faucets and cabinet pulls in polished nickel, chrome, and gold to complement shiny marble or porcelain tile. In the bedroom, fur or satin pillows upgrade crisp white linens, and “sometimes there’s a little crystal involved,” says Dalman.
Achieve a memorable wow factor with unexpected “extras” that elevate an owner’s suite. Think: an island in the walk-in closet or a pull-out full-length mirror, says Dalman. In a bedroom, “I love doing a box vault or tray vault to make the ceiling a bit taller, accenting it with a beautiful light fixture or ceiling fan. It adds a little drama,” says Emily Blaser, an interior designer for Oevering Homes.
The farmhouse aesthetic that dominated the design industry in recent years is now giving way to Scandinavian influences. To invoke a sense of hygge—the Danish concept of coziness—homeowners are leaning into clean, simple lines and minimalism that leaves room for open, airy spaces.
With most people spending more time at home as of late, creating spaces for self-care has become a priority. Freestanding soaking tubs achieve that spa environment at home, while seating areas with a small table and chairs allow room to watch the sunrise with a cup of coffee in the morning, or unwind with a book and glass of wine in the evening. “If there’s no room for chairs, maybe it’s as simple as a bench at the end of the bed,” says Dalman. “That gives you a place to come in and land, take your shoes off, and set your clothes out in the morning. It gives you another layer of that personal space.”
Lighting plays a key role in setting the tone of a room. Warm, soft lighting in a bedroom makes for a calming effect, but an en suite bathroom should offer adequate illumination for grooming and makeup, whether it be through vanity lights, wall sconces, or pendants.
Using a variety of finishes in an en suite bathroom breaks up monotony and adds visual interest. “I’m seeing more interest in mixed materials, playing with textures, finishes, and shapes,” says Matthies. “This could mean using a more predictable tile as a base and mixing in accents that are more playful. Maybe it’s a ledgestone accent wall behind the tub or metal mosaic in the shower.”
It’s not necessary to incorporate every trend to achieve the feeling of a relaxing retreat in your bedroom and en suite. Pick and choose the design elements that create a sense of calm for you, even if your choices don’t align with the aesthetic of the rest of your home. “Stay true to yourself and what you like,” says Blaser. “In the owners’ suite, it’s OK to make it a little bit different than the rest of the house because it’s a totally separate space that’s your own.”
Written By Taylor Hugo
Taylor Hugo (taylorhugo.com) is a freelance writer and editor who has experience creating content for regional and national magazines, small businesses and Fortune 500 companies, and everything in between. After spending most of her life in Minnesota, she recently relocated to Colorado, where you’ll find her hiking the Rocky Mountains and decorating her first home that she shares with her husband and dog.
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