Spas are relaxing, but they can also be notoriously expensive. If you want the rest and relaxation of the spa experience, but don't have the money to spend, you can make your own spa at home. To make the most from a small home day spa, you should pay attention to the atmosphere of your home and find ways to make it feel more like a short getaway than a family dwelling. A relaxing vibe, combined with easy-to-make home spa treatments and a couple of good friends, can help you feel relaxed and pampered without the price.
Step 1
Set the mood by dimming your lights and lighting candles. If you're wary of lighting candles in your home, flameless luminaries can set the same mood. You might also switch your regular light bulbs for softer lighting or colored lights for a more relaxed vibe. Make sure that your home is clean so that you can relax properly. Set luminaries and candles in the bedroom and bathroom, where you'll be completing your treatments.
Step 2
Turn on quiet piano music or soothing ocean sounds for quiet background noise that doesn't distract. Avoid music with singers or words, and choose nature sounds instead. Use a tabletop fountain for the soothing sound of rushing water, recommends Good Housekeeping. If you don't own any relaxing CDs, use your computer; Internet services such as Pandora or Rhapsody allow you to create your own music stations that can help you make the most out of your spa day.
Step 3
Mix enough massage oil for those who will be attending your day spa. The easiest way to mix massage oil is to add two drops of essential oil to every tablespoon of sweet almond oil. Try essential oils such as lavender for relaxation, grapefruit for energy or sandalwood for stress relief, says AromaWeb.com. By having your spa at home, you can create massage oil that is specific to your own needs.
Step 4
Create a spa-quality menu for snacking while you complete your treatments. Mix a batch of refreshing spa water bu adding water, ice, a few slices of cucumber and a few sprigs of mint to a pitcher, suggests SpaIndex.com. Leave to chill and sip throughout the day. You might also chop some vegetables for a light salad to eat, and offer vegetables and hummus for snacking.
Step 5
Invite your partner or a few friends to come indulge with you. You can mix up enough olive oil, brown sugar and oatmeal to create an exfoliating paste, says Glamour magazine, and swap body and foot treatments. Trade body massages with the massage oil that you've created, and lay pillows and cushions around the rooms for resting and relaxation between treatments. It makes for an ideal girl's day or a romantic way to spend an afternoon with your partner on the cheap.
Things You'll Need
- Candles
- Relaxing CDs
- CD player
- Essential oils
- Sweet almond oil
- Water
- Cucumber
- Mint leaves
- Brown sugar scrub
- Lemon
- Pedicure supplies
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