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Many bathroom design trends are beginning to converge: bigger bathrooms, luxury master suites, an emphasis on simplicity and creature comfort. Taken together, they show a clear trend towards master bathrooms strongly influenced by spas and high end hotels. In addition to the simple, open floor plan and emphasis on luxurious natural materials that are part and parcel of the design, HomeThangs.com has introduced a guide to choosing the major fixtures for a spa style bathroom.

1. Soaking Tubs Instead Of Whirlpools
One area where spa style bathrooms in a home should differ from luxury hotel bathrooms is in terms of the bathtub. While big, jetted tubs are a popular luxury feature for someone on a weekend getaway, the reality is that people who can afford to have them installed in their homes often don’t have time to use them. But even though whirlpools are going out of vogue, remodeling a master bathroom without a bathtub can really significantly lower the home’s resale value. Instead, opt for a smaller, decorative soaking tub and expand a separate shower as much as possible.

2. Frameless Glass Showers
As in a luxury hotel, shower curtains have no space in a spa style bathroom. Shower curtains are a perfectly acceptable option for a smaller bathroom, but large, spa-style master suites are all about open spaces, clean lines, and natural materials. One of the best ways to get this look is with a frameless shower enclosure. Huge, seamless panels of glass connected only by small hinges and brackets make a shower seem huge and open, preventing water from splashing but leaving a full, unbroken view of the bathroom – and of the bathroom’s view.

3. Open Showers
Taking this desire for open spaces to the extreme are showers that are made with no enclosure at all. This type of shower needs to be part of a total spa style bathroom remodel, as the shower head and drain should be positioned (and tile chosen and installed) to prevent water damage. But, done properly, the effect is quite spectacular – water is allowed to fall totally barrier free and drains down into the center of the room. This creates a true, steamy, spa-like atmosphere, but works best with a lot of care and planning before construction starts.

4. Steam Showers
On the exact opposite end of the spectrum are steam showers, which need to be fully enclosed and sealed to work properly. These are an excellent choice for a recessed installation, as it’s much simpler to seal a single wall than it is to close off two or three. Steam showers are powered by steam generators that fill the closed space with steam, and are often equipped with seats to lounge and enjoy the sinus-clearing steam before turning on the main shower. Steam showers are common feature in luxury hotels, but also come with a whole host of health benefits, especially for those with allergies or respiratory problems.

5. Saunas
Popular in other parts of the world for thousands of years, saunas are only just starting to show up in spa style bathrooms in the US. Saunas can be small enough to fit in a master bathroom or large enough to act as their own separate room, and are typically made of wood that stands up well against heat and moisture. Powered with electric or more modern infrared heaters, saunas produce a high, usually dry heat that can help promote circulation and muscle relaxation.

6. Built In Heating
Finally, perhaps the most popular spa feature showing up in home design is heated flooring. A heated floor can take the chill out of an early morning shower without cranking up the heat in the rest of the house, and are simple and relatively inexpensive if done as part of a larger renovation. Other features, like towel warmers and even towel warming drawers built into a bathroom vanity are quite popular as well – heated towels especially can help round out the spa experience.

To find out more about luxury spa bathroom fixtures, read the full article here.

HomeThangs.com is not only a home improvement superstore, it also provides expert design tips and acomprehensive shopping guide, taking the ideas from professional interior designers, and offering tips to the consumers on how to pick the products to best suit their needs.