Decor

shower caddy

Today's bathrooms are more than simply a place to wash. As one of the first rooms you see in the morning and one of the last you see at night, it's no wonder its décor and style can make such a difference to how you start or end the day.

The early Greeks bathed for aesthetic reasons and apparently did not use soap. Instead, they cleaned their bodies with blocks of clay, sand, pumice and ashes, then anointed themselves with oil and scraped off the oil and dirt with a metal instrument known as a strigil. They also used oil with ashes.

All natural soaps and toiletries are gentle on the skin and kind to the spirit. Made from herbs, flowers and other plants, they have no synthetic additives. As Roman civilization advanced, so did bathing. The first of the famous Roman baths, supplied with water from their aqua diets, was built about 312 B.C. The baths were luxurious and bathing become very popular.

The bathroom of the home spa is without a doubt the most therapeutic region in the home. Even when space is extremely limited, bathing areas can become special places for relaxation. A truly healing bath begins with clean, pure water. Bacteria and other impurities can be absorbed through the skin when you bathe. To enhance the atmosphere of cleanliness and abundance, add naturally scented soaps and an abundance of plush cotton bath towels.

The most satisfying bathing areas are crafted from earth-friendly materials. Marble, Granite and slate are more pleasing to the touch than artificial compounds such as fiberglass. Fired from earthen materials, ceramics, porcelain and glass are reminiscent of river rocks and ocean tossed stones. To create the sensation that you are bathing in warm, natural springs, you can add some lovely extras such as aromatic soap, fragrance, aroma oil, antique soap holder, handmade cotton towel, towel holder, baskets, open shelves, maybe even small plants or pebbles to create an amazing area.

Trying to locate the soap, shampoo or sponge can be highly frustrating when water is cascading into your eyes. This simple solution should help to keep everything you need in one place close to hand when you need it.

Decorative details that symbolise strength will help you feel more relaxed and welcoming. So, when you are in a lovely bathroom, it will soak away your stress. Sprinkle your bath water with fragrant rose oil and use a rough loofah or a brush to scrub toxins from your skin. Savour the sensations of warmth and wetness, rough and soapy smooth.

By Nazneen Haque Mimi
Interior consultant
Journeyman
E-mail: journeyman.interiors@gmail.com
Photo courtesy: Journeyman archive

Pop Up

Soap savers

Just how common is the problem of worrying about fast-melting soap in soap trays and cases, not lasting long enough due to accumulated water after every wash? Managing to do some saving, even regarding something as small as saving soap, is quite crucial! Not that people haven't come up with pretty innovative ideas, such as sticking the metal caps of Sprite and Coke bottles, etc. That particular trend was so successful, soap manufacturing companies even started producing plastic versions that they offered free with every purchase of a Lux , Meril, etc.

Here's another great idea on how to save your precious bar of soap. Simply place a thick wad of foam in the soap tray and place the soap on top of it. The foam soaks up all the water after every wash, thus keeping the soap completely dry. Once the foam is heavy with all the water, simply squeeze it dry over the sink. The added bonus to this idea is that, since the foam is already full of soapy water, you can even use it wipe off the sink when it needs cleaning!