by Paula M. Bodah
spa-like amenities can boost your mental and physical health and add value to your home
A WEEKEND AT A SPA is a wonderful indulgence that can leave you feeling relaxed, energized and motivated to build a healthful lifestyle. Wouldn’t it be nice to have that feeling at home every day? It might be easier (and less expensive) than you think. What’s more, a survey by the National Association of Realtors found that home features related to health and wellness are becoming increasingly popular among home buyers, with 43 percent of buyers reporting that they are willing to pay more for these features.
If a new house or expansive renovation isn’t in your plans (or your budget), you can still bring the spa experience home with a few simple enhancements. A bit of reworking of your existing bathroom can go a long way. Or perhaps an area in your home—in the attic, basement, garage or spare bedroom—can be converted to a wellness hub. And if all else fails, look to the outdoors. Here are a few basics to get you started.
Turn your current bathroom into a mini spa with a few simple upgrades. Swap out a plain tub for one with whirlpool jets. Add a bit of aromatherapy with a countertop essential oil infuser. Invest in a towel-warming rack so you can wrap yourself in heat when you step out of the bath.
If you have the bandwidth for a more serious upgrade, perhaps even enlarging the bath, reserve a corner for a dry or infrared sauna or a steam room. A steam room primarily benefits respiratory health, while a dry sauna is better for muscle relaxation and improved circulation through deep heat penetration. An infrared sauna offers targeted heat that can penetrate even deeper into the body.
Cold plunge tubs are growing in popularity, with some influencers swearing by them for mood improvement as well as post-workout recovery. Another rising trend is halotherapy—an ancient therapy that involves breathing in microscopic salt particles—a practice good for the respiratory system, allergies and skin issues. Halotherapy can be as simple as a Himalayan salt therapy lamp or as complicated as a salt chamber. Whether you opt for cold, hot or salt therapy, hire a professional electrician and plumber to ensure success.
Physical fitness is a big part of wellness, of course, but who wants to slog to the gym or do the same old in-home routine? Invest in a fitness mirror to mix things up and keep you motivated. A fitness mirror can hang on the wall or stand-alone, making it easy to incorporate almost anywhere in the home. Fitness mirrors, which require a subscription plan, let you choose your exercise—from yoga or boxing to aerobics or weightlifting and more. Plus, virtual instructors and programs allow you to exercise on your own schedule.
For true luxury, set aside a space dedicated to wellness—a health hub—incorporating any or all of the above. Here, you can work out and recover using heat or cold, halotherapy or aromatherapy. Don’t forget to include a fridge to hold healthful hydration options. Consider creating an outdoor wellness area if indoor space is at a premium. Indoors or out, in ways small or large, focusing on wellness in your home will reap big rewards.
