A spa day has never looked so appealing. What with the number of hours you work, dealing with the kids and trying to maintain a healthy home, life can get hectic. Sitting back and relaxing while a professional masseuse unties the knots in your back is the idea of heavenly bliss. The problem is the price. Sure, you might not be as tense hundreds of pounds later but who has that sort of money to spare? Sadly, the answer is not most people – you included.

With the right set-up at home, you can perform a DIY spa day at your leisure and exploit all the usual health benefits without breaking the bank. All you need to do is add a couple of extras to the house to make it feel like a bona fide spa. Here are some of the essentials that are cheap, accessible or both!

Create the ambiance

Every quality spa uses fragrance to create a relaxing atmosphere. As soon as you step through their front door, the scent hits you full in the face and welcomes you inside. It could a bouquet of heady lilies, a lavender oil diffuser or a few sprays of rose water. The great thing is that this is an easy trick to replicate with the right recipe, and The Healthy Maven has an excellent one. Take a few clean rose petals, steep them in a little simmering water and let them soak overnight. Decant the mixture into an atomiser and spritz a little into the air or onto your pillowcase to release endorphins and boost your mood.

Start whaling

No, not the international banned practice of fishing for endangered aquatic mammals! Rather than harm them, you want their dulcet tones to lull you into a deep and refreshing slumber. Earphones are uncomfortable when your head is resting on a pillow. Instead, install a speaker in your bedroom; it should negate the need to use your smart phone or tablet at night. As it remotely links to your device using wi-fi or Bluetooth, a speaker will allow you remove these gadgets that can distract and keep you awake. Plus, you can set a timer for the speaker to switch off automatically after a set length of time.

Soak it up

There’s nothing as quintessentially spa-like as a warm bath infused with bubbles or salts. Unlike a shower, you can’t just jump in at the last minute, scrub down, rinse off and dash out the door. It takes time and patience to draw a perfect bath, something often missing in these frantic times. It also takes the right tub, and Home Spa Select can help if you need bathroom inspiration. Once you have everything set up, idle away the time soaking up the tranquil atmosphere as well as the warm water. Hanging a ‘do not disturb’ sign on the outside of the bathroom door will work a treat in a busy household.

Home-made treatments

Without the proper ingredients, it’s impossible to create DIY body lotions & potions. Yes, it’s easy to buy them ready-made from the chemist’s, but that takes away from the personal element of a ‘home spa’. Plus, making them yourself is an excellent way to learn new skills and, at the same time, save the pennies. Hit the shops to stock up on the things you’ll need for your home spa day. It’s easy to make your own cucumber slice eye masks, honey & lemon face packs, bath salts and sugary body scrubs; simply add the ingredients to your weekly food shopping trolley.

So fresh, so clean

The hip-hop duo Outkast might not seem as if they have much to say on the DIY spa day front, but their hit “So Fresh, So Clean” is on point. You can have all the gadgets and gizmos in the world, but it won’t make a difference if the house is untidy. Clutter stops you from fully relaxing because there’s always something in the way, in your eyeline or on your mind. It’s not exactly a chilled out vibe if you have to move a ton of kids’ toys or piles of dirty laundry out of the bathroom before turning on the tap.

With that in mind, have a whip around and clear away anything that’s out in the open, on the floor or doesn’t have a home. Not only will it give the impression of a minimalistic, spa-like atmosphere, but it will also make the room more tidy and attractive.

Towel upgrade

There are lots of things you won’t need to buy because they cross over, towels and bathrobes being the ultimate examples. Using the same old ones that you make use of on a daily basis doesn’t lend a luxury feel. For one thing, they won’t have the same thread count if they’re old and tired; they’ll look and feel worn out and rough to the touch. An upgrade of the basics is an excellent way to introduce a sense of extravagance.

It’s not as if you have to spend a fortune, either. Some of the best value-for-money finds are available from the likes of Tesco and Asda and other affordable high street shops. Keep back a set of towels ‘for best’ and only take them out of the cupboard for these special moments. As well as your bathroom threads, indulge in candles, cut flowers and home fragrances.

Remember, the addition of scent, mood lighting and injection of nature can transform a room into a relaxing space fit for a DIY spa day.

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