Turning the bathroom into a relaxing retreat

Debbie A. Lubis, Contributor, Jakarta

As our daily routines cause increasing strain and fatigue, the bathroom has become a source of relaxation and rejuvenation for both body and mind.

Although the style of a bathroom invariably depends upon the homeowner's unique taste and character, interior designers claim there is a growing trend toward a natural ambience for the bathroom.

This tendency is reflected in the location, fixtures, fittings, and accessories of contemporary bathrooms. Cleverly chosen sinks, showers, tubs, tiles, and faucets or lighting, rugs and even furniture can make bath time a ritual that stimulates all the senses.

"Today's bathroom is much more than just a place to wash and groom. It transcends those basic necessities into a place to escape to -- a soothing retreat," said interior consultant Edwin Sahdie. He said, homeowners would use transparent glass to connect the bathroom with a small garden or pond, thus, creating a soothing sanctuary.

"They can soothe their eyes and enjoy the view while immersed in the bath or whirlpool," he said.

Other trends are roofless bathrooms -- fancy a warm bath under the stars? Or, outside bathrooms, which are well-suited to the climate here.

"The lay-out of the bathroom is also more open with minimal walls or partitions," Edwin added.

Transparent curtains or doors can create the impression of more space.

"This kind of design replaces the old style of bathroom, which was closed off from the rest of the house. Only some parts were left open for circulation and lighting." He said.

Halistya Pramana, managing director of Vinoti Living, shared Edwin's view. She said homeowners were looking for a combination of convenience and luxury.

"Even cabin showers are now equipped with sauna facilities and video and audio sets," she said.

According to Halistya, some homeowners also tried to combine the bathroom with the bedroom, separating them with a thin curtain or sheet of blurred glass.

Relaxation is vital; by placing furniture, such as a sofa, in the bathroom, the impression that bath time is a 20-minute affair is overturned. Contemporary bathrooms invite you to spend the afternoon relaxing in the tub with a good book.

Halistya underlined the bathtub could be upgraded so that homeowners could enjoy a hydro-massage or spa bath. "Bathtubs these days can accommodate two or three people," she added -- sounds like good fun for children as well.

Bathroom designs are becoming more sophisticated, with Javanese palace, classical, spartan or Japanese styles among those available.

"Plants and small stones can also be placed in the bathroom for a more natural feel," she added.

Edwin, said spa baths were rarely installed as homeowners tended to add additional functions to the regular tub, and a steam shower would also act as a massaging tool.

He added that additional furniture like chairs and cupboards would become more popular this year. For those who like reading in the bathroom, he suggested putting in a cupboard or shelves for books or magazines.

Ardi Joanda, marketing manager of Da Vinci, said there was a growing tendency for people to spend longer in the bathroom. Although, he thought bathroom fixtures, such as spa baths or furniture were not yet a trend in Jakarta.

As a furniture retailer, Da Vinci experiences greater demand for European classic-style bathroom interiors. "There is actually no definitive trend for bathrooms. They are very personal and the style depends upon the customer's taste," Ardi said.

He said that to create a certain ambience or atmosphere in the bathroom, homeowners usually added accessories that stimulated their senses, like aromatic candles, soft lights or textured towels.

Edwin said homeowners also needed to consider their options, for example, bathtub, whirl bath or outdoor shower with whirl bath. These things affected the budget, design and overall efficiency of the room according to the homeowners' taste, he said.

He added that, currently, natural materials like sandstone, marble, and wood were popular.

"The correct use of materials supports the function of the bathroom," he said.

Accessories would also need to be in line with the taste and needs of homeowners. "But the standard accessories used are real plants (often white or purple "moon" orchids), scents, aromatherapy, paintings, porcelain, handicrafts, china and pottery," he explained.

Air circulation and lighting are of the utmost importance as they determine whether a bathroom is hygienic.

Halistya said that accessories which were in demand today included small paintings, plants and small stones, wooden surfaces, candles, fragrance, and soft music.

"All of this can make bathing refreshing and relaxing," he said.

Every bathroom should also have a fan to extract steam and excess moisture.