Submitted by Paola McDonald, Creative Elegance Interiors, LLC

Creating a beautiful, relaxing, spa-like master bathroom can be easier and less expensive than you might think. Sometimes all it takes is a little creativity, some paint and a small financial investment to create a space that melts your stress away. Here are some quick and easy tips for creating a beautiful master bathroom for your own version of relaxation and pampering.

Pick a soothing paint color. Greens and purples are known for their relaxing effects. Blues can be very invigorating and re-energizing. However, everyone is different and is affected differently by color. Choose a paint color that makes you feel comfortable and relaxed. In most instances, painting a bathroom should only take about an afternoon and a gallon of paint, but it can have such a tremendous impact.

Update your fixtures. A quick and inexpensive update for any bathroom is to update your towel bars, toilet roll holder, toilet handle, faucets and light fixtures. Your local home improvement stores offer a nice variety of updated fixtures at reasonable prices. The key with selecting your fixtures is that your metals should match. They should also coordinate with the metals in the rest of your home. Bronze, brushed nickel and brushed chrome are the most updated, but other finishes can work as long as they are coordinated appropriately.

Paint the outdated vanity. If your vanity is in good condition but the stain is out of date, consider giving it a new coat of paint. Benjamin Moore has some wonderful furniture paint products that will make your vanity look like it was always painted that great color. You can stick with the standard black or white or you can be more adventurous and choose a color that coordinates nicely with your wall color and tile.

Replace or frame a frameless mirror. A beautiful new mirror or some simple, decorative molding can add a big splash of style. If you are not handy, hire a carpenter. It would not be too expensive to have them frame the mirror, and you can paint or stain it to match your vanity. You can also replace your mirror with a more decorative one. If you have double sinks, consider separate oval mirrors over each sink with a decorative sconce or art piece in between for a touch of custom class.

Add a little fabric. A simple valance, soft roman shade or even an upholstered ottoman or bench (if you have space) can add sophistication and softness to the space. Fabrics provide a great opportunity to add splashes of color and style to your room.

Update your towels. Simply purchasing a few decorative towels with a punch of color can add more style, color and personality to your bathroom.

Accessories, accessories, accessories. As in any other room in the house, accessories will finish off the master bathroom. Some beautiful hurricanes filled with sand, decorative potpourri, candles or pebbles can add a touch of serene. Coordinated wall art, wall sconces or other wall décor that shows off your sense of style can complete the space. Even attractive lotion and perfume bottles can act as accessories. Treat the master bathroom the same way you would treat any other room when it comes to accessories.

Your new spa-like master bathroom can be a reality with a little creativity and elbow grease. The benefits of having a relaxing master bathroom, however, can be as soothing as a day at the spa. Enjoy creating your own unique space in which to relax and pamper yourself.

McDonald is a certified interior decorator and owner of Creative Elegance Interiors, LLC. She has been decorating homes for more than seven years. In 2006, she decided to turn her passion into a business and to share her talents professionally with others. Since then, she has helped many clients achieve the home of their dreams. She has worked with varying design styles, designing home spaces that reflect her client’s own personal styles and tastes.

As of July 8, 2011, this service provider was highly rated on Angie’s List. Ratings are subject to change based on consumer feedback, so check AngiesList.com for the most up-to-date reviews. The views expressed by this author do not necessarily reflect those of Angie’s List.