How to beat the winter blues by turning your bathroom into a relaxing retreat

Nothing beats immersing yourself in a bath full of steaming water to soothe the chill from your bones in winter. The earlier the evenings draw in, the quicker you can retreat to the bathroom for some 'me' time.

Clinical-looking, all-white bathrooms may look clean and fresh but the rise of the black bathroom seems unstoppable – and in winter, they truly come into their own. Here are some ideas to turn this functional room into an every evening retreat.

Deep and meaningful

A sculptural, freestanding tub is the ultimate luxury, an investment buy that becomes the focal point of the room. Place it at the end of the longest axis in a room for visual oomph – and if it's beneath the window and has a view, all the better!

Even though there are models designed for smaller environments, free-standing baths still take up more room than a regular bath but, as a hero piece, they're worth it.

Make sure they're far enough away from the wall for easy cleaning. As a general rule, you need 100mm around the bath – enough to get an arm in. If space is really tight, make a 'wet' area so that you can locate the shower immediately alongside the bath and just use the detachable spray head to rinse down the area.

Slipper tubs have one (or both) ends sloped so they hug the body and roll-top is usually more comfortable to rest on. Be aware that a free-standing bath with high sides won't suit young children or the elderly.

Candle power

There's nothing worse than trying to relax in a room where the lighting is tuned into the purposeful alone. Apart from candles, make sure you have some low-key, ambient alternatives such as LED strip lights beneath a wall-hung vanity unit or pendants that can be dimmed. Choose LEDs with a warm colour temperature: cool lighting has no ambience.

Under-lighting the bath is a nice idea but do consult the regulations to make sure it complies. Any light fittings in a bathroom should have an 'IP' rating of at least IP44, which means it is protected from water splash, up to IP46 which protects from high-pressure spray.

Sexy and soothing

Black, now so fashionable in kitchens, translates beautifully to bathrooms and turns the style dial to sultry. Wraparound large-format tiles in matt black or charcoal grey (ones that can be used on the walls and continue seamlessly to the floor), make a striking statement.

When using black or darker shades on the wall, choose one with a warm base to give a rich glow at night (Resene 'Kilimanjaro' and Resene 'Bokara Grey' are both black with a touch of brown in their make-up).

Black ceilings will 'lower' the height of a room, making it feel cosier and, while black floors can be tiresome to keep clean, if you choose a tile with texture (perhaps the popular penny round) or subtle patterning, you won't be mopping every day.

With black tubs and black tapware, you could go all out with the midnight mood. If you're concerned it'll be all too much, enrobe a powder room entirely in black as an experiment. In the main bathroom, team with timber vanities to offset the tone.

Final fantasy

Pared-back and practical be gone: the winter-welcoming home takes creature comforts into the littlest room of the house, too.

Wake up the scheme with a touch of glamorous wallpaper; if the kids are splash happy, make sure you choose vinyl and only use it on a wall that's well away from the action.

Built-in alcoves can be used for candles or foliage in a simple vase and a shelf next to the bath is essential for bubbles, candles and, yes, a glass of vino. And don't skimp on the towels. Black ones are a bold choice for winter; you can always swap them to white in the summer months.

It's these finishing touches that do the important job of bringing the room together – it'll feel like a hotel. On days when Jack Frost is nipping at your heels, you'll be dreaming of a long, hot soak all the way home.

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