There's something about a bathroom in a posh hotel that makes taking a bath a luxurious experience. Clean, fluffy towels, thick towelling robes, massaging power showers- the lot. But there's no reason why you shouldn’t make your bathroom more than a functional place for washing. A place where you can relax and enjoy the whole bathing experience. Studies confirm that bathing is good for you. ‘As well as the easing effect on your muscles there's a warm, womb-like feeling that soothes the mind’ according to physiotherapist Jane Dorey, creator of in-the-tub workouts (find out more at Bathrobics.co.uk.) Bathing is also good for circulation and metabolism and helping to rid the body of excess waste products. Warm water relaxes muscle tension and slows reactions.

Your bathroom can be a sanctuary, often the only room in the house we have to ourselves, and can be used as a place to relax and increase your wellbeing, so it’s well worth taking the time to create a room that you’ll want to linger in. This needn’t mean a complete re-fit. Re-decorate with calming colours and if its not possible to replace all your towels then invest in a couple of ‘special’ luxurious ones and keep them to yourself! Choose bath products not only on functionality, go for ones in beautiful jars and sensuous colours or decant your favourite product into a particularly nice glass jar for the same effect.