Adding a steam shower into your bathroom is a great way to increase the functionality and style of your space. With a steam shower, you can increase the value perception of your home and add a spa experience to your bathroom routine. After all, your bathroom is one of the most trafficked areas of your home, and ideally, you’re able to curate a sanctuary with this space. With the right tools, a simple bathroom can easily be transformed into a relaxing haven.
Furthermore, steam showers offer ample benefits. For starters, steam showers help reduce stress by relieving tension in the body. Tense muscles also fatigue the body, making it more difficult to go to sleep at night and further compounding stress and anxiety. It also helps detoxify your body by cleansing your blood and eliminating bad toxins.
“When the skin gets warm, the capillaries and vessels dilate, causing nutrient-rich blood and oxygen to be brought to the cells,” celebrity aesthetician Renée Rouleau told Refinery29. “Blood circulation is what feeds the skin and its cells and keeps them acting healthy, while giving the skin a glow from within.”
And lastly, the average shower steamers amazon session burns 150 calories, making it a nice, simple way to both relax and get rid of some unwanted calories. If you’re not sure where to start, follow this practical beginner’s guide for getting your first steam shower:
Work Out a Budget
One of the first things you’ll want to do with any installation is work out a budget. No matter what renovation plans you’ve got, a budget helps you avoid overspending and factors in unforeseen costs. By starting with a budget first, you’ll avoid choosing steam shower options that encourage you to spend money you don’t have to. Go through your expenses and bills and figure out what you can realistically afford to spend right now.
Alternatively, you can choose the steam shower setup you like the most and create a savings plan for it. There are plenty of savings apps that make managing your savings goals seamless. And you’d be surprised to learn that steam showers are much more of an affordable luxury than you might think.
For a custom steam shower with all the features you need for a fully outfitted spa experience, you can expect to pay roughly $8,000—more or less depending on the materials, labor, and extra features you want. In this case, if you wanted to save up for it, you could break that cost down to monthly amount and stash it away. However, many contractors offer payment plans with solid interest options.
Research Extra Features
After you’ve chosen the steam shower basics, you can look into extra features that really build out your new installation. Although this might seem like something you want to consider at the end, it’s important to consider it on the earlier side, because your desired features may only be supported by specific types of controls and generators. And furthermore, choosing the features that make you excited and happy is one of the best parts about planning a steam shower installation. Although they may be a little more costly, they help contribute to curating an oasis.
However, if the extra bells and whistles don’t appeal to you, you can forego them and stick to effective steam shower solutions that will save you plenty of money.
Ergonomic Bench
An ergonomic bench is designed to support maximum comfortability in the body so you can relax using a seat that conforms to your natural curvature. They’re beautiful and functional and make it easy to get a proper steam session in.
Chromotherapy
Chromotherapy is a color therapy that uses light to stimulate homeostasis within the body. Chromotherapy is an ancient practice that dates way back to the ancient Egyptians. Light plays a big role in how our brains and bodies function, and certain light colors help trigger different responses in the body.
For example, the color red helps stimulate circulation through the body and heart and restore energy. On the other hand, blue is a calming color that slows the heart rate and allows the body’s parasympathetic system to relax. By integrating chromotherapy into your steam shower, you get a fully-fledged therapeutic system.
Bluetooth Speaker
Adding a little music therapy to your steam shower sessions is a great idea. It allows you to set the mood and unwind. There are plenty of waterproof speakers designed to withstand high temperatures, giving you several versatile options.
Massager
Massage jets elevate your steam shower to another level of relaxation. Massage jets are essential in creating steam, but you can have as many or as few body massage jets as you’d like. These jet streams help you relax your muscles and loosen joins.
Aroma Control
An aroma pump allows aroma to be pumped out into the steam as you enjoy your shower. There are plenty of aroma oil mist products to choose from. With these products, essential oils are atomized directly into the steam, allowing you to feel relaxed and optimize your scented bath experience. You can choose from all types of oil to dispense, like eucalyptus, lavender, or chamomile.
Choosing the Right Manufacturer
All your research efforts will prove futile if you don’t put the work into finding the best manufacturer for the job. There are several important things to consider when it comes to choosing the right steam manufacturer. Talk to your potential provider about what type of generators they have and what features they come with. For instance, temperature control is important, and this is determined by how the generator measures temperature, how the system introduces new water, and how the generator generates and regulates heat. An accurate temperature reading is essential, and this depends on the type of sensors your system has.