“A great bathroom should pamper you every day,” says Andreas Charalambous, principal of Forma Design in Washington, D.C., which specializes in creating relaxing yet practical bathrooms. “It should help you kick off the day and wind down at night.” Here’s how to elevate your bathroom from a toilet-and-tub cubicle to an at-home resort.

Make it familiar
“A well-dressed bathroom should feel like an extension of the rest of the house,” says Charalambous. Meaning: Bring in similar design elements from other finishes, fixtures, and fittings.

Clear out the clutter
“It breeds uneasiness,” says Charalambous. “People want to go home and rest. With clutter, the eye doesn’t stop. Visually, there’s no place to rest.” Forma avoids using medicine cabinets; instead, it integrates storage units under the vanity. Strapped for space? Throw your grooming gear in a sinkside basket or other container.

Inflate your space
Charalambous expands rooms by bringing in full-wall mirrors or lifting cabinets off the floor. “The eye sees the floor extend beyond the cabinet, a detail that makes the space seem bigger,” he says.

Heat up your shower
Replace opaque shower doors with clear glass to open up the room, says Charalambous. For a hit of voyeuristic sex appeal, coat the clear door with privacy film, then cut various shapes from the frosted adhesive.

Hang a wall sconce
“Overhead lighting, if not strategically placed, creates shadows on your face and bags under your eyes,” says Charalambous. Not good—you don’t want her feeling unsexy before crawling into bed. Instead, hang a wall sconce and use halogen bulbs, which resemble natural light, he says. If you’re not a wall-sconce-hanging kind of guy, put the overhead lights on a dimmer switch.

What is Your Bathroom Telling Her?

For a woman, the path to your bedroom leads through your bathroom. Here’s how to make sure she doesn’t take a wrong turn

Photos by Thomas Loof

You are how you groom. A guy might have a fantastic job, a stand-up caliber sense of humor, and a Lamborghini but if his bathroom’s a wreck, 75 percent of women won’t be joining him in bed. That’s what we found when we surveyed more than 300 women with the help of Women’s Health. Why? Just think: Your bathroom is the first intimate spot she sees in your home (everyone has to go, right?) and the last place she sizes up before she meets you under the sheets. “All around the bathroom, she’s noticing clues as to how everyday life would be with you,” says Julie Albright, Ph.D., a sociologist and sex researcher at the University of Southern California. That’s why, on the following pages, we created the ultimate guide to transforming a bunkerlike bathroom into a sultry, spa-worthy space.


7 Ways to Lure Her to Bed

Upgrade your shave. Shaving shouldn’t be a 17-blade facial assault. It’s a ritual that requires delicacy. She’ll assume if you’re that gentle with your mug, you’ll know how to handle her sensitive spots, too. “Underscore your masculinity, but also show that you’re pulled together,” says Albright. Ditch your grade-school electric and go retro with the Concord Tortoise Mach3/Badger set, which combines vintage style with modern practicality ($150, concordshear.com). Quick tip: Don’t shave before your date. British researchers learned that women found men with light stubble more masculine, mature, and attractive than clean-shaven men.

Overhaul your reading material. We’re sure the May 2000 issue of Reader’s Digest is just fascinating, but it doesn’t deserve a spot near your throne. “You want to present yourself as a man, not a boy,” says Albright. That means thoughtful, timely reads. Think the Week or the New Yorker—neither more than 2 weeks old. Or blow her away with something even more . . . adult: a book. Try Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels, which Penguin has reissued in the original paperback ($14, us.penguingroup.com). Women find bad boys like Bond more attractive than less aggressive characters, according to researchers at New Mexico State University.

Rock a robe. “Women subliminally look for a man who exhibits signs of success and stability, and you’d be surprised how far a plush robe can go,” says Rebecca Rosenblat, a.k.a. Dr. Date. We like the Calvin Klein Home Lush Collection ($100, macys.com). They’re machine washable and 100 percent cotton—a more practical, sophisticated alternative to silk (sorry, Hef). Go ahead and share: When she wraps herself in your robe, the natural scent of your sweat in the fabric may raise her cortisol levels—which have been linked to her arousal and mood—according to a 2007 study that was published in the Journal of Neuroscience.

Light her passion. Ask any film director: The lighting of a space can make or break a mood. “Sensuality is about all five senses,” says Albright. “The more senses you can engage, the more positive connections she’ll make with you.” But don’t overdo it. One candle will set the mood without turning your digs into a Nicholas Sparks adaptation. And sniff out orange and lavender scents. Their essential oils may help reduce anxiety and also improve mood, according to Austrian researchers. Try Avora’s Mysteria 9-inch Glass Pillar ($24, 100candles.com).

Pull back your curtain. The more inviting your shower looks, the more likely she’ll step inside with you, says Albright. This means that a crusty plastic shower curtain may act as a literal barrier to entry. Coax her inside with a soft, welcoming fabric, like organic cotton. The design of West Elm’s color-block curtain ($50, westelm.com) will elevate any modern bathroom. And remember: Plastic shower rings are
for kids. Replace them with metal versions instead. Like, right now.

Give her a reason to dry off. In exchange, she’ll invent a reason to get dirty. “A soft, plush towel shows that a man pays attention to fine details,” says Rosenblat. Buy a couple of Ralph Lauren Palmer towels ($50, ralphlauren.com). The long, smooth fibers of the Turkish cotton grow softer and more absorbent each time you run them through the wash. Confused on color? Go white. It’s easiest to maintain. Just drop a dash of fabric-safe bleach into your load of whites.

Sprinkle on some salt. She stopped taking bubble baths at age 8. Instead, set an unopened jar of bath salts tubside. “They convey a sensual image without seeming self-involved,” says Albright. The scent of jasmine tea may help decrease heart rate and improve relaxation, according to Japanese researchers. Find jasmine and green tea salts at skinnyskinnysoaps.com ($35).


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