5 Unique Features To Create a Standout Home Spa

At its most basic level, your backyard hot tub is there to provide relaxation. The warm water, the massaging jets, all help your body recover after a long day, but why settle for a little physical relaxation when you can make your hot tub into a physical and mental unwind worthy of the most high-end spa experience? Investing in the extras that make your hot tub more enjoyable means you're more likely to use it regularly and you'll want to invite your friends over to enjoy it with you. Here are five unique features that will turn your hot tub into a full spa.

1. Make Your Hot Tub Part of Whole Backyard Upgrade

Stepping down into a hot tub will always make you feel like more of a rock star than trying to haul your carcass over the side of a spa sitting on a concrete pad. Channel your inner rock star with a whole backyard upgrade. Check out "pool builders near me" to find a licensed contractor who can put together an inground pool and hot tub combo that will be the envy of the neighborhood. If you really won't use a pool but want to upgrade your backyard, look for a contractor who can build you a multilevel deck with one level allowing you to step down directly into your hot tub. 

2. Add a Fire Pit

The thought of getting out of a nice warm hot tub on a cold winter evening can keep you from getting into the water to begin with. Adding a fire pit, with wood or gas, is a finishing touch that keeps your hot tub appealing year round. Hot tubs come with a wealth of health benefits, like pain relief and muscle relaxation, but extended exposure to water over 100 degrees isn't recommended for even the healthiest individuals. Limit your time in the tub to about 30 minutes. Instead of ending the party after 30 minutes, keep it going around a toasty fire pit. It's also a great space for those who can't indulge in the pleasure of a spa.

3. Move Your Hot Tub to the Roof

Even the most basic hot tub setup is elevated (pun intended) when you move the whole thing to your roof. With a flat space on top of your home you'll have a beautiful view and the neighbors will never be hopping the wall to soak in your private retreat. Create a private access to your master suite to complete the hideaway aesthetic of a rooftop getaway.

4. Install a Pergola

No matter where you install your hot tub, having a pergola or ramada to provide protection from the weather is the perfect way to keep your spa usable all year round. Nothing can get you closer to the feel of a Swiss ski resort at home than sitting in your hot tub on a snowy evening. It provides shade when you want to soak during the day. A pergola also provides a structure for hanging curtains. Curtains provide privacy when you want it and keeps out bugs when you need it. 

5. Opt for a Japanese-Style Hot Tub 

Another option that will fit within many other design plans is opting for a Japanese-style hot tub. These tubs don't provide jets like Western hot tubs but they can easily be added if you need the extra pressure. Traditionally round soaking tubs, the ofuro tubs have classic design with cedar wood that compliments many designs. You won't want to sink this type of tub flush with the ground or the top of the deck since part of the appeal is the beauty of the exterior wood. Instead, try a partial sink surrounded by slate or river rock. Add a pond or other water feature and you'll feel like you're enjoying a Japanese vacation every day.

There's no such thing as a bad hot tub, but if you want to take your experience to the next level, try some of these ideas.