Accessorizing adds a little spice to life. People accessorize their outfits, their homes and their cars to give them the finishing touches that help them stand out from the rest. A steam shower is one of the most popular luxury additions to US homes, and the market’s growth rate is set to surge over the next six years according to a recent survey by Market Research Update. Adding the right steam shower accessories enhances the experience and maximizes the value of your bathroom upgrade.

Types of steam shower accessories

Whether you're planning a new installation or looking to spruce up an existing steam room, your choice of steam room accessories will add the finishing touches. Accessories from recognized US manufacturers like Hudson Reed, Thermasol and others can improve control, comfort, wellness benefits and the overall visual appeal of your steam shower.

Accessories include things light bespoke lighting, seating, aromatherapy fittings, digital or specialist controls and even sound systems. Choosing the right accessories depends partly on your personal circumstances and taste, bus also on the size and type of steam shower or steam room in your home. Let’s look at each type of accessory in more detail.

Steam shower accessories for enhanced control

This is the age of automation, and features like voice control hubs are part of daily life in many US households. You can use a home hub to control your heating, or open your garage door, so why not use it for your steam shower, too?

After all, a steam shower is the perfect place to enjoy a mental time-out. Automate the process to make it even more hassle-free, storing your preferences so you get the perfect steam shower at the touch of a button. With an accessory like the HUUM UKU Local Sauna Controller Kit, you can even set and operate your steam shower from a cell phone app.

But control accessories go beyond tech gadgetry. If you or a family member has arthritis, or some other medical condition that affects grip, you could accessorize with easy grip controls, to operate the steam shower with a fingertip’s touch.

Accessories to add to the luxury and comfort of your steam shower

When you use a steam shower in an upmarket hotel or spa, it is the small details that make the difference. A heated towel rail from US manufacturer Hudson Reel adds five-star luxury to your home steam room. You can digitally program a start time, so your towels will be lovely and toasty when you are ready to dry off. They also have an auto shut-off feature, so you don’t have to worry about remembering to switch them off.

Love aromatherapy? Relaxing oils and a steam shower go together like eggs and bacon. Most models of steam shower come equipped with an aromatherapy oil compartment, either to the back near the inlet or at the outlet. Then it’s just a case of deciding which aromatherapy oil is for you. Popular choices include eucalyptus, geranium, rosemary, lavender, peppermint, tea tree, lemon and ylang ylang. Deciding which one is a very personal choice and also depends whether you have any specific physical or physiological conditions. For example, eucalyptus is often used for tension and inflammation, lavender helps you relax and ylang ylang is good for treating anxiety and stress. If you are new to aromatherapy, buy a variety of oils in small volumes to find out which you like best in your steam shower.

Other luxury touches range from relatively simple accessories like comfort seating to advanced gadgets like mood lighting or a sound system.

Add some bling to your steam shower with luxury textures and flooring

A steam shower or steam room is a luxurious upgrade. So it’s only right that you should add some accessories to emphasize that and show it to its best advantage. Adding to its visual appeal is also a shrewd investment. The latest Cost vs Value report by Remodeling Magazine shows that more than half of a bathroom upgrade’s costs can be recouped – but the higher-end the materials and accessories, the better the resale value.

Two easy ways to achieve this are by choosing non-standard textures and flooring materials in your steam shower. Natural stone tiles made from marble or limestone come in a choice of textures and colors, and you can create some beautiful mosaic effects. Just be aware that they are more porous than standard ceramic tiles, so could need extra sealing.

As for flooring, there are dozens of options to give a unique touch. These include hardwoods like teak, or a surface of river stones or pebble for a natural vibe. Just keep in mind that whatever you choose should be non-slip, particularly if anyone in the family is a little unsteady on their feet.