Ah, the happy chaos of motherhood! It’s full of blink-and-you’ll-miss-it days that burst to the brim with mum-hustling. But if you’re craving some calm – just a little pocket of peace in your own home, it’s closer than you think. Promise.

There’s no denying that carrying the weight of being a mum is exhausting. We literally haul the ‘motherload’ on our shoulders every day – there’s always someone who needs food, a hug, clean clothes, soccer boots, a lift, a shoulder to cry on. And we wouldn’t have it any other way. But, as I’ve learned over the course of my 14 years of being a mum, if you don’t take care of you, you’re never going to be everything they need.

As a mum, I know I leave myself pretty low on my daily list of priorities – usually somewhere below making sure there’s bread for the kids’ school lunches. And I know I’ve often worn it as a badge of honour – the more tired and stretched I am, the better mum I must be.

But I’ve learned this kind of thinking only makes me resentful, rather than grateful for the beautiful family I have. And it’s prompted me to come up with an authentic (and practical) way to press pause on the chaos. The solution had to be something close to home, easy to achieve and would genuinely help me take care of myself – inside and out. Guess where I found it? In the bathroom.

Reclaiming The Bathroom

I’ll be honest, most days I walk past our main bathroom after my mini tornadoes (a.k.a my teen boys) ready themselves for the day and it’s a jumble of damp towels, stray hairs and toothpaste muck all over the sink.

So, before I could take back the bathroom, I had to teach my boys some home truths. I asked them to do a two-minute reset once they’d finished in the bathroom each morning. Just take a quick glance around and pop everything back in its place.

At first, I got the usual eye-rolls, but then I explained that I wanted to use the bathroom as a self-care space. A bit of a haven. And they actually softened. Not only that, I haven’t seen a wet towel on the floor since!

A Renewing Bathroom Everyday Ritual

Next, I wanted to make the bathroom inviting and ready for my chaos-escaping moments of peace. I knew that having a few comforts ready and waiting would make it all the more enticing, and would prompt me to make time for myself. I wanted to create a  an ‘everyday ritual’ feeling, so these self-care moments become more habitual. Repetitive.

For once, caring for my own wellbeing becomes as second-nature as caring for everyone else’s.

So I thought about everything I love: reading, beautiful scents, comfort, cleansing and cosiness! I wanted to bring an element of each into the bathroom, so no matter what my mood, I’d find a way to relax and rejuvenate during my everyday ritual. So I created a bathroom everyday ritual kit.

Here are my bathroom everyday ritual kit must-haves, all from IKEA:

The HAVERN bath rack was a non-negotiable, so I can have a big mug of tea (the GLADELIG mug is the perfect vessel!) and a book nearby. There’s just something about reading in the bath that’s next level indulgent!

The ENSTAKA scented candle is the ultimate mood-setter – both for the sensory experience and the flickering light. The earth, smoky and sweet notes create a tranquil atmosphere. Bliss.

Speaking of sensory joy, a soak in epsom bath salts is just the ticket for a tired mum, so the simple, beautiful IKEA 365+ glass bamboo jar is the perfect vessel (and looks gorgeous too). The TRÄTTEN hair towel wrap is a fabulous addition to a bathroom everyday ritual kit – stay warm after you’ve washed your locks even if you want to keep soaking!

The ÅBYÅN body puff paired with an exfoliating scrub is a skin’s best friend, followed with the big, soft FREDRIKSJÖN bath sheet to keep in the cosiness!

And finally, a safe place to store my mobile phone (the TISKEN toothbrush holder with suction cup works beautifully!) Because as much as we want a digital escape, with kids, it’s always nice to know the phone is close by, just in case.

It All Starts In The Bathroom

It may be the centre of morning madness, but your bathroom could truly become your mum haven. Whether you have a whole hour to spare, or just a few minutes to light a candle and stand in the shower, it has the ability to become your calm in the chaos. For more ideas on everyday rituals for a better everyday life head to the IKEA website.

We’re proudly working with IKEA to bring you this article. IKEA believes that everyday rituals create a better everyday life. And home is the perfect place to practice our everyday rituals, because it’s where happiness starts.