Moreover, the

natural light that they provide has the power to change your mood, according

to doctors, who believe that sunlight has positive effects on a person's

overall well being.

Combined with

other spa-like features, such as aromatherapy, the practice of using plant-derived

fragrances to change your mood, you can have your own private retreat

in no time.

"People

are discovering all the added benefits a sunroom can have," explains

Rick Jones, president of Patio Enclosures, Inc., North America's largest

designer and installer of sunrooms. "From their therapeutic sunlight,

to their versatility and beauty, sunrooms are perfect places for personal

relaxation."

With some creative

planning and planting you can treat yourself to a restorative herbal mask

or an aromatherapy message. Here are a few basics for starting your own

home spa. You might even try growing some of the ingredients on your own,

possibly in your sunroom.

Roses are

for more than smelling. Tea with rose hips offers more vitamin C than

oranges.

In a coffee

grinder, grind the hips and add to a cup of very hot water. Add one-quarter

cup of fresh leaves to one cup of boiling water. For a lemon-flavored

tea, add lemon balm. This tea is ideal for soothing nerves and aids in

digestion.

Marigolds

act as a natural antiseptic when picked as they begin to bloom. Mixed

with oil, they help relieve cuts, burns, itchy skin and chapped lips.

For soft skin,

try a homemade oil with lavender. Fill a jar with lavender flowers. Gently

crush the flowers and add enough olive oil to cover the herbs. Cover the

jar and place it in the sun, shaking every day.

Strain the

oil after a few weeks. Massage the oil into your skin or add to your bath.

For a refreshing

facemask, mix the following ingredients in a blender: 1-cup mint leaves,

2 tablespoons oatmeal and 2 tablespoons water. Keep on your face for 15

minutes.

Lettuce is

for more than salads. To soothe sunburned skin, boil lettuce with water

and after it has cooled, add the liquid to your bath

Grow your

own loofah. This relative of the cucumber works great as an exfoliator.

Follow the

growing instructions on the loofah packet, which can be purchased at most

nurseries. After harvesting, soak them in water. Peel the brown skin and

remove the seeds. Place them in the sun to dry.

For a refreshing

foot soak, mix 3 drops tee tree, crushed lavender petals and a fresh squeezed

lemon to warm water.

For the added

spa-esque feeling, try arranging scented candles throughout your sunroom.

You can also play soothing music or purchase a miniature running fountain,

available at most home stores. To really go all out, the investment of

a Jacuzzi is sure to offer years of enjoyment and relaxation.

In addition,

your new sunroom spa is an ideal setting to practice yoga. Earth-tones

pillows and rugs add an element of relaxation and there are many casual

furniture and window treatment options available to you for your sunroom

spa.

"The great

thing about your sunroom spa is that it can transform into a romantic

dinner setting or a planetarium on a starry night," adds