To Bath or Not to Bath?
For one-bathroom households with limited space, the million-dollar question is: do you need a bath? Let's explore the options
Louise O'Bryan
6 October 2016
Houzz Contributor with over 15 years as an interiors writer, stylist and content producer for digital and print media. Specialising in house tours, room renovations and decorating solutions, my previous clients include Inside Out (Aus), Ideal Home, The Times weekend supplement and Sainsbury's magazine. I never tire from the thrill of discovering a jaw-dropping, inspirational home to feature and having an insight into other people's spaces. Call me curious or just nosey!
Houzz Contributor with over 15 years as an interiors writer, stylist and content... More
For most time-poor households, the idea of soaking away in a foamy tub is just a fantasy – in reality the bathtub can be more like a dust collector only used for rinsing muddy sports gear or drying wet clothes. What’s more, with contemporary ideas continuing to take bathrooms into new design realms, some baths are beginning to look dated. So, is it time to ditch the bath altogether, or could this be the wrong decision in the long term? We’ve identified the pros and cons for keeping a bath to help you make the decision that’s right for you and your family.
Pros
A bath will help resale potential
Having a bath gives your home the versatility that appeals to many different buyers when it comes to selling your home in the future. Many buyers won’t be interested in a home that doesn’t have a bath, particularly families with young children. Likewise, dog owners will appreciate a big bath where they can scrub their pooch. Ditch the bath and you could be loosing a huge chunk of potential buyers.
Which bath is better: freestanding or built-in?
A bath will help resale potential
Having a bath gives your home the versatility that appeals to many different buyers when it comes to selling your home in the future. Many buyers won’t be interested in a home that doesn’t have a bath, particularly families with young children. Likewise, dog owners will appreciate a big bath where they can scrub their pooch. Ditch the bath and you could be loosing a huge chunk of potential buyers.
Which bath is better: freestanding or built-in?
Appealing to a large number of buyers may not be a concern if you plan on staying put in your home for many years, but you can never be sure what situations await you down the line. Barnett Real Estate managing director Jason Barnett says a bath can be a game-changer when it comes to finding a tenant or a buyer. “Just the other day I was advising a potential landlord that to find a tenant, he had to reinstate the bath he’d previously removed,” Barnett says. “And I can guarantee young families with children will always look for a bath when buying a property.”
A bath is a statement piece
The addition of a show-stopping bath is a useful decorating device that will instantly add impact and create a striking focal point in a bathroom, without the need for much else. A bold roll-top bath is a confident choice for a bathroom with classic period styling, while a contemporary freestanding design that sits away from the wall will dominate the space and become the main attraction, especially if you team it with floor-standing taps.
The addition of a show-stopping bath is a useful decorating device that will instantly add impact and create a striking focal point in a bathroom, without the need for much else. A bold roll-top bath is a confident choice for a bathroom with classic period styling, while a contemporary freestanding design that sits away from the wall will dominate the space and become the main attraction, especially if you team it with floor-standing taps.
With such an enormous variety of styles and designs on the market, you’ll be spoilt for choice when choosing a tub, but if you are looking for something that will wow, opt for a shapely number that grabs attention. “With the many innovative bath designs available, it’s quite often simple to provide a wet area for showering as well as a bath, thanks to some clever spatial solutions,” says interior designer Susan Cleveland. Could this be the answer to your bath dilemma?
A bath gives you options
You may not always have the time for a decadent soak, but at least you will have that choice when the need or want arises. A relaxing bath is often the answer when life throws you a curve ball – with illness or emotional upheaval, for example. Barnett says taking a restoring ice bath is also becoming a popular way to relieve aches and pains after a hard workout. “Not that I’m a fan,” he adds.
Browse more compact bathrooms
You may not always have the time for a decadent soak, but at least you will have that choice when the need or want arises. A relaxing bath is often the answer when life throws you a curve ball – with illness or emotional upheaval, for example. Barnett says taking a restoring ice bath is also becoming a popular way to relieve aches and pains after a hard workout. “Not that I’m a fan,” he adds.
Browse more compact bathrooms
Is there anything more relaxing (or romantic, if your bath is big enough for two) than a bubble bath washed in candlelight and dotted with pretty petals?
Cons
Walk-in showers are in high demand
With the growing popularity of contemporary bathrooms with walk-in showers, baths can look antiquated compared with this clean, minimalist look. Waterproofed tiled floors and sleek glass screens are design features that encourage a sense of space in small bathrooms, while the ease of using a walk-in will help the busy morning rush, particularly if you fit twin showers for dual-washing.
“When it comes to small properties, such as apartments or urban dwellings, I find that a large walk-in shower is generally the most requested preference,” says Cleveland.
Walk-in showers are in high demand
With the growing popularity of contemporary bathrooms with walk-in showers, baths can look antiquated compared with this clean, minimalist look. Waterproofed tiled floors and sleek glass screens are design features that encourage a sense of space in small bathrooms, while the ease of using a walk-in will help the busy morning rush, particularly if you fit twin showers for dual-washing.
“When it comes to small properties, such as apartments or urban dwellings, I find that a large walk-in shower is generally the most requested preference,” says Cleveland.
A bath takes up space
In small bathrooms with limited room, a bulky tub can take up valuable space. On the flip side, a shower will only take up half the space, particularly if you opt for a wet room-style set up that allows your shower space to merge seamlessly with the rest of the scheme.
In small bathrooms with limited room, a bulky tub can take up valuable space. On the flip side, a shower will only take up half the space, particularly if you opt for a wet room-style set up that allows your shower space to merge seamlessly with the rest of the scheme.
A bath is less efficient than a shower
Whether your concerns are environmental or economic, there’s no doubt that a short five-minute shower uses much less water than running a full bath. What about washing hair? Even if you have a hand-held shower on your bath, rinsing off shampoo while sitting in a tub uses double the amount of water and is simply inconvenient.
Switching baths and showers? Here’s what to consider
Whether your concerns are environmental or economic, there’s no doubt that a short five-minute shower uses much less water than running a full bath. What about washing hair? Even if you have a hand-held shower on your bath, rinsing off shampoo while sitting in a tub uses double the amount of water and is simply inconvenient.
Switching baths and showers? Here’s what to consider
The verdict? Well, it entirely depends on what works best for you and your family. You may not want to run the risk of losing those future buyers, but then a walk-in shower might be your ultimate design dream. It goes without saying that if you’ve decided to get rid of your bath, make sure it’s the right choice for you, as it’s an alteration that will be costly to put back.
TELL US
We’d love to hear the reason behind your bath or shower decision. Tell us your reno stories in the Comments below.
MORE
Browse more contemporary bathroom ideas
TELL US
We’d love to hear the reason behind your bath or shower decision. Tell us your reno stories in the Comments below.
MORE
Browse more contemporary bathroom ideas
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emm150303 This layout is also close to what we will need to do, I'm interested in the dimensions of the room and how much gap you had to leave between the shower screen and the bath. Looks like a really well planned space.
I do prefer a separate toilet, but that would be a much bigger reno as the toilet is already in there.
To bath or not to bath is a question I’ve been stuck on for a while now. We will be embarking on a renovation early next year and we’re on tank water so it’s a big consideration. I love the idea of a walk in shower but will teenage girls stand under them too long!