Large walk-in showers are all the rage these days, but have they replaced the beloved bathtub? Bathtubs can seem overly luxurious or unnecessary to those who don’t have time for a soak, and showers can save time, space, and money. Still, there are some perks to having a tub. Here are a few things to think about if you’re considering nixing the bathtub for your bathroom remodel.
- Showers allow you to go green — baths don’t. Generally, showers are more eco-friendly and economical than baths. A low-flow showerhead allows you to save water and money. A bathtub, on the other hand, always requires the same amount of water to fill up, and often many more gallons than a shower.
- Standalone tubs make for a stylish statement. One bathroom trend that’s making a comeback is the standalone tub. If you’ve got the space for one, claw-foot tubs make for a great statement piece in your bathroom.
- Showers provide consistent temperature control -baths don’t. How long is that soak going to last? Hot baths feel great for the first few minutes, but then they begin to cool off. With a shower, temperature control is as simple as twisting a knob, and steaming hot showers may just beat lukewarm baths.
- Showers are ready right away — baths take prep time. If you’re in a hurry and need to get clean ASAP, there’s no time to wait for a bathtub to fill up. When it comes to efficiency and time-saving, showers beat baths. Of course, with a shower and bath combo, you get the best of both worlds.
- Showers are safer and easier to enter. Curbless showers allow for easy entry and accessibility, which is important when you’re considering shower time for elderly or disabled family members. Bathtubs make for a much more challenging entry, with greater risk for slips and falls.
- Bathtubs are kid-friendly. Showers? Not so much. If you’ve got kids, it’s a lot easier to run a bath than to hop in the shower together. It’s also a lot easier to wash their hair without getting shampoo in their eyes when you have control of water flow. And, let’s be real: rubber duckies were made for bathtubs, not showers. At the same time, some families are making it work with shower benches and other creative shower-friendly solutions.
- Going bathless could affect the resale value of your home. Unless you’re narrowing down your market to full-grown adults who don’t have kids, nixing the bath could reduce your home’s resale value. According to a recent survey, over 80% of respondents still wanted a full bath on the main floor of their home, with 45% considering this a must-have on their checklist. The versatility of a shower and bathtub combo is a hard thing to give up, and not having it could scare off potential buyers who do love their baths.
Ready for your remodel? Still have questions? The bathroom remodeling experts at The Bath Shop can help. Contact us to get started on your remodel today, with or without the bathtub.