Choosing the right bathtub for your bathroom can make a huge difference, and can be the deciding factor of how your shower experience will be for years to come. The type of bathtub in your bathroom can make your shower an indulgent and rejuvenating spa-like experience, or a banal and boring everyday chore.
There are different categories of types of bathtubs. One category is the experience the bathtub offers, like a jacuzzi tub, a whirlpool tub, or a standard soaking tub. And the second category lists the shape and size of the tub.
We’re going to take a closer look at the basics first, detailing the different styles of bathroom tubs available for you to choose from.
Alcove bathtubs
These bathroom tubs are the most common types of bathtubs and are often found in residential apartments. Alcove bathtubs are enclosed on three sides, which means they fit in the space between three adjoining walls, while the fourth side, which is one of the lengths of the tubs, is exposed for the user to step in and out. The faucets are usually embedded in one wall, and alcove bathtubs usually also have showerhead fixtures placed high up above the faucet valves.
These bathtubs are best for small homes with single bathrooms as they help save on space. Most come with a wide skirting on which you can place shampoos and soaps. Alcove bathtubs are also inexpensive, and work perfectly as a tub shower combo, allowing for either shower experience based on the mood or need.
- Clawfoot tub
Once a common and classic bathtub type, clawfoot tubs are still in style. They are essentially freestanding tubs which sit on elevated feet at the four corners of the tub. These shower tubs are beautiful, lending any bathroom an element of charm and rustic elegance. These are also popularly referred to as soaker tubs, as they allow you to sit in the bath and unwind, washing away the day with a calming soak.
You can jazz up your tub according to the style of your bathroom by choosing a freestanding tub that suits your bathroom design, and you can select ornamental, modern or sculptural feet to add to the finish you want. Be mindful of the amount of space clawfoot tubs take up though – they leave little space for anything else in a small bathroom.
- Freestanding bathtub
Freestanding bathtubs are similar to clawfoot tubs – the difference is that they do not have the support of the claws to elevate them. Rather, these shower tubs sit on the floor, with their base designed to support its full weight allowing it to stand alone anywhere. While these can be placed anywhere in a bathroom, they are usually installed so that all the sides remain open, or with only one wall closing off access to it, because these tubs are for freedom of movement. Freestanding bathtubs come in many different shapes, and the most popular ones are oval and rectangular. Some of these bathtub types come mounted and installed on a flat pedestal.
Freestanding tubs also take up a significant amount of space in any bathroom, so these are best installed in large, spacious bathrooms. If installed in a smaller space, they make the bathroom space look cramped, and the premium feel of this tub is completely removed.
- Corner bathtub
By far the most premium kind of bathroom tubs, a corner tub is shaped and designed to be installed into a corner of your bathroom. This type of bathtub is meant for a spa-like experience, as they tend to come with in-built features, like jetstreams and jacuzzi modes.
These bathtub types come in different sizes, and you can choose according to the amount of space your bathroom offers. But they are more often the best choice for large, spacious bathrooms, as the aesthetic a corner bathtub offers is one of luxury and lavishness. Fitting it into a small bathroom may make the tub look hemmed in.
Before you decide which bathtub type you’d like in your own bathroom, it’s important to determine the size of your bathroom and whether or not the bathtub will fit properly, not only in terms of size but also in terms of the style and design of your bathroom. If you’re interested in renovating your bathroom, visit Jaquar for a range of premium bath accessories.