With any bathroom renovation, you’ll want to pick the bath that’s right for you now and in the long term.
Many people will stick to the standard rectangular shape as it’s tried and tested. However, there are a lot more styles and shapes to choose from and each one has its own unique benefits.
I’ve looked at the 6 different types of baths available, their pros and cons and any special considerations for installing them.
Walk-in bath
Walk-in baths are perfect option for anyone in the family suffering from mobility issues. They feature a wide-opening door allowing safe and easy access into the bath – you can literally “walk-in” to the tub. The door is also water tight so you can fill the bath to the temperature and volume you would like. And when you’re finished you can simply walk out again.
Walk-in bathing solutions are generally seen as functional or unattractive options but there are plenty of different styles to choose from that will suit your current décor.
Corner bath
Corner baths are popular choices because they do not require the same wall length as your typical long bath. They’re also a great choice for irregular shaped bathrooms as they can make use of the room’s quirks. As corner baths tend to be bigger and hold a higher volume of water, you will use much more hot water to fill the bath, so be mindful of that.
Pea shaped bath
Pea shaped bath units have a shower at the end so you have more room to manoeuvre when you’re standing up and bathing. This shape doesn’t command much more room than your standard rectangular shaped bath so can be convenient for small bathrooms where you also want to install a decent shower supply but are restricted on space.
Free-standing bath
Free standing baths tend to be thought of as quite traditional as they came to prominence in the late 19th century. They can be handy as they can sit anywhere in the bathroom; they come with their own feet or have a flat bottom. They are a few different types of free standing baths including claw feet, roll tops, slipper baths, which raise at one end to support your back and rowing boats with curved edges that raise at both ends to resemble a rowing boat.
I find all the majority of free standing baths to look very luxurious and they tend to command attention in any bathroom.
Recessed or alcove bath
Recessed or alcove baths are essentially your rectangular baths that we’re all used to seeing – I’ve just used fancier words to describe them. These are typically combined with a shower at the end for affordability. But this doesn’t mean that have to skimp on style. Some even come equipped with whirlpool jets! But if this is a little out of your price range, you can always dress up your rectangular baths with fancy taps.
Whirlpool/Jacuzzi bath
Whirlpool baths are a relatively new type of bath. They’re filled with whirlpool jets that pull in water and jettison it back out into the bath. The jets create more heat throughout the water which increases circulation and helps to relieve pressure on muscles, ailing aches and pains with a massage effect. Whilst having a clear health benefit, there’s nothing more relaxing than a Jacuzzi bath is there? And I think if you can afford one, why not?
