In a small bathroom, there’s not a whole lot of room to get picky about your bathtub placement. Pretty much wherever it fits is where it’s going to go. But bigger bathrooms make it possible to get a little more creative. You can even turn a basic bath into a show stopping statement piece. So if you’ve got a little space to spare, we’ve got six great ways to really make your bathtub shine.
Give Your Bathtub Some Space
When your bathroom is really small, your bathtub is almost definitely going to be crammed up against a wall, in a corner, or squashed in at the end of the room. In a larger bathroom, though, you can give the bathtub just a little extra room to breathe, which will totally change the look and feel of the space. Simply swapping from a built-in tub to a freestanding one and moving it away from the wall will do the trick. If you’re feeling fancy, though, you can also install it at an angle or decorate the area around it. Even if the tub itself isn’t particularly decorative, adding a little white space and maybe a plant or some river stones will make it look and feel less cramped and crowded.
…Or Put It Front And Center
Shop Freestanding tubs by Herbeau:
If you really have the space to spare, you can make your bathtub the literal centerpiece of your bathroom. That’s right: by installing it right in the middle of the floor. Rerouting your plumbing to accommodate this unconventional placement will require a little more construction. But this is a fantastic option for a bathroom that’s big and open in the middle. Decorative freestanding tubs or drop-in tubs with custom mounts are hefty enough to carry the weight of that space and emphasize the grand, sweeping size of a very large bathroom, but aren’t so big that they’ll crowd the bathroom or block movement. Depending on the style of the tub, this look can either be very traditional or surprisingly modern.
Get Luxurious With An In-Floor Tub
In-floor tubs have a similarly grand look and feel but won’t take up as much space visually. This is another slightly more labor intensive design choice, as you’ll have to make accommodations for the tub to be built directly into the floor. But the final look is worth it: a step-in, pool-like lagoon that can add a natural touch to your bathroom. Plus, these can be installed anywhere, whether it’s front and center in the middle of the room or off to the side in a more conventional corner installation.
Put Your Bathtub…In Your Shower?
For a truly decadent bathing experience, you can even install a freestanding bathtub directly in a large, open shower. You’ll need to check with your contractor to make sure everything can be adequately waterproofed and drained. But this is about the most immersive and over the top way to bathe: with a rainfall showerhead sprinkling down from above and the bathtub itself literally filled to overflowing. It also makes for a really large and impressive shower stall. This setup can either be enclosed or totally open, depending on how much of the room you want to waterproof.
Lean In To The Master Suite
If you’re feeling particularly bold, you can even use a large soaking tub as a barrier between the bathroom and the bedroom in a master suite with an open floor plan. This setup isn’t for the shy or faint of heart; there will be little or no division between your sleeping and bathing spaces. But placing a large tub front and center this way has a very luxurious, hotel-like style. Since you’ll be removing the wall that separates the bedroom and the bathroom, this is a layout that can work in a slightly smaller space. That said, you want to be sure to choose a tub that’s big enough for two for maximum romance.
Or Go With A Classic Garden Tub
Last but not least, even if you do decide to keep your tub snuggled up against a wall or in a corner, when you have a little more room to work with, you can place it in a spot that’s just right instead of one that just works. Personally, I really love the classic garden tub – that is, installing a large soaking tub directly beneath a window or in the bumped-out space created by a bay window. The combination of sunlight and a view make for a really relaxing bath in a space that can be problematic and difficult to put a shower anyway.
How do you plan to get creative with your bathtub installation? Let me know in the comments!
