Design Decisions: Tub vs. Shower

When starting the journey of renovating a bathroom, there are a multitude of things to consider, from tile and paint, faucets and lighting and everything in between. Frankly there isn’t a space in the home that houses so many necessary products in such a condensed square footage.  Now if you are mulling over a reno project, we certainly recommend you work with an experience kitchen and bath designer who can guide you through the process.  Doing some initial brainstorming before one sits down with a professional is always a good idea.  Getting to the goal line is always easier when a client has organized their thoughts and priorities for their new space.

One of the largest decisions in a bath renovation is whether to use a shower/tub combination, devote large square footage (if available) to both a soaking tub and shower or select just a shower.  Often this decision can be driven by the space you have to work with.  Sometimes people have watched a large garden tub collect dust for years, never being used, and the first thing on the chopping block is the large soaking tub.  This typically space hogging feature can make way for additional storage, an extra vanity, or that spacious two person shower loaded with spray heads and multiple shower heads.  Other clients yearn for a deep soaking tub to use after a run or just a long day at work.  Of course when one commits to the tub idea, you now have to decide which tub. Is it free- standing or built into a tub deck and then what material to use for the deck facing and top? Will the new tub be cast iron or acrylic? How much do you want to spend? Would you like a standard tub faucet or would you like to add a handheld sprayer as well? Good thing you have a designer to help along the way!

So before you start that bathroom renovation, take some time to evaluate what you really need and want.  A few hours spent coming up with a wish list can really help streamline your design time and get you into that new tub, or shower, faster!