To some bath lovers, “free standing tubs” are fightin’ words. :-)
If you are someone who loves a good soak every night or at least once a week, no doubt you have a preference for the style of tub you would prefer in a luxury bathroom you would call your own.
With all the bathrooms I’ve done in the last 10 years, I have to say, most of the clients I’ve had, don’t prefer a bathtub.
Most prefer luxury showers with roominess, benches, shampoo niches, multiple shower head options, steam, etc.
In fact, most are just installing a tub because they think they won’t be able to sell their house later, without one.
I’ve even had people remove the tub altogether and install a big shower. That’s a rather popular design decision, especially if they are limited on space.
Many realtors will actually tell you, as long as there is a tub somewhere in the house, you’re good for resale.
However, this is a very personal decision in a remodel, so if you ARE a tub lover, don’t worry. There are plenty of pretty and comfortable options out there for your future beautiful bathroom.
A pretty free standing tub at the window in this beautiful bath located in the 2019 ASID River Oaks Showhouse in Houston, designed by Brooke Bowman.
I will say, when we do get a tub lover’s bathroom on the boards, often they can be pretty opinionated about a built-in tub with a deck or a free-standing tub.
Free standing tub with ledge | Carla Aston, Designer | Miro Dvorscak, Photo
I’ll work with whatever request, I rarely try to push my personal design preferences on a client when it comes to their functional preference, (although if a built-in tub is just eating too much into valuable space and compromising the overall goals of the job, I’ve been known to take a stand :-).
That’s the reason we are there, to address specific needs and desires and then make it all beautiful and look like it reflects their needs, taste and style.
In most instances, a free-standing tub often wins.
Why? I’m glad you asked. :-)
It provides a sculptural beauty and a significant style statement upon first glance in the bathroom.
It adds an airiness and lighter feel to the space with tapering sides. Light can wrap around the back and sides of the tub to give a roomier appearance to the bathroom. And it does so in the exact same square footage as the solid mass of a tub with a surround / decking.
You can go deep with a free standing tub as a real soaker, without it appearing so large or bulky in the room.
The large, curved lips of some free standing tubs make a good place to perch while filling the tub or getting in, answering that argument that a lot of people have that you can’t sit on the edge of a free standing tub.
We can still design places for products to sit out for use near the tub, like ledges or deep window sills, or of course, a small table is a nice addition to a bathroom.
Since tubs often are placed in front of windows in master bathroom, you don’t have to worry about how a free standing tub meets up with a window sill. You don’t have to design those sometimes awkward transitions of materials or even have to have a tile “backsplash” surrounding the tub, if the tub won’t be used much.
Free-standing tubs have been coming on strong for the last 10 years I’ve been designing bathrooms and I don’t see them waning at all anytime soon. Matter of fact, there are more new tubs and styles coming out all the time!
One of my recent bathroom remodels where the free-standing tub was such a significant design element. A handy and well-placed niche serves as a place for bathing products and there is also room for a stool or table nearby. | Carla Aston, Designer | Colleen Scott, Photographer
A remodel removing the deck mounted tub for a free standing model.
Take a look at this remodel where we ditched the heavy surround and deck mounted tub for a free standing model.
BEFORE - The heavy surround of this deck mounted tub looked awkward floating out in the middle of this bathroom.
BEFORE - The heavy surround of this deck mounted tub looked awkward floating out in the middle of this bathroom.
AFTER - A free standing tub added a light touch in this bathroom. Note the window film pattern we added on to the glass above. Carla Aston, Designer
And then there was this bathroom remodel.
This remodel, from a few years ago, is worth sharing, for sure. :-)
BEFORE - This deck mounted tub projected out into the bath floor space and was a real eyesore in the room. #bathroomremodel #tub #bathroomdesign
AFTER - This sleek, free standing tub took up much less floor space than its deck mounted predecessor. The floor tile surrounding it’s sculptural shape gives the bathroom a much lighter and up to date look. Carla Aston, Designer
Okay, I know, design lovers….those were no-brainers.
Of course, a free standing tub is a better option in these locations above. Those were sort of attached to their walls like peninsulas on a coastline. :-)
Curvy, free-standing tub makes for a more spacious look.
Here’s a job where the decking around the built-in tub was just eating up so much space in the bathroom. The closet doors were crowded on an angle there and banged into each other when open.
The homeowner used this tub every day and wanted a beautiful, comfortable tub.
With the installation of a free-standing tub, not only does it look more spacious and open with this sculptural tub laid directly on the tile floor, but it creates a little more wall space so that we could get the new door configuration to work better.
A new, curvy tub makes for a more spacious bathroom and brings a touch of sophistication and elegance to this primary bathroom. Designer: Carla Aston, Photo: Colleen Scott
I love the sculptural quality of this tub. The depth makes for a really nice soak and the curves make it comfortable. Designer: Carla Aston, Photo: Colleen Scott
You can see more before and afters of this bathroom remodel here.
A dated bathroom gets a redo and the tub change made a big difference!
The decking of the tub area in this bathroom, below, takes up a much larger footprint in the bathroom than a free-standing tub. If you are looking to save space or create a more spacious feeling in a smaller bathroom, try a free-standing tub.
Before Remodel - This deck mounted tub left a big footprint in the bathroom. carlaaston.com
After Remodel - A lighter, fresher look was achieved with a free-standing tub. It provided more floor space in the bathroom using the same size tub. Designer: Carla Aston | Photographer: Colleen Scott
See more before and afters of this bathroom remodel, above, here.
more lovely free standing tubs to share!
Not won over yet? I’ve got a few more from some other remarkable designers and homes, below.
This first one is sitting pretty in the oversized shower, designed by Chairma Design Group in the Southern Living Showcase Home.
Free standing tub sitting pretty in the oversized shower of this master bath in the Southern Living Showcase Home, designed by Chairma Design Group.
This free standing tub is nestled amongst some pretty tile walls in the ASID Showhouse guest bath, designed by Christina Mullen of CM Designs.
This unique free standing tub, above, is nestled amongst some pretty tiled walls in the ASID Showhouse guest suite, designed by Christina Mullen, CM Designs.
The contemporary bathroom below, seen in Dwell by Design’s Malibu home tour, designed by Vitus Matare, looks perfectly appointed with a modern look free standing tub.
This contemporary bathroom is perfectly appointed with a modern look free standing tub, as seen in the Dwell by Design Malibu home tour, designed by Vitus Matare.
The lovely curves of this free standing tub balance the hard lines of the shower in this bathroom in The New American Home, seen at KBIS 2018.
The lovely curves of this free standing tub, above, balance the hard lines of the shower in this bathroom in The New American Home, seen at KBIS 2018.
The curvy modern tubs, seen in 2019’s New American Home, highlight the new and unique shapes these tubs are coming in now.
These curvy modern tubs, seen in The New American Home, show off the unique shapes these tubs are coming in these days.
These curvy modern tubs, seen in The New American Home, show off the unique shapes these tubs are coming in these days.
A beautifully simple silhouette is created in this tub room, designed by Parker West Interiors in the Pasadena Showcase House of Design.
A beautifully simple silhouette is created in this tub room, designed by Parker West Interiors in the Pasadena Showcase House of Design.
The bathroom below, designed by Vitus Matare in the Malibu Dwell by Design Home Tours, has a beautifully shaped tub that allows access to the patio, around it’s curves.
The free standing tub allows access to the patio beyond around it’s curves, in this modern bathroom design by Vitus Matare.
So, have I talked you into one? :-)
If you are getting ready to design the bath of your dreams, consider a free standing tub.
They aren’t going anywhere! You’re good on that decision!
(I suggest you pin a few of these to Pinterest, on your dream bathroom board. :-)
I’ve got my handy Bathroom Design Guide to share here today. If you need some help planning your bathroom remodel, my project checklist can serve as your go-to source so you don’t leave anything out and can thoughtfully design the bathroom of your dreams!
Click Here >>>> Bathroom Design Guide
