The owner’s retreat in your brand new custom home is meant to provide a genuine escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life, and there is no place more relieving for a few moments of meditation than your spa bathroom. Often cast aside as just a place to brush your teeth and take a quick shower, your bathroom should be more than that. Choosing the right tub is a key element in fashioning the perfect, soothing experience to turn your bathroom into something quite special. Whether you are decompressing after a long week at the office or enjoying a moment of quiet reprieve while the kids are at a friend’s house, these moments can define your state of mind, allowing you to reset and relax. Choosing the sort of experience that you want in these scenarios is essential to your relaxation and is why there is often debate on the sort of tub that is most ideal.
Ultimately, there are three standard choices for your bathtub needs, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer on which is best. Some enjoy the artistic styling of a freestanding tub, others the depth and massage capabilities of a drop-in tub, and still others will choose an alcove tub if it is most ideal for the size, shape, and flow of their bathroom.
Freestanding Tub
There are plenty of advantages to a freestanding bathtub, but the primary reason that most people choose this option is for the elegant, almost ornamental look that it can bring to a tastefully designed bathroom. There are many designs available for freestanding tubs and our team will be happy to walk you through the options. From simple lines and understated geometric shapes to classic French farmhouse curves to whimsical modern touches that can look like a luxurious piece of art, the options are incredible.
There are a myriad of options for freestanding tubs that provide substantial depth, allowing for comfortable soaking, even for taller individuals, but on the downside, the width of a freestanding tub is typically tied to the classic measurements, and it’s unusual to find options with massage bubble additions.
Another advantage that many of our customers enjoy with a freestanding tub is the accessibility. As these tubs can typically be approached from all angles, they can really help with space planning, making a room feel larger, airy, and bright.
We should note a few drawbacks as well, for instance that a freestanding tub can mean less storage space for your bathing essentials as there won’t necessarily be a wall alcove for soaps and shampoos. Also, of course, this isn’t the best option for smaller bathroom layouts as it won’t be nestled into a corner.
Drop-In Tub
A drop-in bathtub is a tub that has been “dropped in” to a frame or structure that is known as a surround, giving it a built-in, custom design and feel. In one way or another, these can be thought of as a modern interpretation of the freestanding tub as they are often placed away from the wall, but built into a self contained low walled structure rather than being exposed as a freestanding tub would be (as pictured).
There are several fantastic benefits to a drop-in tub, one of which being the opportunity to surround the tub with materials that match the design of the rest of the bathroom. After taking great time selecting just the right tiles and colors to fabricate your perfect bathroom aesthetic, it is exciting to continue that motif with your bathtub. The drop-in style allows for great flexibility when it comes to finishing elements.
Perhaps the most thrilling feature available for a drop-in tub, and the reason that many of our customers choose this concept over a freestanding bath, is bubble massage. If your bathroom dreams begin and end with a true spa experience, you’re going to want the option to soak in a tub that can slowly massage your stress away with invigorating air jets. Due to the extra plumbing needed for the jets, bubble massage can only be installed in a drop-in tub, so this is the way to go if bubbles and jets are your means of relaxation.
Continuing with the true spa experience, another added benefit of the drop-in tub is the flexibility in size and shape. As these tubs don’t rely on sitting against a wall, they can be positioned in a plethora of ways and there are a variety of soaking depths, widths, and lengths available, allowing you to tailor the shape to your needs. Even our tallest customers are able to find a shape that lets them fully appreciate their drop-in tub with a comfortable soak.
Finally, while not as exciting as bubble massages or custom finishes for the surround, another great feature of drop-in tubs is that they tend to be constructed of acrylic, which is far more durable than fiberglass. This can add a little peace of mind.
Perhaps the largest drawback of a drop-in tub is simply the space needed to make your dreams a reality. If your home doesn’t allow for a bathroom of generous size, it might be best to consider an alcove tub, but with similar features.
Alcove Tub
An alcove tub isn’t really a “type” of bathtub, but more of a method for which a drop-in tub is installed. Likely the most common tub that you’ve seen, an alcove-style tub simply means that there are three walls enclosing the unit, with one side open for access. Typically an alcove tub will be placed in the corner and often times the third wall is the division between the tub and an upright shower or perhaps the sink cabinetry.
The greatest part of an alcove tub is its use of space. Opposed to the freestanding or drop-in tub that rests somewhere off of the wall, towards the middle of the bathroom, an alcove tub rests in the corner, allowing free flow in the middle of the room. It’s ideal for more economically sized bathrooms or simply for those who like the flow of more open space.
Depending on the space of the alcove where the tub is being placed, you may still find a variety of sizes available and may even be able to add bubble massage. Our design experts will gladly help you understand the options before you make any final decisions.
Perhaps the only real drawback of an alcove tub is that it isn’t as aesthetically exciting as the other options. It’s still easy to coordinate the finishing touches with the rest of your bathroom decor and create a really wonderful bathing moment, but it won’t be quite as striking or artistic as a drop-in or freestanding tub.
HOT TIP: Don’t get confused between soaking depth and bath height. Water depth is measured from the bottom of the tub to the overflow, giving you the soaking depth. Bath height is measured from the floor to the top edge of the bath.
Does soaking depth matter?
Most definitely! Baths with less than 13” of soaking depth can provide ease of access when getting in and out, but lack the depth needed for fully soaking. These may be more ideal for baths in the kids’ rooms or if you are installing fixtures in a multigenerational home for your parents’ suite. A bath that ranges anywhere from 13” to 14.5” is a bit more of a universal design allowing accessibility, but with enough depth to cover more individuals than the shallow baths. Then there are the 15” and over depth baths which are ideal for soaking, bubble massage, and an all around spa experience.
There is no wrong answer for what sort of tub to choose. It all comes down to the experience that you would like and the look and feel that you want in your owner’s retreat bathroom. Be it an artfully designed freestanding tub or a more practical alcove tub, our experts will guide you towards a bathroom that delights you and your family for years to come.
About Schumacher Homes
Schumacher Homes, based in Canton, Ohio, is America’s largest custom homebuilder, with operations in 32 markets in 14 states across the country. The National Housing Quality award winning company has built over 19,000 homes, customized to fit each family’s lifestyle, since its founding by Paul Schumacher in 1992. Schumacher Homes takes each customer’s inspiration and gives it a home. Each Schumacher Homes location includes a one-stop shopping design studio and model homes displaying the latest in architectural and product trends. Stop in today, be inspired and receive your no obligation price quote.