Freestanding tubs remain a desirable feature for Chicago bathroom designs. They set the stage, so to speak, for a space – a time – a relaxing experience that is set apart from the rest of the room’s utilitarian features.
In a freestanding tub, you can soak all of your tension, worries and cares away – preferably underneath the ambient glow of a gorgeous light fixture (set on a dimmer switch, of course).
Tips for Choosing the Right Freestanding Tub
At one point, claw foot tubs were the only freestanding tubs, which made your job easy when it came to selections. Now, however, there are multiple styles to choose from.
Here are tips for choosing a tub that fits your design style and provides the level of comfort and escape you’re looking for.
Make sure you have enough space
To really “work,” a bathroom should have enough square footage to accommodate a freestanding tub with grace. If your tub is going to make the bathroom feel at all cramped, forgo it. While you may mourn a tub during the design phase, you’ll be grateful you skipped it once the bathroom is complete and you realize how tight things would have been otherwise.
If this winds up being the case, we recommend one of two options; if you take baths on a regular basis, install a bath/shower combination with a 6-foot soak tub, gorgeous tile work and a frameless glass shower door. If you only take baths once in a great while, consider making the most of your shower instead – install a comfortable bench for seating, use steam shower features, design ambient lighting and consider music or aromatherapy options.
Don’t make a final decision regarding space until you’ve spoken with a professional designer. Working with a Chicago bathroom design team may help you imagine the possibilities for creating more space via changes in your bathroom’s footprint if it’s possible.
Choose the right size
The size of the tub will directly affect the quality of your soak. If you are longer, or wider, you need a soak tub that accommodates that. Measure the interior dimensions of your existing bath (or bring a tape measure to a friend’s house and do the same) to get an idea of what makes the most sense for the largest bather in the house. The last thing you want is a bathtub you can’t fit into comfortably.
Jets or no jets?
Do you want a soak tub, or do you want a whirlpool or jetted tub? Think about this carefully. The reality is that tubs with jets do add another layer of maintenance into the works. If you don’t use them that often, or you don’t soak in the bath all that much, they may not be worth it to you. If you do go for the jetted option, look for models that have auto-cleaning pipes.
Modern or traditional?
Freestanding tubs come in a variety of styles. The differences between their lines are subtle but they make an impact. For example, some have a contemporary look while others have a more traditional design that mimics claw foot or 18th century tubs, with slightly curved or raised edges in the back and/or front.
What features are you interested in?
We mentioned whirlpool or jetted options above, but some freestanding bathtubs come equipped with additional features if desired. These include things like:
- Full immersion, versus deep immersion options.
- Adjustable bases (to accommodate leveling as your bathroom floor settles or shifts over time).
- Freestanding or attached faucets (we recommend looking for faucets that include an attached sprayer, which makes it easier to do a post-soak rinse of bath bubbles or oil. Sprayers also make it easier to clean the tub).
- Storage deck for bath accessories
- Sound and lighting options
Are you weighing the pros and cons of which soak tub makes the most sense for your Chicago bathroom design? Visit the design and build team at Kitchens & Baths Unlimited for professional guidance through your selections process.
