A bath is not just a tool where you bathe – it’s an amenity that speaks of relaxation, better living, and yes, luxury. Baths don’t always come cheap, so they should be considered an investment, a conscious choice to upgrade your lifestyle. Taking your limitations of space and budget into account, it’s not always easy to choose the right bath for your needs and requirements; a lot will also depend on who, and how often, will make use of it. Here is a look at the most popular types of baths – and how to choose one according to your requirements.
The recessed or alcove bath
It’s the classic bath, the most commonly found. You’ll encounter this bath in most households because it is the most practical, space-wise. The bath is installed against the wall on at least two but often also on three sides. Whilst the typical design has remained pretty much the same over the years, some features have been added with up-scale models, and there have been some advancements regarding material as well.
The corner bath
As the name suggests, this bath is placed in a corner and can also save a lot of space; since you’re in a corner, the bathtub leaves a lot of space for moving around in the centre of the room. However, make no mistake: there are very spacious corner baths to be found – some of them allowing two people to bathe at the same time. These larger versions actually have five sides instead of three.
The freestanding bath
The eye-catching centre of the bathroom: the freestanding bath is often placed in the middle of the room and is, therefore, the glorious centrepiece. It’s elegant, it screams luxury, and it often requires space, but it also gives the bather a wonderful feeling of spaciousness and breathing room. It may require some adjustments to existing plumbing and electrical outlets.
The whirlpool bath
Now there’s a luxury – the whirlpool spa bath requires both space and budget, but soothes the bather with water and air jets to promote the health of both mind and body.
Selecting the one that is right for you can be daunting; there are, of course, many kinds of baths out there, from freestanding baths to corner baths, whirlpool baths, and more, each with its own range of models and types. However, by taking some practical steps, it becomes much easier to choose: understand the space limitations of your bathroom, set a fixed budget, and consider the amount of time that will be spent soaking by you and your loved ones before a final decision is made. Baths are, after all, an investment and an upgrade and the choice should be made carefully.
