Master Bathroom With No Tub: Good or Bad Idea? 

Bathtubs are a popular addition to any bathroom, but are they essential? The short answer is no; you can easily create a large, spacious bathroom without a bathtub. However, the long answer is complicated. Bathtubs provide a sense of luxury, are great for your home’s resale value, and are more versatile for larger families. Showers offer a more attractive modern aesthetic and have more space, but aren’t ideal for large families, particularly young children. Today, we will look at the pros and cons of including a tub in your master bathroom and see if it is the right fit for your home. 

What is a Master Bathroom?

A master bathroom is the largest bathroom in your home, which usually features at least one toilet, sink, shower system, and a hot/cold water supply. Many master bathrooms feature both a bathtub and a shower. So if you decide to opt out of a bathtub, you are afforded even more room for a larger shower or more space for you to decide. 

Pros and Cons of a Master Bathroom

These are the pros and cons of opting away from a bathtub in your bathroom. 

Pros

Saves space:

Master Bathrooms without a tub are more spacious, giving you more diverse design options. You could opt for a larger shower, lighting, or additional storage. Without a bathtub, you could also convert the space into a wet room, providing a unique feature to your home. 

More accessibility options:

Showers are more accessible, and the open space provides more opportunities for safety bars and foot grips, which are more accessible to those with disabilities or mobility issues. Bathtubs are generally very slippery, especially when wet, making navigation difficult. 

Reduced water usage: 

An average bathtub uses 30-50 gallons of water per bath, whereas a typical shower uses 2 gallons per minute. So, a 10-minute shower uses around 20 gallons, and a 20-minute shower uses around 40 gallons. Your water usage can be further reduced using a water-saving showerhead, which can cut usage from 2 to 1.5 gallons a minute. So, for a quick shower, the water usage is much more environmentally sound. However, if you plan on taking long showers, a bathtub will eventually be more water-efficient. 

Hygienic:

Showers are generally more hygienic, as the water washes away unwanted contaminants, whereas a bathtub leaves you sitting in dirt and other substances for long periods of time.

More design options:

Because your space has been expanded significantly, you are afforded more aesthetic options to decorate your space and make your bathroom much more spacious. By removing a bathtub as an option, you can utilize the space more and have more creative freedom in how you approach elements in your bathroom. You can install more seating or storage areas or expand your shower enclosure to accommodate more features. While bathtubs can be a great centerpiece, they require a fair bit of consideration to accommodate. If you choose a drop-in variety, you have to account for your drop-in foundation along with any supporting walls. 

Cons:

Less versatile

Although showers can save space; they are more limited in function. On the other hand, a bathtub can serve as both a shower and a bathtub, which is great for bathing kids, pets, and even soaking laundry. 

Less family-friendly

Showers are not ideal for younger children and will make your space seem less attractive for those with larger families. Additionally, a shower is less relaxing and enjoyable as a form of de-stressing than a large bathtub. The implement itself can be improved with benches or seating areas, but it simply isn’t as comfortable to use as a large bathtub. 

Lower resale value

Showers are generally considered less attractive, especially for large families. The lack of bathtubs can heavily impact your home’s resale value despite the extra space it affords you. 

Master Bathroom Bathtub Alternatives:

These are some Master Bathroom alternatives to consider if a bathtub isn’t appealing for you. 

Wet Room

A wet room is designed to be completely waterproof and provides an open shower area, with the entire room acting as the shower enclosure rather than a limited space. The benefit is that you are provided with a modern space that is highly accessible for those with mobility issues. It is easier to clean than traditional bathrooms as there are no height or dividing barriers. However, you do need to take extra steps to ensure that the room is properly ventilated to combat moisture build-up, and the room needs to be sealed against water leakage that could damage the rest of your house. Additionally, you will need to ensure your floor is anti-slip and that all furniture, fixtures, and accessories are properly sealed against water. 

Large Modern Enclosure

Utilize a modern look by experimenting with different materials for your shower enclosure. You can expand your shower enclosure to whatever size you want without a bathtub to take up additional space. You can pair this with minimalist cabinets or mirrors to create an offset look or create a more cohesive theme with a unique enclosure material such as wood or concrete. As long as the material is properly sealed against water and can handle the space’s humidity, you can choose any material you want to create a unique look for your bathroom. 

Open Layout

Without a bathtub, you can wholly lean into the open layout concept and keep your bathroom as spacious as possible. You can opt for a shower stall with thin material to prevent water splash, but the rest of the bathroom is open to you during the shower. Opt for large mirrors and windows to take advantage of as much natural light as possible. Not only will this look great, but it will also drastically cut back on remodeling and installation costs. 

Walk-in Alcove

Many master baths provide nooks for bathtub installation. Now that you have opted not to install a bathtub you can use the extra nooks for additional storage, seating, or a toilet, should you choose. Without a toilet, you have many more design options to enhance your bathroom’s functionality greatly.  

Modern Tech

The additional space allows you to enhance your space with modern technology. You can use voice or a remote control to activate lights, water temperature and pressure, so your shower is ready as you get home. Music and smart TV options provide entertainment while you use the mirror or shower, and all these features can be integrated with your home WiFi network, giving you a more personalized bathing experience. Without a shower, you have much more room to experiment with different technologies that can change how you look at your bathroom.

Remember that your bathroom will always be your space, regardless of whether you have a bathtub. If you want more space and aren’t overly concerned with your home’s resale value, a large shower will be more efficient and provide you with more design options. While it may seem attractive, a bathtub isn’t necessary for every bathroom, so don’t be afraid to deviate from the norm and choose an option that works well with your home.

Eric Jensen

Eric is the founder and president of Badeloft USA. He has been the president of Badeloft’s US division for over ten years and oversees all marketing and branding aspects of Badeloftusa.com.
His expertise lies in small business development, sales, and home and bathroom industry trends and information.

Contact us with any business related inquiries.