The Riluxa Guide to Shopping for Bathtubs
Taking a bath has to be one of the most sublime parts of the day, really doesn’t it? Is there anything more relaxing, more luxurious and more enjoyable than sinking into the perfect tub and letting the stresses of the day just slip away? That’s why the right bathtub is one of the most important purchases you’ll make when remodelling your home or moving into a new one.
But designing your bathroom can be a daunting task. More daunting than you might think until the time comes to actually do it. There’s so much to consider. Not just the kind of tub you want, but the space within which you’re working, the layout you’re planning, the look and feel you’re going for and even the strength of the flooring you’re building your new bathroom in.
So we’ve taken it upon ourselves to put together this handy guide that should help you make all the right choices. After all, it will likely be quite a few years until you decide to do it again.
We’ll be looking at:
- How big is your bathroom?
- How strong are the floors?
- What’s the theme of your bathroom design?
- Choosing the right taps
- Incorporating a shower
- How much should you budget?
How big is your bathroom?
Don’t worry, we’re not going to tell you that you’re not allowed a bathtub if you’re working in a smaller space. We understand that, for many of us, having a tub in the bathroom is non-negotiable. And, fortunately, most of the baths you’ll see at least on our site can be made to measure to the exact space within which you’re working. So you have options.
What’s important to consider, though, is the type of tub that’s going to work best in the space. No matter how much you might love the romantic luxury of a freestanding bathtub, if your bathroom isn’t conventionally rectangular or if it’s just too small, you have to consider how good it’s going to look once it’s in there.
The thing is, there are some stunning recessed tubs on the market that will not only enable you to maximise space (ever thought of a tub with built-in shelves?) but also allow your sense of style to breathe without feeling restricted. What you’re going for is a bathroom that feels just as it should – and if you plan with your room dimensions in mind, there’s no reason you can´t have that.
How strong are your floors?
This might sound like a strange question to ask, but it’s actually one of the first things you should think about. Especially if you’re considering having a lot of marble in your bathroom. Marble, though timelessly beautiful, is actually heavier than granite. And, if your floors aren’t built to take the weight, you might have some work ahead of you if you wish to press ahead with your making your marble dream come true.
The best thing you can do if you want to minimise the impact on your flooring without sacrificing luxury is to buy a bathtub made of acrylic rather than one made from solid surface, which is significantly heavier than acrylic. You can find some absolutely beautiful tubs made of acrylic and they also come at a relative snip of the price of solid surface.
Of course, if weight isn’t an issue (and it rarely is, to be honest), solid surface is the perfect material for bathtubs because it looks stunning, its almost chalky texture oozes luxury and, even better, it sits beautifully alongside marble fittings.
Lyra Solid Surface Freestanding Bathtub
What’s the theme of your bathroom design?
If you’re working within a larger space, this is something you’re going to really need to consider before you even think about which tub to buy.
Minimalist bathrooms eschew opulence, favouring clean lines and hidden features. And, if that’s your preferred style, recessed tubs can be perfectly hidden away amidst their framing. If you picture yourself in Japan bathroom heaven, there’s little more alluring than a sunken bathtub amidst planes of stone or marble tiles.
If you do choose a freestanding tub for a minimalist bathroom, it’s important to choose one that complements the sparse, spacious theme. If you want to go hyper-slick, a black bathtub will give your bathroom instant minimalist wow factor.
Maximalist or nouveau-inspired bathrooms, on the other hand, demand an entirely different kind of bathtub. If you plan on bringing your bathroom to life with colour clashes and plants and patterns and lots of light, then it’s a freestanding tub all the way, in our humble opinion. Especially one that curves with opulent extravagance.
Annecy Freestanding Solid Surface Bathtub
Choosing the right taps
The tap maketh the bath. We just coined that phrase but it’s a truth that’s existed since humans first filled up tubs and ran water into them for bathing. So it’s important that you choose wisely, as taps are the final finishing touch that can mean the difference between a nice bathroom and an utterly stunning one.
And it’s largely a choice between classic curvature and post-Bauhaus clean lines. Whichever you go for, for goodness sakes, make sure you choose the right tap for your bath. A mismatch can throw off the entire look and feel of the bathroom, so check out Pinterest and get some #designinspiration before you click that ‘buy now’ button.
Incorporating a shower
If you have the space for a separate shower, then it is absolutely worth designing your bathroom with one in mind. Showers fulfil a very different function to bathtubs and, whilst an over-bath shower can look incredibly pretty indeed, the truth is they’re not as functional as a stunning, spacious walk-in shower.
That said, if space is an issue and if you want the best of both worlds, there are some beautiful shower taps out there, which can be incorporated over your bathtub, to suit even the most minimalist of bathrooms. In that case, you’re probably going to want deck mounted taps. Or, if you’re looking for that timeless feel to your bathroom and have the right tub, there’s little lovelier than a cradled shower tap.
How much should you budget?
This shouldn’t surprise you, but it might. To get that super luxurious feel you’re after, you need to set aside the largest part of your bathroom budget for the tub. It will make such a huge difference to the way the bathroom feels at the end of the day, so it is essential that, if you scrimp anywhere, it’s not on the bathtub. After all, it’s going to be the focal point of the entire room.
You can get a very nice looking, highly functional and beautifully built acrylic tub for around the £600 mark and a basic, but beautiful, set of taps for in the region of £200. But, if you can afford a bit more, then trust us… it’s worth every penny to splash out a bit, no pun intended.
A high-end designer tub that looks, feels and functions with luxury at every experiential level will set you back between £2,000 and £5,000. You will notice the difference as soon as you sink into it. And bath taps that shimmer and glide when turned will finish it off with style – but be prepared to spend up to another £1,000 on those.
Of course, there are various levels of luxury and only you know what you can afford and what your ‘must haves’ are. The great thing is, there’s so much variety out there, that there’s something for every budget.
For more about bathtubs, check out our feature article on our Archiproducts Design Award nominated solid surface tub, the beautiful Lofty Black, here.
Read more about Interior Design here.