Many younger homeowners are opting for shower-only bathrooms, valuing the time and space savings over the option to soak in a tub. Additionally, the trend toward smaller, more urban homes with limited bathroom space means that showers often win out.
More than a quarter of homeowners (26%) are removing tubs during bathroom renovations, according to a 2023 Houzz bathroom trends study. Most people (77%) are enlarging their shower space, and one in five people report that their new shower is at least 50% bigger than a previous one.
Although not as popular among adults, bathtubs are still the most effective way to bathe young kids and pets. For young families, a bathtub is practically a necessity. Most children younger than 8 have a difficult time using a shower. In addition, baths are much more efficient when cleaning up multiple kids at once.
Ideally, you should have at least one bath (in the main bathroom) and change to a bathroom with shower in an ensuite. Even if you don't use the bath often, it is well worth keeping one to maximise the return potential on your house value when it comes to selling your home.
The short answer is, it depends. Understanding the potential buyer of your home is key. If your neighborhood attracts many young families, removing the tub could indeed lower your home's resale value. However, there are situations where this might not be a significant concern.
While basic bathtubs may be declining in popularity, they're far from gone. Instead, they're finding a new niche as luxury items. Freestanding tubs, for example, have become a focal point in many high-end bathrooms.
According to recent data, homes with at least one tub tend to sell for more money than those with showers – and the difference can be quite pronounced in some parts of the country. Keep in mind, though, that this is just one factor among many that you'll need to consider when making this decision.
“There absolutely has to be at least one bathtub in any condo or home. When you sell, you're also selling a lifestyle and having no tub will hinder a sale to most buyers,” she says. Research backs up the anecdotal evidence.
Pros of Removing a Tub
If you have a tub that you don't use, especially when there's another tub elsewhere in the home, removing the tub frees up space in that bathroom. The space can then be used however fits your lifestyle.
Resale Value
In a one-bedroom apartment with limited space, a lack of a bathtub is unlikely to put off prospective buyers. However, having at least one bathtub can be an advantage if you have a multi-bathroom home or you want to appeal to first-time homebuyers who are planning a family.
There is no code that requires a bathtub in a residential home.
In larger properties with multiple bathrooms, the absence of a tub in just one of the rooms might not be as detrimental. But if you just have the one bathroom, which is the norm for many homes, removing the only bathtub could significantly diminish the home's appeal to certain buyers.
The short answer is no, they are not going out of style. Freestanding baths are very much still popular, with people purchasing them all the time to give their home a more luxurious feel.
Hotel bathrooms are getting more spacious, and shower footprints are increasing. In 2021, the curbless walk-in shower will take center stage, and because showers are gaining space, built-in bathtubs are being removed. There are several other reasons why tub-to-shower conversions have become the new standard.
Replacing a bathtub with a shower can potentially devalue your house, especially if it is your only bathtub and most comparable homes have them. But a luxurious or spacious shower or a bathroom designed for families with young children can lessen the impact.
If you have a small bathroom, you may want to ditch the tub to save space. If you have mobility issues, a walk-in shower can make your life easier. And if you're concerned about cost or resale value, a traditional bathtub may be the better option.
According to the National Association of Home Builders reports, adding a full bath can increase the value of your home by 20 percent. This percentage increase holds if the number of bathrooms and bedrooms are equal before making the addition.
Increasingly, homeowners are getting rid of their tubs for lavish, high-end showers. Small spaces and homes owned by millennials and kid-free adults are particularly more apt to agree with the bathtub becoming obsolete. They simply ditch the tub.
Many younger homeowners are opting for shower-only bathrooms, valuing the time and space savings over the option to soak in a tub. Additionally, the trend toward smaller, more urban homes with limited bathroom space means that showers often win out.
There's no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Many doctors say a daily shower is fine for most people. (More than that could start to cause skin problems.) But for many people, two to three times a week is enough and may be even better to maintain good health.
Generally, she says "you should be showering, bathing or cleansing yourself every two to three days." Though, if you're working out or engaging in an activity where you are sweating a lot, you may have to shower more often. The biggest problem that may stem from not showering enough? The stink.
Across a range of specialties, healthcare providers agreed that, in general, you can shower whenever you want. “There is no scientific literature that says you need to shower in the morning or at night,” Thomas Russo, MD, professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo, told Health.