Homeowners are ditching bathtubs for spacious, walk-in showers to save space, improve bathroom accessibility, and make cleaning easier. Showers require less water than tubs and allow for a more modern, spa-like aesthetic.
Tubs Are Being Traded in for Luxury Showers
But they're not just adding in a simple shower stall. Think built-in benches or shaving ledges, multiple shower heads, a steam shower or aromatherapy add-ins, and controls that let you adjust the water pressure, as well as the temperature.
Planning a bathroom update often starts with one big question: Will removing my tub affect resale value? If you're considering a walk-in shower tub replacement, there's good news. The consensus: Removing a bath won't hurt your resale value unless it leaves you with no bathtub at all.
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) makes it clear that a home absolutely must have at least one bathtub to preserve resale value and be considered move-in ready for most buyers. Tubs are still preferred in most markets and price ranges.
Removing a bath generally won't devalue your home, provided you keep at least one bathtub elsewhere in the house. However, eliminating the only tub will shrink your buyer pool—particularly among families with young children—which could impact how quickly your home sells.
Selling a house without a bathtub isn't necessarily hard, but it narrows your buyer pool. Because the bathroom functions differently for every demographic, the impact of having no tub depends heavily on your property type and target audience.
Factors that decrease property value the most fall into three main categories: location issues, structural damage, and poor neighborhood conditions. These factors can collectively slash a property’s value by 5% to 30% or more.
The biggest value-adds for a home are functional square footage (like finishing a basement or adding a bedroom) and first impressions (curb appeal). While major renovations can be costly, strategic, high-ROI updates yield the best return on investment.
Hotels are phasing out bathtubs in favor of walk-in showers due to shifting consumer preferences, easier maintenance, and the need for spatial efficiency. Modern travelers generally prefer quick showers, and walk-in showers make bathrooms feel larger while using less water.
Well, this is no longer the case. In recent years, designers and homeowners have grown interested in a new, trendy bathroom design: conservatory-style showers. By swapping a soaking tub with one of these, you can turn your bathroom into a modern, functional, and luxurious outdoor-inspired haven.
Removing and disposing of an old bathtub costs around $150 to over $4,500, depending on the type of bathtub. Fiberglass tubs, which are lighter in weight, cost $50 to $100 to remove. Hauling away a heavy cast-iron bathtub could cost $300 or more. Disposing of the old tub can cost $100 to $4,200.
A Cinderella tub is a vintage, space-saving corner bathtub popular from the 1930s to the 1950s. It is designed to fit diagonally into a corner, featuring a wide, rounded front and built-in seating on the sides. These cast-iron, often colorful (pink, blue, yellow) tubs maximize functionality in small bathrooms.
The 4-minute shower rule is a sustainability and cost-saving initiative advising people to limit their daily showers to four minutes or less. This practice helps conserve water, reduce energy used for heating, and lower household utility bills by limiting consumption to approximately 36–40 liters (roughly 9.6–10.5 gallons) per shower.
Stephenson advises keeping at least one tub for its functionality and potential resale value. Although not having a tub in the home might not deter today's buyers as much, it limits options for easily bathing kids and pets or enjoying a relaxing soak after a stressful week.
Bathroom trends are shifting sharply toward warm, organic, and highly personalized spaces. The stark, all-white and cold gray aesthetics are out. In their place are soothing earth tones, textural natural materials, stealth-wealth luxury, and integrated, functional smart tech to create an inviting in-home spa.
Plastic Accessories or Fixtures
Plastic soap dispensers, flimsy shower curtains, and thin toilet roll holders won't do your bathroom any favors. They crack, discolor, and instantly cheapen the look of the space. The same goes for plastic chrome or faux brass fixtures.
Not having a bathtub does not automatically lower a home's financial value, but it significantly narrows your pool of buyers. It typically hurts resale only if your property is the only bathtub in the house.
Replacing a bathtub with a shower can dramatically update your bathroom's look. Showers offer a sleek, contemporary aesthetic that can refresh any space. With a variety of design options, including glass enclosures and elegant tile choices, showers can be tailored to match your personal style preferences.
Creamy, soft tones are timeless, and you don't need a stark, high-gloss white to make a bathroom feel fresh. An eggshell finish or a subtly speckled off-white creates an inviting, relaxed atmosphere. Off-white walls also let your design moments shine.
Towels are the most commonly stolen item from hotels, with nearly 88% of hotel staff and owners reporting they frequently disappear from guest rooms.
Dull or outdated colors
While you might be tempted to revisit trends from past eras, among the colors to avoid in a bathroom are beige-yellow tones, dull brown, and olive green. These can even give the impression of uncleanliness in addition to appearing outdated.
Key Takeaways. Studies have found that the bathing area in a bathroom can have more bacteria than a toilet seat. One researcher said his studies identified about 100,000 fecal (poop) bacteria per cup of bathwater. Showering isn't necessarily any more germ-free than a soak in the tub.
A home typically looks outdated when it features overdone, time-stamped trends from specific past decades, such as honey oak cabinetry, popcorn ceilings, or generic word art. Outdated homes also often suffer from poor lighting, worn-out flooring, and heavy window treatments that block natural light.
Since demand outweighs supply, housing prices are higher, and homes sell faster. Meanwhile, the worst months to sell a house are November through March or during the fall to winter, when potential buyers are preoccupied with holiday plans. Sellers should expect lower sales prices and higher DOM during these months.
To comfortably afford a $400,000 house, you generally need an annual household income between $100,000 and $135,000. The exact salary required depends on your specific financial situation, but this range ensures your monthly payments remain manageable.