Choose the Right Bathtub for Your Chicago Bath Remodel
You will be investing time and money into your Chicago bathroom remodel, so you’ll want to make sure that you do it right the first time. If you are fortunate enough to have the space for a bathtub, you’ll want to find the one that best fits your room, preferences, and design style.
In this blog, we discuss some of the important decisions that you’ll consider when choosing a bathtub.
STYLE
The first choice you need to make is whether you want a freestanding or a built-in tub. Freestanding tubs tend to look elegant and artistic often becoming the visual center of the space. Built-in tubs are ideal for when you want a jacuzzi experience or a couple’s bath. Built-ins also vary in size so you can go for a really large built-in if you have space, or choose a smaller tub when space is tight. As the tub is built into the walls, it’s more space efficient.
Once you decide which tub you want, the next choice is the look. Choose a sleek, freestanding oval or round tub for a modern look, or go with a clawfoot, slipper tub if you want a vintage vibe. Elderly or those with limited mobility should consider walk-in tubs—they come with a watertight door and built-in seats.
Freestanding bathtub View project
Built-in bathtub View project
SHAPE & SIZE
The rectangle is the most practical, cost-effective, space-saving tub you can choose. Round tubs don’t take up too much space but can create dead space, so choose the shape if you have a medium or large bathroom.
Round bathtubInbani
Oval bathtub View project
Oval tubs provide more inner space to stretch than round tubs, and if you have a huge bathroom, choose slipper tubs. A slipper tub has one or two (if it’s a double slipper) sloping ends and comes with heaps of space. The slope of its high walls offers head, neck, and back support.
Slipper bathtubKohler
An important factor to keep in mind when choosing the shape and size of your tub is how much water it will consume. Bigger tubs take longer to fill, require more water, and it will cost you more to heat all that water. If you live in Chicago, where we don’t have a shortage of water, a big tub will work for you. But, if you have a second home in Arizona or any other place with a shortage of water, choose a small, round tub. If you’re worried that heat dissipates too quickly in a small tub, opt for one with internal heaters.
MATERIAL
Acrylic, porcelain, and ceramic tubs are popular choices for a bathtub for a good reason. They’re affordable, durable, and non-porous. Porcelain and ceramic can be fragile, but acrylic is slightly more resistant to chipping and breakage, so it’s an excellent choice for a family with kids. Another popular option is stone resin. The material is reasonably priced, highly durable, and retains heat. If budget is not an issue, splurge on a marble, wood, or copper tub.
Copper bathtubCatchpole & Rye
Carrara marble bathtubAntoniolupi
COLOR
You can’t go wrong with a classic, immaculately white tub. But, if you prefer color, consider the overall look of your bathroom before choosing a hue for your tub. If it’s an all-white bathroom, you can choose dark or bright colors to create stunning contrast. Bright and deep hues work well in pastel-hued bathrooms as well.
BELLS & WHISTLES
Jetted bathtub View project
Who doesn’t enjoy soaking in a hot bath with a glass of wine, moody candlelight, and music? Bathtubs come with a range of extra features that can turn your bathing ritual into a form of deep relaxation. Our favorites include chromatherapy and hydrotherapy. The former will light up your bath water in color. Kohler recommends that you choose a warm color setting if you want stimulation or a cool color for deep relaxation. In hydrotherapy (whirlpool tubs) jets of water massage your body and invigorate your tired muscles.
WHAT’S HOT:
Kohler’s VibrAcoustic bathtubs. Transducers concealed under the tub’s surface emit sound waves that travel through the water, creating a relaxing effect on your body. You can choose compositions that come with the tub or even your own music — it allows you to plug in your smartphone or tablet.
We hope the above will help you make an informed choice about what kind of tub you want in your bathroom. Our designers will be happy to work with you and help you choose the ideal option based on your budget, how much space there is, and what fits your personal bathing habits. Once the right tub is selected and the bathroom designed,
we will make sure it is installed perfectly, so you can enjoy your renovated Chicago bathroom and relax in a hot, calming bath.
We take great pride in our design excellence, craftsmanship, and customer service — we maintain a 5-star average in over 250 customer reviews on Google, Yelp, Angie’s List, and Houzz.
