When it comes to the different types of baths you can buy, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a design that is more elegant than a freestanding bath.
Available in a range of shapes, sizes, and designs, a freestanding tub is guaranteed to add style to any bathroom. The tricky part, however, is finding and choosing the best freestanding bath for you.
The experts at Showers to You have put together this ultimate buyer’s guide to help you choose the best freestanding bath for your bathroom. Within the guide, you can expect to learn about the pros and cons of having a standalone tub, what you should consider before you buy one, and how to choose the best freestanding bath for your personal needs.
What Is a Freestanding Bath?
A freestanding bath is a tub that stands alone in your bathroom. Unlike standard single-ended baths or corner baths, freestanding baths aren’t attached to a supporting wall structure.
Because these types of tubs either sit directly on the floor or are mounted on the feet, freestanding baths make great centrepieces for a bathroom. They tend to give a contemporary feel to bathrooms, but if you’re after a more vintage look then clawfoot tubs add a touch of timeless glamour.
One of the best freestanding bath features is that there are a wide variety of sizes, shapes, depths and styles to suit every individual’s needs.
Check out Showers to You’s full range of baths here.
Which Is the Best Freestanding Bath Design?
The best freestanding bath for you will depend on your personal needs and preferences. There are several different types of freestanding tubs to choose from and each type has its own features and advantages.
Traditional Freestanding Baths
You can’t go wrong with a traditional freestanding bath. These tubs add style to any size and design of bathroom—and there are plenty of designs to choose from on Showers to You.
Traditional tubs are also the best freestanding bath choice for anyone who wants to invest in a stylish bath without breaking the bank—depending on the brand you choose. Designs include single and double-ended baths, tubs that sit directly on the floor, and those that have feet.
Some traditional freestanding baths feature the taps and plughole at one end of the tub, while others feature them in the centre. Designer brand Clearwater offers a wide range of different freestanding baths to choose from, and Showers to You offers a wide range of freestanding bath taps too.
Japanese Soaking Tub
As Japanese soaking tubs are often deeper than a traditional design, this is the best freestanding bath choice for those who prefer to sit rather than lay in their bath.
Showers to You offers a range of soaking tubs from premium brands including Burlington.
What Are the Pros and Cons of a Freestanding Bath?
One of the most useful exercises you can take when looking for the best freestanding bath for your bathroom is to weigh up the pros and cons.
Pros of Freestanding Baths
- Easy to install. Unlike other tubs, freestanding baths are easy to install and can be placed anywhere in your bathroom.
- Luxury look. Whether you pick a modern or traditional design, freestanding baths will add a luxurious finish to any bathroom.
- Great for soaking. As many types of freestanding baths are deeper than your regular tub, they’re an ideal choice for those who love a good soak.
- Spoilt for choice. From traditional slipper designs to clawfoot tubs, there’s a freestanding bath to suit every taste or style.
Cons of Freestanding Baths
- More expensive. Freestanding baths tend to come at a more premium price than standard tubs.
- Lack of storage. Because of their chic design, freestanding baths, unfortunately, offer little to no storage space for soaps or shampoo.
- Hand-held showers. Many freestanding baths are showerless or only feature a handheld shower head. Shower baths are a great alternative if you’re looking for a bath with a shower included.
- Tricky for children. The deep design of freestanding baths can provide difficult for some people to use, or if you’re bathing your pet or child.
Related: Shower bath buying guide
What Do I Need to Consider When Buying a Freestanding Bath?
Aside from weighing up the pros and cons, there are other factors you should consider when choosing the best freestanding bath for you.
Size
It’s important to remember that freestanding baths tend to size up bigger and weigh more than traditional tubs.
Consider whether a large freestanding tub will fit well in your bathroom, or whether it will occupy too much space. Don’t forget to check the weight limit of your flooring, too, as you want to make sure that your bathroom can withstand the weight of a heavier tub.
Layout
The positioning of your freestanding bath is a vital consideration to make. You want to ensure that you have adequate room to move around your freestanding bath, especially if it’s the centrepiece of your bathroom.
You also want to make sure you have enough space to properly clean around your bath. If you place a freestanding bath close to a wall, will you find it tricky to reach tough spots that have accumulated dirt and limescale over time?
Heating Capacity
Due to the large size and design of freestanding baths, you want to make sure that your boiler has the capacity to fill a larger bath with hot water. You can do this by checking your boiler manual or by consulting a plumber for expert advice.
Style of Tub
Aesthetics are important when it comes to bathroom design, and with the various different styles of freestanding baths, you want to make sure you’ve picked the right tub for your needs. Clawed-feet models create a vintage look and are well-suited as centrepiece tubs, whereas a sleek slipper bath can help present a chic, contemporary look.
Material
There are several different types of materials you can choose from, including acrylic, stone and steel.
- Acrylic bathtubs tend to be the most common and affordable type. Acrylic standing baths are lighter than ones made from other materials and are durable but can be susceptible to warping.
- For a more natural look, stone freestanding baths are a great way of introducing organic materials into your bathroom. This type of tub tends to be heavier and more expensive than acrylic baths.
- Steel freestanding baths provide a contemporary feel, are easy to clean and retain heat well.
Taps
When choosing the best freestanding bath for your bathroom, you want to make sure that you take time to decide what time of bath taps you want to finish your tub.
You also need to check how many pre-drilled holes your bath has for taps, as this will affect which taps are compatible with your tub. Aside from the freestanding bath taps mentioned above, you can also find these designs:
- Bath tap pairs (or bath pillar taps) offer a range of styles to suit all tastes and budgets (with prices ranging from £24 to £350 per pair). Bath tap pairs require two holes for installation.
- Bath fillers can be either wall-mounted or installed into your bath and is a versatile choice of tap as you can find one, two or three-tap holes for installation.
- Bath and shower mixers are the ideal tap choice if you want to add a showerhead to your freestanding bath.
Waste
It’s not always pleasant to think about, but considering where the water comes and goes in your bathroom is important. You need to be aware of placement of pipes bringing water to the faucets and also drawing waste water away from your bath.
If you’re not a fan of exposed copper pipes, you can choose a more attractive decorative shroud—such as the fancy waste pipe designs from Burlington—to cover your waste pipes.
How to choose the best freestanding bath for your bathroom
Choosing the best freestanding bath comes down to sizing, style and budget, but that’s not all. If you’re looking for expert advice on choosing the best tub for your bathroom, the experts at Showers to You will be glad to help.
You can contact us via our online form, send us an email at info@showerstoyou.co.uk or give us a call on 01472 242 159 to speak directly to one of our friendly team members.