6 Small Yet Stylish Goodbye-Bathtub Makeovers
Bid that little-used tub in your bathroom farewell and upgrade to a sleeker space
Brenna Malmberg
30 March 2017
Bathtubs, while a common bathroom feature, don’t always get a lot of use. Fifty-six per cent of respondents to a Houzz US survey last year say they never use their tub for taking a bath. So it’s no surprise that some people are opting to take out the tub altogether when they renovate their bathroom.
Let’s take a look at six bathroom transformations that said goodbye to the tub. Maybe these scenarios will shower you with new ideas for your own bathroom.
Let’s take a look at six bathroom transformations that said goodbye to the tub. Maybe these scenarios will shower you with new ideas for your own bathroom.
1. 1980s Style to Classic Charm
Before: A renovation in the 1980s left this bathroom dark and cramped.
Before: A renovation in the 1980s left this bathroom dark and cramped.
After: A large glass shower greets the homeowners, who chose a plan that would age along with them. The designer, Christa Pirl of Christa Pirl Interiors, focused on adding a shower that allowed easy access should the couple have any mobility problems in the future, something their previous tub didn’t do.
Beautiful black and white bathrooms
Beautiful black and white bathrooms
2. Crumbling to Crisp
Before: This 1912 bathroom had patched tile, limited storage and flickering fluorescent lights.
Before: This 1912 bathroom had patched tile, limited storage and flickering fluorescent lights.
After: The couple gets a bright, warm bathroom, designed by Brian Osborne of Osborne Construction and Niko Dyshniku of Kole Made, complete with a large shower. (Note: a glass panel was added to create a side on the shower after this photo was taken.) The couple had fewer reservations about having only a shower in this space because the home has another bathroom with a tub.
3. Floral Curtain to Elegant Glass
Before: The shower was tucked back into the corner of the space and was closed off from the rest of the room by a curtain.
Before: The shower was tucked back into the corner of the space and was closed off from the rest of the room by a curtain.
After: Meredith Tomlin-Hilliard and designers from Lee Kimball changed the space into a shower stall. It opened up the space, making the bathroom feel larger, lighter and more airy. The shower covers about the same footprint as the previous shower but gives the room a whole different look.
See more white-toned bathrooms
See more white-toned bathrooms
4. Outdated to Efficient
Before: When the owners purchased this condo, the bathroom had a mismatch of styles, as well as outdated electrical and ventilation.
Before: When the owners purchased this condo, the bathroom had a mismatch of styles, as well as outdated electrical and ventilation.
After: The renovated bathroom by Projekt Home (Paul Kenning Stewart Design) created a bathroom that efficiently uses space and requires little maintenance. One maintenance saver was the fixed-glass shower door. It also lets in additional light, along with the new window, to make the space brighter.
5. Unloved Pink to Cheerful Rainbow
Before: Not only did the homeowner not love the colour, but a recent leak that flooded her home had left black mould in the bathroom. The vanity also was jammed against the tub, making everything feel crowded.
Before: Not only did the homeowner not love the colour, but a recent leak that flooded her home had left black mould in the bathroom. The vanity also was jammed against the tub, making everything feel crowded.
After: A large, glass-walled shower fills a corner of this artist’s now very colourful bathroom. The removal of the tub gave the homeowner more room, and she wasn’t concerned about the resale value of not having a tub.
6. Clunky to Stylish
Before: The bathroom was functional but felt clunky and didn’t match the family’s style.
Before: The bathroom was functional but felt clunky and didn’t match the family’s style.
After: A walk-in shower, complete with rain showerhead and divider, brings an open, 1920s style to this bathroom. Corine Maggio of CM Natural Designs chose the black trim to amp up the contrast in the room.
Embrace black-framed shower doors
Your turn
Did you remove the tub during your bathroom renovation? Tell us about it and share a photo in the Comments.
More
Read more bathroom stories
Embrace black-framed shower doors
Your turn
Did you remove the tub during your bathroom renovation? Tell us about it and share a photo in the Comments.
More
Read more bathroom stories
Related Stories
Small Spaces
8 Ways to Make a Shared Bathroom Work
A bathroom for two? Give yourselves enough elbow room to live side by side even in a small space
Full Story
Bathrooms
8 Sneaky Ways to Disguise HDB Piping
By Disa Tan
Though these bathroom pipes are in plain sight, they certainly aren't unsightly
Full Story
Most Popular
Key Measurements to Make the Most of Your Bathroom
Fit everything comfortably in a small or medium-size bath by knowing standard dimensions for fixtures and clearances
Full Story
Bathrooms
How Much of My Bathroom Should I Tile?
By Kate Burt
When it comes to exactly where to have tiles in your bathroom, there are several options depending on budget and looks
Full Story
Bathrooms
8 Inspiring Bathrooms That are 4 Square Metres or Less
See how eight designers saved space in these teeny-tiny bathrooms without compromising on style
Full Story
Bathrooms
12 Space-Expanding Tricks for Any Bathroom
By tidgboutique
Stay the same size but look bigger with these designer tips for your bath space
Full Story
Bathrooms
Blue Makes a Refreshing Splash in These 10 Bathrooms
By Janet Paik
Get ideas for adding this calming hue through striking tile designs, wallpaper and vanities
Full Story
Colour
Powder Room Palettes: 10 Pinks That Pop
See how paint, tile and wallpaper in shades of pink prettify these rooms
Full Story
Bathrooms
10 Bathrooms With Statement-Making Tile
Tiles with bold patterns, surprising textures and rich colours make these bathrooms stand out
Full Story
Bathrooms
How to Design a Beautiful Bathroom You’ll Want to Spend Time In
By Kate Burt
Want to love your bathroom the way you love your living room or bedroom? Here’s how...
Full Story
MY ideabooks lol
I saved the tub doing a bathroom remodel then changed my mind and installed a shower instead. Really good decision for me. Added glass shower doors, two solid panels with center swinging door to the new shower. Heated bathroom floors and new lighting, sink, vanity, toilet, cedar lined linen cabinet, and tile on the walls, and a new ceiling. I think the only thing we saved was the shower head.
Guest bath and senior friendly