Bathtubs have evolved from the communal large baths and single freestanding garden baths. Now, baths are an outlet to express your individuality and maximize your comfort.
With these bathtub trends come features that you’ll love to use to pamper yourself and others that will make your tub one-of-a-kind. Therefore, you should explore all these styles so that when you select one for your home that fits your aesthetic and meets your functionality requirements.
In this blog, you’ll discover the tub styles that are trending and how you can select the best one for you.
The Best 2024 Bathtub Trends
In 2024, some of the classic designs for tubs are making a resurgence while modern features are also a top choice. The styles that seem the most popular each have features that either boost the aesthetic appeal, improve functionality or provide futuristic luxury features.
Now, let’s dive deeper into the trending tub styles!
Classic Clawfoot Tubs
The clawfoot tub is a type of freestanding bathtub that has feet that raise it off the ground and a rounded rim. In the late 19th century, Americans considered it a symbol of luxury. Now, its elegant oval shape, durability, and large price tag have brought it back to its original status.
However, due to its weight and open plumbing, this style of bathtub can be impractical. Nevertheless, you can select a variety of materials to lessen its weight and even match the exposed plumbing to your bathroom’s decor.
Modern Freestanding Bathtubs
The future bathtub equivalent of the clawfoot style is also popular. However, the modern style has a much more minimalist design. Moreover, this modern freestanding bathtub doesn’t have any legs. Instead, it’s flush against the floor which distributes the weight better than a clawfoot tub.
This tub may even come with an overflow assembly which prevents your bathroom from flooding if you ever leave the tap on. Moreover, this style of tub tends to be heavy-duty, so it can carry large quantities of water.
Walk-in Bathtubs
A popular style of bathtub is the walk-in. This future bathtub brings a feature that didn’t exist previously: The ability to walk into a tub without climbing in or stepping into it. Instead, the tub has a door that seals hermetically to seal in any water. However, some designs have a low threshold/curb. Since this tub doesn’t require you to lift your leg high or negotiate steps, it can be easier to use for those with mobility issues.
Furthermore, this style of bath can come with these features:
- Whirlpool/Jets
- Handles
- Double-Wall Insulation
- Overflow Hardware
- Wheelchair Transfer
- Slip-Resistant Floor
Japanese Soaking Tubs
Another popular style of tub is the deep-set Japanese soaking bathtub. Traditionally, it was a square tub made of cypress wood. However, the trending style has evolved. It’s now round and made of any of the popular materials for tubs.
Moreover, this style of tub gained popularity because of the health benefits it supposedly offers from an improved immune system to better blood circulation. Part of why health gurus claim this tub has these benefits is because it’s used for soaking with your back straight, with 50 °C or 122 °F water up to your chest. This high heat and good posture may improve your health.
Smart Bathtubs
Another bathtub trend is the smart tub. This style of bathtub can have different shapes. What sets it apart from the other styles is its features which provide you with relaxing and pampering baths.
In particular, you may find the following features in a smart tub:
- Temperature Control
- Volume Control
- Fog
- Steam
- Lighting
- Whirlpool/Jets
- Massage
- TV
However, this style of tub is usually more expensive than the rest. In fact, some brands have tubs that cost over $47,000. Meanwhile, other styles can cost as little as $500 or even less. Even walk-in tubs that share multiple features with the smart style can cost around $4,000
Eco-Friendly Bathtubs
Lastly, eco-friends tubs are also trending. This style of tub differentiates itself from the rest based on how efficient and environmentally conscious it is. In particular, this style of tub takes into account:
- Manufacturing Materials: This style of bathtub tends to have materials that are naturally sustainable such as wood, or recycled materials. Moreover, these materials shouldn’t negatively affect your health. For example, coated fiber glass can release volatile organic compounds which could damage your health.
- Heat Retention: To reduce water wastage, this style of tub tends to have materials that retain heat well. Then, you won’t need to add more hot water to prolong your bath.
- Low-Flow Faucets: This style of tub tends to have low-flow faucets and shower heads to limit how much water comes out so you won’t accidentally waste large quantities of water.
- Durability: Usually, eco-friendly tubs are durable to minimize the overall materials used to make your bathtubs.
How to Choose the Right Bathtub for You
Your future bathtub should meet the needs of your lifestyle and health. If you need mobility aids, perhaps a walk-in style would suit you best. Alternatively, you could use the deep-set Japanese baths to relax in.
Here’s a table of features and the different styles for you to judge which tub is right for you:
| Features | Styles of Tubs | |||||
| Clawfoot | Modern Freestanding | Walk-in | Japanese | Smart | Eco-
Friendly |
|
| Elevated | Yes | No | No | No | No | Possibly |
| Overflow Prevention | No | Possibly | Possibly | No | Yes | Possibly |
| Handles | No | No | Yes | No | Possibly | Possibly |
| Jets | No | No | Possibly | No | Yes | No |
| Insulation | Possibly | Possibly | Yes | Possibly | Yes | Yes |
| Wheelchair
Transfer |
No | No | Possibly | No | Possibly | Possibly |
| Slip-
Resistance |
No | Possibly | Yes | No | Possibly | Possibly |
| Temperature Control | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Possibly |
| Health-
Centric |
No | No | Yes | Yes | Possibly | Yes |
Conclusion
Now you know that the popular bathtub trends in style include the clawfoot, modern free-standing, Japanese soaking, walk-in, smart, and eco-friendly tubs. These styles each have their main appeal. The claw foot is an object of luxury that can upscale a bathroom. Meanwhile the modern freestanding has a sleek appearance appreciated among the minimalists. The walk-in and the smart bathtubs both have multiple features. However, the first prioritizes health while the latter focuses on comfort and luxury. Finally, the eco-friendly tub style ensures you have a long-lasting bathtub that’s good for you and the environment. In the end, select the tub whose features and aesthetics both align with your preferences.