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House and home

Bath or no bath?

(59 Posts)
Oldcroc17 Sat 21-Aug-21 15:15:27

We’re creating a new, small bathroom. Our debate is wether to have a shower over a bath or shower only. My only reason to consider a bath is if we were to have grandchildren ( which as it stands is not very probable) . Neither of us bath and we’re on a water meter. We already have an en-suite so this would essentially be our guest bathroom for visitors. Wondering if anyone has had a similar dilemma, what did you decide and maybe regret. I’m for a shower only but OH wants a shower over a bath.

Welshwife Sat 21-Aug-21 23:26:10

We put a bath in the ensuite for our guest bedroom - it had a roof window so you could lie in the bath and look up to the stars!

Esspee Sat 21-Aug-21 23:16:42

Not having a bath puts many families off buying a house. If potential resale value is of no interest to you then have what you will use.

Welshwife Sat 21-Aug-21 22:30:54

I use a shower now it is difficult to get out of a bath - there are times I would like a bath but now I find them too hard to get out - might be better if a bath had handles each side of course. I am not keen on the over the bath shower as you still have to step into the bath and could slip - besides which we have big shower heads in our showers and also a hand held hose.
I prefer the look of glass screens but curtains are safer if you fall and it is much easier to clean the tray etc than with the screens which are often hard where it meets the tray.

Kate54 Sat 21-Aug-21 22:21:43

Personally wouldn’t buy a house without a bath! Looks like GNers are split down the middle on this issue.
I hate showers - awful to clean, really difficult to wash certain parts of your body and you always feel cold when you get out.
No contest here!

BigBertha1 Sat 21-Aug-21 22:07:44

We have an enormous suite walk in showered that DH uses. I use the family bathroom which has an over bath shower but I liked to have a big bath in winter when's its very cold and its great for my achy limbs. Takes lots of water though so I don't do it often

3dognight Sat 21-Aug-21 20:14:42

Well I miss my bath, having had a shower only for the last fifteen years.

Sometimes I block the plug hole, and fill the shower tray . Have a pretend bath sad

I miss my bath, but space is tight, so I thought a corner bath might be an option?

kjmpde Sat 21-Aug-21 20:10:57

HATE HATE HATE baths. such a waste of water . if people like baths then they have to keep refreshing the water as it goes cold. We have an inherited bath - never used it. I find showers over baths very difficult to use as stepping over all of the time-

SpringyChicken Sat 21-Aug-21 20:06:05

We got rid of our bath and are pleased we did. We don't miss it at all and have a much nicer shower because of it. I don't worry one bit what prospective buyers might think at some future date, we please ourselves.

Trisha57 Sat 21-Aug-21 20:05:11

I've been thinking about exactly the same thing! We have a mixer shower over the bath at the moment, but hardly ever have a bath. I am favouring a walk-in shower for the sake of future-proofing. I've spoken to a couple of estate agents (we have two living either side of us!) and they have advised that as long as the plumbing isn't altered too much to accommodate the walk-in shower, it is easy and not too expensive for a family to re-instate a bath with a shower over if they want to on buying the property in the future.

TerriBull Sat 21-Aug-21 19:56:19

I love a walk in shower, I always request that instead of a bath if we are staying in a hotel. A shower over the bath isn't good enough, I want to walk into it rather than climb in. However, we do have a bath in the family bathroom, and realise some prefer that to a shower so wouldn't take it out, but our ensuite is shower only.

Our grandchildren liked to have a bath when they were little, and a bath is quite essential for babies but now ours are junior school ages both happy to shower.

LadyStardust Sat 21-Aug-21 19:47:40

We had our bathroom/bedrooms re done about 15 years ago and I insisted we have a bath as I couldn't imagine not having one! Fast forward to the present day and I think I've used it a handful of times! Both sons used it rarely and my husband has never used it at all! Like a previous poster said it just gathers dust. I wish we had opted for no bath and made the adjoining bedroom a little larger. I LOVE my shower! To be honest I dont think I could get in and out very easily now anyway!

Shelflife Sat 21-Aug-21 19:43:32

Walk in shower for me every time , love mine.

GagaJo Sat 21-Aug-21 19:20:11

I also love a bath. I don't have them often, but they're for relaxation, not for getting clean.

As far as a house without a bath... hard to sell.

Witzend Sat 21-Aug-21 19:18:33

We have two identical baths with very good showers over, but bathrooms are pretty ancient now! Dh never has a bath, but I like one now and then, and so do guests sometimes.

We do have small grandchildren, so I’d always want a bath for them anyway.

sodapop Sat 21-Aug-21 19:07:55

I don't think it's quite the case so much now about not selling a house without a bath. Generally people prefer showers these days.
As you already have a shower oldcroc I would go for the shower over the bath option.

SueDonim Sat 21-Aug-21 17:57:13

Same as MOMB! I’d hate to be without a bath. A five minute shower just wouldn’t cut it with me and tbh, I’ve had more slipping incidents in showers than I’ve had a bath.

Zoejory Sat 21-Aug-21 17:33:56

mumofmadboys

I love baths! I would hate to be without one!

Ditto smile

mumofmadboys Sat 21-Aug-21 17:30:41

I love baths! I would hate to be without one!

Germanshepherdsmum Sat 21-Aug-21 17:18:00

You and me both AGA! I haven’t had a bath in years, shower only, but you always need to think about the impact on selling the property when making big changes. As OP seems to have an en suite shower I’d opt for a bath with shower over in the ‘spare’ bathroom.

Smileless2012 Sat 21-Aug-21 17:16:48

As Charleygirl has posted, the only consideration is would it make it harder for you to sell your home to a family when the time comes, if it doesn't have a bath Oldcroc.

I know of a friend who was advised against removing their bath for this reason as they only have one bathroom, but they now have a fabulous shower which suits their needs.

AGAA4 Sat 21-Aug-21 17:10:19

I haven't had a bath for years. I have to remember to give it a swill round every week as it collects dust.
My daily shower is over in 5 minutes. Takes ages to fill the bath.

JaneJudge Sat 21-Aug-21 16:50:54

Do a really nice walk in shower. Most children are used to showering these days

foxie48 Sat 21-Aug-21 16:46:47

I'm about to have the bath removed from my bathroom, it has a good shower but I have nearly slipped on a couple of occasions and as I am not getting any younger I want to be safe. tbh I'd put your safety ahead of everything.

Mapleleaf Sat 21-Aug-21 16:36:31

I must admit, that although I don’t use the bath very often, preferring to shower, there are times when I’m glad it’s there - if I’ve got chilled through or my feet feel crampy or I generally feel achy, for example, then the ability to have a good soak in the bath is an advantage that I wouldn’t like to be without.

Peasblossom Sat 21-Aug-21 15:53:24

Neither of us bathe so it was a walk-in shower for us in the bathroom and ensuite, His and hers. I love having my own bathroom, especially the loo?

The very few times I’ve had a baby here she was bathed in the big sink and the toddler had a paddling pool in the shower tray, which he loved!

The five year old preferred to shower.