The Benefits of Corner Bathtubs

Not everyone can afford to buy a spacious house in the countryside or suburbs. There are many people who do not have a choice but to stay in an apartment or condominium located in urban areas. There are others who choose apartment living because these urban homes are more convenient and accessible. Buying a large home is expensive especially for young families and they often have no choice but to buy a small apartment, condominium, or townhouse. If you live in these urban homes, then you’ll be used to the fact that designing for small spaces is a practical necessity.

You should probably consider buying and installing furniture and fixtures that help you save space in almost every room of your house or apartment, and the bathroom is no exception. Few people would argue that corner bathtubs are almost always a great space saving bathroom design idea.

Style Considerations

If you’re planning to install a corner tub in your bathroom, you should first consider the style of the tub. This often depends on your bathroom theme, but may also simply be a matter of personal taste. For instance, bathtubs with sleek designs are appropriate for modern bathrooms. On the other hand, tubs with elaborate designs such as clawfoot bathtubs are ideal for traditional, Victorian or classic themed bathrooms. Consider the shape of the tub. Corner bathtubs are usually triangular, square or rectangle. This is because of the shape of the corner area in your bathroom where you are planning to install the tub. That being said, these tubs also come in hexagon or other uncommon shapes. In the end you need to choose a style, shape and size corner tub that will compliment your space and personal lifestyle and still be practical enough to serve as a place to relax and clean yourself, which is after all its primary purpose!

Benefits of Corner Bathtubs

Here are just a few benefits of installing a corner bathtub to consider:

• Space saving – As stated above, bathtubs that are installed in the corner are great space savers, which is the main reason why they are very popular in urban homes with limited space. This means that you can use that normally useless space in the corner of your bathroom. This also means that you can use the remaining space for your other bathroom furniture and fixtures. The corner tub will not occupy too much space in your bathroom.
• Shifting the focal point – Corner bathtubs are often very unobtrusive within the context of the complete bathroom design. This means that you can use another fixture as the focal point in your bathroom. Usually, the bathtub is the bathroom’s focal point. But if you install it in the corner, you can designate another fixture to be the center of attention in your bathroom, such as the shower room or that large pedestal sink. The corner bathtub is also perfect if you do not want to have a focal point in your bathroom.
• Ease of installation – It is relatively easy to install a bathtub in a corner because there is already a specified area for the tub. Your design decisions are simplified as you do not need to do a lot of measurements or to ensure that the tub is in the center of the room or in the right location. Physically installing the tub is also relatively easy as two sides of the tub will in most cases be supported by a wall, making it easy to stabilize and fix the bathtub into position.
• Variety of choice – Corner bathtubs have become incredibly popular over the last few years and to that extend most of the popular and big bathtub manufacturing brands offer several corner units in their bathtub catalogs. You are spoilt for choice when it comes to picking a corner tub for your bathroom.

Small Corner Bathtubs

People with very limited space or who require small apartment bathtubs may be forced to be even more stingy with their space allotment for a tub and revert to one of the small corner bathtub designs available on the market. Triangular shaped units with an oval or custom shaped tub space sometimes offer surprisingly comfortable bathing experiences. Make your peace with the fact that you may not be able to soak your entire body in your small bathub, but at the same time rest assured that you will not have to compromise your entire bathing experience because of limited space

Corner Whirlpool Bathtubs

A lot of people enjoy the experience of a whirlpool or Jacuzzi bathtub. It’s a luxury that can quickly grow into an addiction! The good news is that there are a lot of whirlpool tubs available on the market that has been designed to be installed into a corner. Jetted air or whirlpool corner bathtubs offer all the benefits of normal corner bathtubs as well as the decadent pleasure of having your own massage tub for that relaxing after-work soak. See the video on the right for a Kohler Sterling Ensemble whirlpool in action.

Corner Shower Tubs

There are quite a few corner shower bathtub designs available for you to choose from. These tubs double as a large shower pan and give owners the option of doubling up on their space saving efforts by using the same area in the bathroom for both bathing and shower purposes. For families who share an apartment, this is often a great solution to accommodate all the different preferences when it comes to either bathing or showering.

Corner Bathtub Dimensions

Corner bathtubs vary in size but ultimately the basin still needs to be of sufficient proportions for a person to fit into. This requirement dictates the bathtub sizes that are available to choose from. Typical triangular corner tubs range in size somewhere between 60″ and 48″ though larger and smaller tubs are available from many custom and boutique bathtub manufacturers. Listed in the table below are some of the more popular and common corner bathtub dimensions from Kohler Bathtubs and American Standard Bathtubs:

Choosing the Best Corner Bathtub for You

If you are given the option to change one thing about your bathroom, what would you choose? If you are like most people, it is probably your bathtub. If you really want a new 48 corner bathtub, why not just decide to take the plunge and buy one online? A beautiful new Standard corner bathtub is probably more affordable and easier to install than you imagine and can add to the convenience and style of your bathroom.

Budget

The first step in selecting the perfect bathtub from the wide range of corner bathtubs available is to work out your budget. Remember to do a little bit of research to make sure that you calculate all the fixtures and additional expenses. If you are remodeling your entire bathroom, the bathtub will be the single largest expense, but you need to set aside money for other supplies like paint, a vanity, toilet and any accessories you might need.

Installation

You will also need to decide whether you will install the tub yourself or hire a professional. You may find that there are several bathroom contractors in your area who focus only on installing small corner bathtubs. You may save money by installing it yourself, but hiring a contractor will save time and aggravation. Depending on your own handy-man skills, getting a contractor to install your standard corner tub might be the best idea. Contractors guarantee their work and it will give you peace of mind, knowing your bathtub is installed properly.

Finding the Perfect Tub

Now you have to find the perfect corner tub to purchase. You will find a lot of different options to choose from online. You can shop for your new bathtub from the convenience of your own home where you can view all of the styles, colors and sizes available. Finding and purchasing your bathtub online will spare you the trouble of driving around or relying on the selection that one store has in stock at any given moment.

Prices

Standard corner bathtubs are usually attached right to the wall, situated in the corner, and level with your floor. One of the advantages of most traditional corner bathtubs is the relatively affordable price. You can purchase a conventional corner tub for as little as two hundred dollars.

If luxury is your main concern, rather than the cost, you may want to consider corner jet tubs or even whirlpool bathtubs. These types of upgrades on standard corner bathtubs, as you would imagine are going to cost a bit more than the standard tub, but they also greatly increase the enjoyment you will get from using it. If you are looking for a chic and stylish look rather than a plain bathtub, you may prefer to purchase one of the more luxurious tubs.

No matter what your budget or style preferences may be, you will be able to find exactly what you are looking for when you shop online. There are numerous manufacturers to choose from and hundreds of styles, colors and sizes to meet your exact needs. You can easily find a corner tub that fits your budget and your bathroom, both in terms of size and style, simply by taking the time to visit a few websites and compare the offerings online.

A Final Word on Bathtub Selection

In summary, there are a lot of corner bathtub designs available on the market and your reasons for choosing one may drive which tub you choose. We suggest you look at the popular brands like Kohler, American Standard and others first. If not because they may have the tub you want in stock nearby, then because they have a pretty wide range of corner bathtubs available and it may just give you a better understanding of what’s available and what you could consider before you make your final decision. Finally, remember to visit your bathroom supplier or a showroom near you if at all possible. Choosing a bathtub is a little like choosing a bed and we suggest you actually sit in it on the showroom floor before making a purchase. Corner bathtubs are no different.