How to choose a bath: inset or freestanding?

While the shower may reign supreme in your morning routine, having a showstopping bath as a centrepiece and place for relaxation will elevate your bathroom to sanctuary status. The Reece Bathrooms Annual Insight Report 2021/22 found the bath is the third most important bathroom feature (up 5% since 2019/20), but how do you know which one to choose? Daniela Santilli, bathrooms & kitchens merchandising leader at Reece Bathrooms, shares her thoughts.

The main consideration is selecting a bath that will stand up to the rigours of your household needs and how you use the space. And with a rise in new materials, shapes and colours, there are several considerations which will inform the bath type and look you choose. 

Whether you’re catering to a family or designing your dream bathroom, here’s what you should consider when choosing the right bath for your space. 

Why choose a freestanding bath?

Freestanding baths have a bold, luxe look, forming the absolute focal point of your bathroom. But when would you choose a freestanding bath, and what should you consider? 

• Freestanding baths work best for bathrooms with a little more wiggle room. 
• They don’t need wall support, so they can be placed anywhere in the room – under a window or skylight or even in the centre for dramatic impact. 
• One of the biggest considerations when looking at the placement of a freestanding bath is ensuring it’s far enough from the wall to allow for ease of cleaning behind the bath – we recommend at least 100mm.
• If renovating, think about existing plumbing and keep to the footprint of your current bath to avoid unnecessary expense. 

Our product picks:

• Roca Inspira Freestanding Bath
• Kado Lux Petite Freestanding Bath
• Kado Era Freestanding Bath

Why choose an inset bath?

If practicality is a priority (hello young children) and space is scarce, inset baths are a great choice. Here’s what you need to know about choosing an inset bath. 

• They work well with a smaller floor plan, with a number of different sizes available – from 1200mm to 1900mm. 
• Inset baths are built into a hob — a tiled section that holds the bath. They’re often installed next to the shower enclosure or with shower over bath installation to fit both a shower and bath in the one room.
• The surrounding ledge makes access easy for children and is particularly handy for parents when bathing youngsters. It can also make for some added storage space. 
• You can clean the space easily, as there are no nooks for dust and grime to hide behind.

Our product picks:

• Posh Domaine Inset Bath
• Kado Lux Pressed Steel Inset Bath
• LAUFEN Palomba Inset Bath

The best of both worlds: back to wall and back to corner baths

Back to wall and back to corner baths are great for those who want the convenience of an inset bath, but still want the striking design of a freestanding bath.

Back to wall and back to corner baths are a hybrid solution, designed to sit against a wall and/or in the corner of a room, but are freestanding in that they don’t need to be fixed into a recess. They’re perfect if you don’t have the space, but still want the benefits of a freestanding bath.

Our product picks:

• Posh Domaine Back to Wall Freestanding Bath
• Posh Solus Back to Corner Freestanding Bath

Bath trends

With an ever-growing focus on the bathroom as a sanctuary, we’re increasingly investing in products that elevate our daily routines through tactile materials and striking design.

Baths are available in a variety of materials, from pressed steel to the organic matte feel of a solid surface. The style of the bathroom and those using the bath can inform the right material and colour for you – think: sanitary grade acrylic and pressed steel for those with young children, or sleek matte black to make a statement.

Our product pick:

• Kado Neue Freestanding bath Matte White/Matte Black

The best way to get a sense of a bath is to experience it! Visit your nearest Bathroom Life showroom to find a bath of any type that will fit your space.