Choosing The Right Bath
- Choosing Your Bath
- Bath Trends & Extras
- Bathroom Planning Help & Where To Buy
Investing in a new bath will not only give your bathroom a fresh new look but it will also transform your daily ritual into a relaxing retreat that soothes and unwinds you at the end of the day.
By Hayley Gilbert
Which Shape Bath To Choose?
The bath is the main focal point of the bathroom and as such, you need to consider carefully the sort of style, shape and material you want. Usually it's the size and shape of the room that dictates what sort of bath you buy and if you're lucky enough to have a large space to play with, you can take your pick from a wide range of options including luxury freestanding baths and circular tubs with plenty of room for two.
Bath Shapes
The market is currently split between classic rectangular baths with traditional bath panels around the outside and freestanding tubs in ornate or organic, rounded shapes.
A gorgeous, period piece with chrome feet, complete with a set of Art Deco mixer taps, won't necessarily leave you flat broke - if you know where to look. Start at DIY stores - Homebase has a traditional roll-top bath for around £349.50
A traditional rectangular bath is ideal for showering as it offers a flat rim for shower screens. Double-ended tubs with taps, waste and overflow in the middle are good for family bathing while for a small bathroom, consider a showerbath with rounded end that will still allow you to have the best of both worlds or a shorter but deeper tub for a relaxing soak. The standard depth is 372mm but we are now seeing 420mm, 450mm and even 500mm coming onto the market. Baths with a tapered end are also a good choice.
Bath Sizes
As most British bathrooms are so small, classic bath sizes are 1700mm x 700mm and 1700mm x 750mm. Corner baths come with 1400mm x 1400mm options. If you have a large bathroom, you can go bigger with a 1800mm x 800mm or 900m-1200mm x 1000mm size.
If you have a relatively small bathroom, this handy model, by Colourwash, is available in left or right-handed versions. Paiova bath, from around £1,000, Colourwash Bathrooms
Bath Materials
Baths now come in all sorts of materials from classic cast iron, steel and acrylic to the more adventurous wood, marble, granite and composite stone.
Acrylic Baths
Acrylic retains heat, is lightweight and traditionally the cheapest option. It can discolour though so be careful when using cleaning products and always try a test patch first. Look for a quality Lucite acrylic, which is made from two layers that sandwich a heavily reinforced fibreglass layer for a sturdy, hardwearing tub with good insulation.
Steel Baths
Steel is the most durable and often comes with a long guarantee. Kaldewei is the only bathroom specialist to make its own 3.5mm steel enamel from a secret family recipe. It's guaranteed for 30 years, is hardwearing, scratch-, impact- and abrasion-resistant, hygienic and easy to care for.
Cast Iron Baths
Cast iron is heavy but also elegant, strong and long lasting. Many freestanding cast iron baths are primed ready for painting in your own choice of colour to match the rest of your scheme. Some models are made with two layers of stain resistant enamel and undersealed for added protection.
Copper Baths
Ideal for period rooms, copper baths have many benefits. Copper heats up instantly and retains the warmth of the water far longer than a conventional tub.
Some models are also light, so you won't need to worry about the strength of your floor. If you are considering cast iron, marble or granite, remember that you'll need to ensure the floor can cope with the extra weight.
Stone Resin Baths
Looking rather like a gigantic pebble that's been hollowed out, this bath has a lovely, organic feel to it. Made of stone resin, it comes in Natural Cream or Natural Blanco (pictured) finishes and you can team it with a matching basin, too.
Quarrycast® is a material made from rare volcanic limestone and resin but don't worry - though it's tougher than acrylic, it's still lovely and soft to sit in. Napoli bath, £2,200, NGI Design
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