Bath or shower - which is better for an apartment, weighing the pros and cons

When purchasing a new apartment or renovating an old living space, many owners are faced with the dilemma of which is better - a bathtub or a shower. How to organize the space of small square meters to fit everything you need in the room. Most owners install a washing machine in the bathroom, organize storage areas for bath accessories and want access to plumbing to be comfortable and safe.

The main differences between a bathtub and a shower cabin

Before installing a compact cabin instead of a place for relaxation and rest after a hard day, you need to weigh the pros and cons and choose the most suitable option for the whole family.

The dynamics of modern life often dictates the abandonment of a bathroom in an apartment, but many prefer the traditional option of taking water procedures. Therefore, the choice is quite complex and requires a responsible approach to make the right decision.

Children live or are planned to live in the house

This factor favors the bath. No child would trade a large bath for a quick wash while standing in the shower. The bath relaxes muscles and has a beneficial effect on the baby’s musculoskeletal system, which will also be useful for parents who like to soak in water with sea salt or foam.

It is also worth considering the romantic aspect of the font if a young family lives in the apartment. It is difficult to create a pleasant atmosphere in the shower stall with a glass of champagne, candles and rose petals on the water.

Elderly people live in the house

Most pensioners find it very difficult to step over the high side of the bathtub due to diseases of the musculoskeletal system, and this can be unsafe; the likelihood of injury in the bathtub increases several times. If there is an elderly person in the house who needs help with water procedures, but wants to perform them independently, it is necessary to provide him with free access to plumbing. The only optimal choice is a shower stall, in which you can put a small chair and install grab bars.

Economic aspect

It is more convenient to wash a large dog after a walk, soak laundry overnight, or take care of flowers in a deep plunge pool, which will prevent you from constantly collecting water from the floor.

The bath allows you to organize more storage space for tubes of shampoos and cabinets for accessories that should always be at hand. In a shower stall, the maximum that can be hung on the wall is one or two small shelves, which can become an unpleasant factor if a family member is large in size.

Multifunctionality of the bath

The font allows you to relax while lying in the water or take a quick shower before work.But the bath is not economical; on average, 200-250 liters of water are spent per bath, and in the cabin this figure is reduced by two to three times. A shower can significantly save the family budget if 3-5 or more people live in the house.

The cabin will be indispensable if the apartment has a combined bathroom. Manufacturers provide closed models with opaque walls, behind which you can have complete privacy and allow a child or an elderly person to use the toilet.

Additional functions

The equipment of a shower enclosure in the middle price range can impress anyone, which a bathroom cannot boast of. Hydromassage mode, automatic adjustment of water temperature, steam generators to create a sauna effect or pleasant music - all this is a priority in the cabin; most of these pleasant additions are not available in the font.

Therefore, adherents of technical innovations can give preference to the shower. But it is worth noting that all additional functions increase the cost and dimensions of the structure.

Bathroom design and decoration

The shower cabin provides more opportunities to create a modern and dynamic style, while the bathtub is associated with romantic and classic interiors. Which option to choose depends on the overall design of the apartment. If all the rooms have French Provence or antiquity, then combining them with a glass booth will be problematic. But manufacturers take into account all the wishes of the consumer and universal design options can be found in stores.

Saving usable space

If you need to install a washing machine, a pencil case or a cabinet for towels and bath accessories in the bathroom, then a shower stall expands the possibilities of ergonomically using a small space. This is especially true for combined bathrooms in apartments with a small kitchen, where it is not possible to install additional household appliances.

Surface care

Cleaning the tall design of the booth with all sorts of recesses and additional elements can cause a lot of trouble if the owner does not have enough time for constant cleaning. Remains of foam or soap on the walls of the booth must be removed regularly, otherwise when they dry they leave unsightly stains and stains.

In this case, a bath is preferable - it is enough to wipe the smooth surfaces of the bathtub and walls once a week with detergent to keep it clean.

A shower cabin, especially with a sauna effect, requires careful ventilation and good exhaust ventilation, which some old houses cannot boast of. As a result of insufficient air circulation, mold may appear, and you can forget about water procedures with a healthy effect.

Comparative table of the main characteristics of bathtubs and showers

According to reviews, for two applications: a bath is preferred by people who lead a measured life and are rarely in a hurry when taking water procedures. The shower cabin is installed by dynamic young apartment residents who have no time to soak in the plunge pools and whose day passes quickly and intensely.

Pros and cons of a bath in an apartment

A deep font has a sufficient number of advantages that can bring many pleasant moments when used, but one should not forget about the disadvantages either. To make the right choice: remove the bulky structure of the bathtub and replace it with a compact shower stall, while finding a compromise solution with all family members, you need to take into account all the pros and cons.

Advantages of using a bathroom in an apartment:

1. Gives you the opportunity to relax and get maximum pleasure from water treatments. For children, a bath is simply irreplaceable; it creates a positive effect on the nervous system before bed.
2. If necessary, you can also quickly take a shower in the font, while saving water. The bathtub is more functional in solving everyday problems and allows for widespread use for other purposes.
3. It is believed that relaxation in a bath with aromatic oils, salts and foam has a more pronounced healing effect. The procedure relieves tension in the muscles, joints and spine. Standing in the shower is difficult to achieve complete relaxation and relaxation.
4. The bath provides an opportunity to retire for a long time from your household. Read a book, listen to your favorite music, or just spend time alone with your thoughts.
5. The font is easy to clean.Walls made of tiles or panels are easier to wash and clean if necessary, and bathtub and finishing materials expand the choice of using detergents.
6. It is difficult to break a bathtub, unlike a plastic shower stall. Modern box walls are, of course, strong and safe, but these parameters are incomparable with a massive structure made of cast iron or stainless steel.

The positive qualities are enough to leave the font in place and think about how you can save space through multifunctional furniture or a radical redevelopment.

Disadvantages of a bathroom in an apartment:

1. A hot tub can take up half of a standard bathroom. If the bathroom is combined, then installing a washing machine and additional furniture will no longer be possible.
2. The bath is uneconomical in terms of time spent and water, which can significantly increase resource costs. The average person takes a shower for 15 minutes, which is the same amount of time it takes to fill a bathtub.
3. More expensive to repair. Restoring the font requires calling a specialist and purchasing consumables. Unlike a shower tray, which is inexpensive and easy to replace.
4. May cause an accident with an elderly relative. If pensioners live in the house, then it is much easier for them to cross the threshold of the tray than to climb over the high side of the font.

To make the final choice, you need to weigh all the pros and cons and evaluate the risk factors and ease of use of the hot tub for all residents of the apartment.

Advantages and disadvantages of a shower cabin in an apartment

There are much more opportunities for ergonomically organizing space and creating a beautiful design when installing a box.If we are talking about a non-standard bathroom configuration, then the shower cabin can be made to order, taking into account all the sizes and features of the area. If there is a lack of square meters, a shared bathroom and the need to connect a washing machine, the option with a box is significantly superior to a bathroom.

The main advantages of installing a shower cabin in an apartment:

1. A large selection of sizes and shapes of pallets allows you to make the most ergonomic use of every centimeter of usable space. A shower enclosure may be the best solution to accommodate everything you need and still provide ample access to the plumbing.
2. You can choose a cabin as standard or equip it with additional functions that your family needs. If necessary, the box can be improved and a useful technical element can be added to an already installed structure.
3. Wide selection of wall designs and materials. It can be tempered frosted or clear glass, acrylic or plastic and chromed metal. A variety of surface designs will allow you to choose an option to suit any style in the bathroom.
4. Significant savings on hot and cold water supply. The bills for these resources will pleasantly surprise you, especially if more than one family lives in the house, but several generations.
5. No splashes on the floor. It is difficult to leave the bathroom without leaving a drop of water; the sealed cabin completely eliminates the use of rags after taking water procedures.

Considering all the positive qualities of a shower stall, it is also worth considering the negative aspects of the box. This will help you make the right choice in favor of the design that will be most comfortable and safe for the whole family.

Disadvantages of using a shower stall in an apartment:

1. People with large dimensions may feel cramped in a standard box. A more spacious cabin will take up the same area as the bath.
2. Insufficient relaxation during water procedures. When you want to relax after work, you won’t be able to do that in a box, or you’ll have to put up a chair to sit down.
3. Technical limitations at home. If there is insufficient water pressure in the system, the shower cabin functions may not work correctly.
4. Difficult to care for surfaces and metal elements. The presence of composite materials, glass and stainless steel in one box will require the presence of several detergents for different materials.
5. The presence of a large number of supply hoses on the rear wall increases the likelihood of leaks, which can ruin relations with neighbors below. Therefore, it is better to buy boxing from trusted manufacturers and stores that provide connection services.
6. High cost of construction. If we are talking about a shower stall with all available functions, then the price can be 3-4 times higher than a regular bathtub.

Only after weighing all the pros and cons can you make a final decision about throwing out the hot tub or installing new plumbing equipment in the form of a box.

Choosing the best option

There is no clear answer to installing a bathtub or shower. The choice remains with the buyer, and a large number of factors should be taken into account - the composition of the family and the age of the older generation, how often household members use the font, their habits and characteristics.

If the size of the bathroom allows, then you can install both options or purchase a combined model, which takes up more space but provides a place for relaxation and a functional shower at the same time.

What plumbing experts recommend:

• if the bathroom area is so small that it is impossible to install a washing machine, then it is better to give preference to a shower corner;
• people with disabilities live in the house - the box will be the safest to use;
• children, on the contrary, need space, and bathing a baby in the confined space of a cubicle is not very convenient, then you need to prefer a bath;
• you should not deprive your household of a place for relaxation and privacy, if at least one of them prefers a font - it is better to find a compromise;
• if all family members are tall, then a shower stall will be most preferable;
• in a large apartment where several generations live, a bathtub will be more expensive than an economical box;
• For people who value every minute and work a lot, it is better to install a shower stall.

When choosing plumbing fixtures in a store, you should not react to the first emotion and impulse to buy. First, you need to consult with all family members, take into account their wishes and physical capabilities. Only knowledge of all the advantages and disadvantages of bathtubs and showers will help you make the right decision.