What to do with a large garden bath tub?
by
Kay
+17
I have a large garden bath tub but don't use it often because of age and mobility. Has anyone ideas on how to best use this space for anything else other then decorations and dusting?
Tub is 3-1/2 X 6-1/2 feet. I do apologize for the darkness of images. Bathroom is all white (boring!) and thought I would have no need for flash. We have two other bathrooms. One with tub and shower, and the other with walk-in shower. Wouldn't really miss this tub in the master bath. Not interested in a sauna either, but can't imagine what to do with 22 sq feet of room. All ready have a very large walk-in closet.
If you only have a small stall shower (and the money for a redo) I would turn the tub area into a large walk into shower. Then turn the small shower into a closet.
If you want, you can remodel the bathroom to make better use of the space?
Take it out and turn it into a walk in shower. You do need to have at least one bath in the house for resale though.
Get an estimate on replacing it with a walk in tub. Then get an estimate on a larger shower stall with room for a bench and safety bars. Determine which suits your needs best. There are all kinds of fancy gadgets that can be added to tub or shower that make getting clean something to look forward to with pleasure - not dread.
Check out replacing it with a walk in tub. You can soak to your hearts content with no climbing, slipping issues.
Take the tub out and put an electric fireplace in the space. My sister n law did this and it was beautiful.
Several years ago, Christopher Lowell tackled a project like this. He topped the tub with a custom cut piece of plywood, then topped that with a crib mattress, and made a beautiful lounging area. He wrapped the plywood in quilt batting, then fabric, and made a custom cover for the crib mattress. Added lots of pillows and a lovely lounging area in the bathroom for sitting.
For resale value most locations like a tub in one bathroom, so think of that.
You could just make a box, a really big box and place it right over the tub.
You can then make a seat cushion and have a cute seating area.
This way it is not permanent and you can always Lift off the box if you need to use the tub or to resell your home. It really depends on what you want to do with the space.
my suggestion is to think about what you really want to do with it.
Reimagine the space.
I have the same problem. I was thinking of removing the tub and put my washer and dryer in its place and use the empty place left by the washer and dryer and make that in to a linen closet/storage.
BTW: I am in a mobile home and the current location of the washer and dryer are in a walkway where people can see them.
I think if you covered the tub with painted wood, you could add anything you wanted to the top of it. Naturally, for sitting or placing large things on top, it would need some vertical legs inside the tub, but the top could be used for a padded sitting area, potted plants, and even one of those hot cabbies,about the size of a large microwave for heated towels. One reader mentioned a walk-in tub, but the problem with those is that the bather can become chilled while waiting, naked, for the water to drain before being able to exit the tub and get toweled off and dressed.
A crib mattress really wouldn't be large enough; perhaps a twin size mattress? Tub measures 3-1/2' X 5-1/2'. I just can't imagine spending any length of time sitting in the bathroom though. A large window up high so no view. And we find ourselves dressing in the large walk-in closet so it wouldn't even serve as a "dressing" room. Thank you for helping though.