A bathtub is a significant piece in any bathroom. Apart from offering a comfortable bathroom experience, it can act as an important centerpiece elevating your bathroom look.
Choosing a bathtub isn’t easy for most people. It’s easy to get overwhelmed. With the different options available in the market, it’s only right that you settle for a tub that matches your style and comfort.
Are you wondering if you should settle for a clawfoot tub or a freestanding bathtub?
The following piece highlights the difference between these two.
Let’s get into the details.
What Is A Freestanding Bathtub?
Freestanding tubs are among the most popular bathtubs. They are elegant, trendy, and exquisite. They allow you to personalize your bathroom, making it stand out.
A freestanding tub sits directly on the floor of the bathroom and has no feet supporting it. They stand on their own.
Examples of freestanding tubs include:
- Porcelain freestanding tub
- Crofton acrylic double slipper freestanding tub with insulation
- Tipton acrylic round freestanding tub
- Hartland resin freestanding tub
- Carlsbad resin freestanding tub
Pros of Freestanding Bathtub
Here are some reasons you shouldn’t hesitate to get a freestanding tub.
Versatile
Freestanding tubs exist in different colors, materials, and designs. It’s easy to get one that matches your bathroom décor. The designs range from contemporary to vintage leaving you with several options to settle for.
The shapes include circular, rectangular, and oval bathtubs.
They also come in various materials like cast iron, copper, and acrylics.
Comfortable
Since they are versatile, it’s easy to find a large freestanding tub you can comfortably soak in. With depth included, it’s convenient for people of all sizes and heights.
Give an Illusion of a Bigger Space
Although a modern freestanding tub takes more space than a built-in tub, it often makes the bathroom look bigger than it is. Placing it in the center of the bathroom enhances a bigger space feeling.
Cons of Freestanding Tubs
Despite the pros, there are some disadvantages to owning these tubs. Some include:
Designed for Larger Bathroom
Most freestanding tubs are designed for larger bathrooms. They are designed for comfort. Therefore, they are large and require ample space. A 2 person freestanding tub can comfortably accommodate two people and is the best tub for tall people.
If you have limited space, consider other kinds of tubs.
Hard to Combine the Shower
It’s hard to combine a shower with a freestanding tub.
Unless you tie the tub against the wall you are likely to have a difficult time. These tubs aren’t usually firmly set into place, hence it can be hard to put a shower into place.
You can add some kits to add a shower to make the installation easier.
Even when you manage to install a shower,you likely have to do something to keep the water off the floor. You can circle using curtains and suspend the shower rod which doesn’t give the bathtub the attention it deserves.
- Can be Hard to Clean
Since the exterior is still visible, you need to regularly clean it to maintain its shiny look. When the tub is located next to the wall it becomes quite difficult to clean. Always leave a gap between the tub and the wall. The curves make it hard to access the cleaning areas.
- Doesn’t Have Storage
You can use the edges of the fitted tub to store toiletries and soaps. Without the shelves, you need to consider other storage options like a bath caddy.
What is a Clawfoot Bathtub?
If you want to go for a classic look, then a clawfoot tub is the perfect one for you. This is a self-supporting tub that has four feet. The clawfoot bathtub has a contemporary ,glamorous and vintage look to it. It also creates additional space in the bathroom.
The tubs come in four different styles that are double-ended, double slipper, slipper, and classic roll rim bathtub.
The feet come in different finishes: gold, chrome, bronze, nickel, and the most popular options. The feet of these tubs add more depth to the bathroom.
Pros of Clawfoot Bathtub
- Bigger and Deeper
Clawfoot tubs are bigger and deeper than most tubs. This makes it easier to soak inside and relax after a long day.
- Flexible
Unlike some freestanding tubs, clawfoot tubs can be installed even in the middle of a room. Unlike before when they were made from cast iron, they are also made of acrylic and you can choose different colors
Cons of Clawfoot Tub
You can’t have some pros without the cons. So here they are:
- Hard to Clean and Maintain
This is one of the major drawbacks of a clawfoot tub, since the tub stands on its own, you have to clean the outside and the inside of the tub to maintain its brilliant look. You need to clean under the tub and around its feet.
When you place the tub against the wall, it becomes hard to reach the side due to limited space. Nonetheless, you can avoid this by placing the tub away from the wall.
- Easy to Incur Extra Costs During Installation
As much as this is an advantage it’s also a disadvantage. When the existing water source and drainage can be unsuitable for the clawfoot bathtub you want to install, you may have to move the water lines and the drainage where the tub will stand. This leads to extra costs when it comes to renovation and repair.
- May not Fit into All Bathrooms
Clawfoot bathtubs are wider and longer than most tubs. Thus, they may not fit into all bathrooms. Also, they are unlikely to look attractive in a small bathroom.
Final Thoughts
Both freestanding and clawfoot tubs have their advantages and disadvantages. The one you settle for is influenced by different factors like the size of your bathroom, the budget, and your personal preferences.
Weigh the advantages and disadvantages of owning a freestanding and a clawfoot tub and settle with the one that most appeals to you.
Don’t forget to get a bathtub that matches your bathroom decor.
