Soaking tub -experiences?

[GentleIron]

I'm looking to renovate a tiny bathroom, approx 1.6m x 2m. It currently has a full size bathtub, but I would quite like to replace it with a compact soaking tub (ideally with an internal seat) with a shower over. It would need to have straight sides as I'd like to fit a screen around it rather than a shower curtain. I don't really want a freestanding one as every cm will count.
Has anyone got one? Any particular considerations regarding size and siting in the bathroom?

Why do you want this? Is it necessary or would you do better with a walk in shower? If I looked at a house with your option I’d seriously consider if the price reflected the cost I’d need to pay to put in a walk in shower.

Thank you. I like to have the option of a shower and a hot soak, but am not fussed about being able to stretch out. The current tub is large and uncomfortable with a couple of chips in the enamel, so I will need to replace it anyway. I was also pondering whether I could fit in a washing machine next to the tub if it was compact enough. But that could be pushing it...

I'd love one of these but wonder about how you get in an out?

Presumably there's external steps?

Omnitub.

You have to design external steps etc.

www.omnitub.co.uk/collections/deep-traditional-baths?utm_term=&utm_campaign=NM+-+Sales+Performance+Max&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=4058516852&hsa_cam=20656802585&hsa_grp=&hsa_ad=&hsa_src=x&hsa_tgt=&hsa_kw=&hsa_mt=&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20650621122&gbraid=0AAAAAC4qei5Z-Gv4ECdD9CZEOYP1CIarv&gclid=Cj0KCQiA9t3KBhCQARIsAJOcR7zlew-qwKML32pkOfrNG3PPypb2QwSH-EwZ2gGwaTbX1vREbfPuWuAaAgamEALw_wcB

Ok so you're after a compact walk in bath with seat? They're usually marketed towards people who have mobility needs but after a quick search there seem to be quite a large range.

I don't know how much of a pain it would be draining them before you open the door. You could always polish up your feet whilst you wait!

Thank you all. I've looked at Omnitub but they don't include an internal ledge to sit on. Seems silly as it would save water, but maybe it also means it becomes difficult to submerge the shoulders. I suppose I could pop in a little plastic step, just to make it more comfortable posturally. The Omnitub sides look really steep which is why my current bath is so uncomfortable.

As for external steps, the Omnitub, for instance, are only 60 cm tall, which should be 'steppable' for me, at least.

I don't really like the aesthetics of the walk-in tubs and also wonder about the draining issue and about the seal on the door deteriorating.

I thought soaking tub set-ups would be much more common and that there would be lots of online pictures to draw inspiration from, but it doesn't seem like it.

I read the only other thread where soaking tubs are mentioned and one poster mentioned that they are traditionally sunken into the floor, and not step-in. It got me fantasising about entirely new floorplan in which I re-site the bathroom altogether in an extension

I have a Japanese style soaking tub and I absolutely love it. But I don't have a shower over -- I have a walk in shower as well. I'm not sure I'd want to clamber in to shower. Mine has an internal seat and is wonderfully comfortable.

It's far far superior to my old bath -- I love being totally submerged up to my neck! And I got jets so it's basically a one person hot tub.

It's interesting -- most people don't like the idea, instinctively. I've had a lot of people spontaneously share their dislike with me! 😂But it's also true that of the people who have actually tried mine, three have bought their own.

That sounds wonderful. I don't suppose you could share the make of your tub, please?

The company was called Pegasus, but it looks like it's gone out of business. It's similar to this: https://www.cabuchon.com/product/nirvana-deep-soaking-tub/

I have mine set into a stone surround so I can easily sit on the side and swing my legs over to the step (there's one stone step down into my shower). I wouldn't like one without a nice big ledge to sit on.

Yes, I imagine sort of swinging over the side too. Thank you for the link -Cabuchon's website has some great products and design ideas.

I take it back -Omnitub do a compact tub with an internal seat! But it's too wide for my space at 1100x1100mm, unless I re-site the toilet which would be a major inconvenience. I wish they did a super-compact, narrower version as it looks perfect in every other way.

Yes, we have a cabuchon and I think its the Nirvana one linked up thread. It has various, pulsating jets and can be connected to bluetooth to play music. It also has various colours it can emit for calming effects. It was more expensive and fancier than we needed, but it coincided with DH's 50th, so it was really his choice. We were renovating and 1 bathroom only had limited width. Note that we had it brought through the window whilst still renovating, as I doubt it could have gone up the stairs- so depending on access, its something to look into!

We had a hand held shower attached to make cleaning it easier, but you could mount it over head. A small, fold out, wooden step is how we get in/out but can also sit on the edge if wanted. The outside is tiled, but some can be removed easily to access under the bath in case of leaks etc. I didn't want to be breaking tiles in the future to access underneath if something went wrong such as washer changes etc.

I shower 99% of the time, but the tub is lovely for a real soak. Ours takes 300L of water though, so its only an occasional thing.

My mum has a soaking tub that has a seat and a door, she also has a shower mounted over hers. Hers is in a recess, so she does have a curtain that she just pulls over the door side.

It looks very similar to the one in the link below.

Yikes, I hadn't even thought about that. Through the window... Mine is a downstairs bathroom and the hallway is cramped, so that's a thing to consider. Thank you.

Are they actually any bigger than a normal bath though? They're not small so must be a challenge to get into less spacious properties.

I LONG for a deep soaking tub (with seat) in our bathroom. I want to sit in hot water up to my shoulders. Can’t get that deep in a long bath. Plus a deep soaking tub uses less water!

I had thought I’d put a shower beside the deep soaking tub, but perhaps I don’t? Hmmm. Following with interest.

OP- another thing to consider is the flooring of the bath in terms of standing up in it if using it as a shower some/most of the time. Ours has a moulded 'seat' for sitting. Although you can stand up at the foot end, its not completely flat and not as safe as a completely, flat floor. You could sit to wash your hair though as an option.