Family bathroom with no bath? Thoughts please!

[RosieBdy]

We’re in the process of looking at new bathrooms for our en-suite and main bathroom. The ensuite has a shower, toilet and sink which we will replace like for like and our main bathroom currently has a bath with a shower over, toilet and sink.
I can count on one hand the number of times that any of us have used the bath in the last year so DH is keen to just have a large shower in the main bathroom rather than a shower over the bath as we have now... There isn’t room for both unfortunately - we have tried many different layouts, as have the builder and a bathroom planner!
We have aging parents who regularly come to stay, so a walk in shower would be much easier for them and our two DC prefer showers to baths.
I get all that, but it somehow feels wrong to not have a bath! We’re not really worried about what would happen if we sell as this is our forever home and we have no plans to move, so I can see that it makes sense to do the bathroom how we want it... Parents could always use our walk in shower if they get to the stage that they really can’t get into the shower over a bath I guess.
I know no one can tell us what to do, that it’s our decision and that some people will think we’re mad for even considering not having a bath! However, please feel free to give me your opinions as I’m going around in circles...
Thank you!

If you're not selling, do what suits you. If you do have to sell, you could potentially put a bath in - most families with young children wouldn't consider a house without a bath.

Thanks for the reply. I think that’s DH’s argument really...

If it's going to be your home forever, won't you need a bath for potential grandchildren, or for when you're older? Any bad backs?

As long as you could actually put a bath in then it's something you could reinstate to sell or price accordingly but there's no point compromising yourself for the next 20 years to put a bath in now.
We looked at one house years ago where they'd taken the bath out and taken part of the room for a dressing room. That was a deal breaker as to reinstate the bath, you'd have needed to knock down walls!

Yes I think I'd put in a shower but try to do it in a way that you can change in future to put in a bath. For example you could buy extra tiles and store somewhere so you can retile around a bath.

In your layout configurations have you considered a 1500mm bath? Or a "wet area" layout where the bath is effectively inside the shower?

We looked at a house a be was one of top three reason for decision against, we had a one yearn old and baths better than showers at that age. But they had just recently installed it so the house price reflected new bathroom

I don't think I could take the plunge to go bathless. We hardly ever bath but I do when I'm ill, or the children get a proper soak when they come back with ground in dirt from survival camp or puke all over themselves, and we use it for washing blinds, rinsing hair dye out etc. No single thing is that significant in itself but they add up. For us, I think a P shaped bath is a better compromise or failing that I'd take the usual shower over bath.

I imagine more and more people will go bathless though, now that showers are getting so enormous luxurious.

Any chance you can set us a task to design a bathroom with both bath and shower in, ie share your layout?

We took the bath out of our family bathrom in favour of a large walk in shower recently . We are about to redo the ensuite though and we will be putting one in there.

Your house so put in what you use. Makes no sense to have a bath if you never use it.

KalaLaka oh my! Grandchildren! It’s a thought but maybe the bathroom would need re-doing before they appear...
minipie That’s a really good idea about the tiles - thank you! Yes, we could squeeze a 1500 bath in as well as a shower, but then there’s not really room to actually stand and change...
GrockleBocs yes, the compromise for 20 years has featured in DH’s arguments!
MacaroniPenguin I think you’re right, it’s those few times a year that we do use it that are holding me back from getting rid of it!
Thanks everyone. Lots to think about!

Your house should work for you, not for people who don't live there, so get rid of the bath! We use our bath so rarely that I have to wash the dust out of it.

Maybe get a big flexitrug so rarely that you can wash curtains/grandchildren ?

Leave the bath in. We bought ours without one and I wouldn't consider it again as although we've put a bath in now it was a bloody pain with plumbers etc.

Attitudes are changing hugely to houses without baths, plus it so much more Eco friendly to have jut a shower. Give it another ten years and you could find bathrooms with actual baths are considered a bit old fashioned.

As for bathing babies - a small baby bath or tub in the large shower tray is much easier than half filling a full size bath.

I speak as someone who agonised over the same decision, gave in to everyone telling me I had to have a bath and (having spend a fortune on renovation) I am regretting the bath. I long for a beautiful big walk in shower, so much more luxurious.

TheSpottedZebra A flexitrug is a good plan for washing bigger bits - thanks.
GreenSeededGrape That’s interesting, as the bathroom planner that we saw said that it was easier to change a shower to put in a bath, than change a bath to put in a shower... hmm! A question for our builder I think.
Thanks everyone, it’s really useful to hear other people’s points of view.

Have you looked at Japanese baths? I actually want one of those instead of the standard type ones now.

When I moved into my current house the bath took up most of the tiny bathroom. You had to go sideways to squeeze by the massive sink to get to the toilet. I took the bath out as like you, barely used it. I now have a lovely big shower. If I ever sell then someone could put the bath back in I guess but not planning on moving any time soon!

Get rid of the bath but put in 1500/1800mm shower tray same foot print as a bath in same place . So if you want to go back to a bath no problem space and plumbing there £400 tops to reinstate

We bought our home with no bath. There is no way to put one in very easily either. We moved from a house with a bath. No regrets a walk in shower is so much easier especially with a disabled parent who comes to stay.

I would make your home suit you. Chances are it will suit some but not all others in future much the same as many other features. Now I would see a bath as wasted space.

I’d not seen the Japanese baths - they look great, but not sure how my 6 foot 2 DH would get on, or if they would ‘go’ in our house, but thanks Justanothernameonthepage

A few more on the ‘no bath’ vote there. Thanks everyone.
Strangely, just as I’m coming around to the idea of no bath, DH who was all for just a shower, is now thinking a bath with a shower over would be better!

I would have a bath because that's what I like. DS has a daily shower but when he has done a full day of sport he likes to soak his muscles. But your house your choice.

Scroll down to see how they have combined bath and wetroom

victoriaplum.com/blog/posts/4-great-wet-room-ideas