Bathtub regrets?

[CohenTree]

Hi all, my built-in tub is worn out and I'm thinking of replacing it with a freestanding one. Has anyone done this and regretted it? I have a very small bathroom (see pic) but don't see why it shouldn't work... after all, the bath itself won't actually be any larger.(?)

The bathtub also serves as a shower in case that is relevant.

My other thought was to put in a Japanese-style bath and a separate walk-in shower, but that might make it all too cramped. I love the idea of sitting in hot water up to my neck though!

Please post your thoughts/recommendations/photos. Any input will be appreciated.

A plastic panel can be lightly sanded and painted using multi surface paint or chalk paint plus several coats of varnish! You can even stencil it and make it look pretty!

Thankfully OP you've been steered away from a freestanding bath. I do agree, keep the bath, don't rip it out and just replace with just a shower. I love a bath and so will future purchasers.

We had one of these in a previous bathroom, which is sort of semi-free standing and with a proper shower end. Not sure if it would fit on your end wall (though I think you can get smaller sizes) and you may have to re-tile but I loved the look of it and it seemed to work well, no leaks and the screen stopped water going everywhere.
www.victorianplumbing.co.uk/appleby-grey-1700-roll-top-shower-bath-with-screen-chrome-leg-set?campaign=googlebase&PS2PVV1=16485&sku=ALH17BSR-GRY&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvtudvsfC_AIVSuztCh0JAw40EAQYAyABEgILwPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

This is a smaller one
www.victorianplumbing.co.uk/appleby-1550-roll-top-shower-bath-with-screen-chrome-leg-set?campaign=googlebase&PS2PVV1=15594&sku=ALH15BSR&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrqvItMjC_AIV0-vtCh0NTg6XEAQYAiABEgI2vvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

You have a very modern bathroom. A freestanding bath is unlikely to look right in the space unless it is also modern in style. It will be difficult to clean in such a tight space.

Just replace the bath and panel. It will only cost a few hundred quid.

I really regret my freestanding bath. The shower over it is a nightmare as the water ends up everywhere. You really have to barricade yourself in and that makes your actual showering area tiny as the hoop above is generally much smaller than the actual bath. It gather dust and moisture in the gaps. I could go on!
Baths in it are wonderful, but it's so impractical. I'd only ever have a freestanding bath now if I had a separate shower. My bathroom is completely style over substance unfortunately.

I’ve seen a longer bath with a 60cm standing area at the tap end that’s 800mm tall that we could fit our current screen against.
www.whirlpoolexpress.co.uk/acatalog/lewis-extra-long--deep-soaking--japanese-style-bath.html
It doesn’t seem to be currently available though.
This is my current arrangement, to show you our screen, we don’t have room for a separate shower and DH loves a bath.

showers are so uplifting 🚿❤️

We have a back to wall free standing bath with a shower and a glass screen, I love it and it doesn't lose heart, it's very deep which I think helps. Make sure you get 1700 length the first I've delivered to us by mistake was 1500 and would've been too short. Ours is a Burlington Hampton with white feet and we have brushed brass shower etc

freestanding baths just gather dust underneath and don't have any nice ledge at the edge for your shampoo / soap etc. I don't understand why people have them.

Give me a proper fitted bath with a shower anyday.

@RewildingAmbridge interesting! It seems to me you have a hybrid! It's shape and design means it's attachment to the wall and the shower screen is the same as a fitted bath, but the appearance of the feet and sides is that of a free standing.
So you don't have the tiny space inside the encircled shower curtain or water escaping to where it shouldn't. But you do a space for dust bunnies, but you might not mind that if you strongly like the aesthetics.

Ah we are replacing our old ugly bath with one of these shortly! Glad to hear you love it.

We have a teak bath tray thing that fits over the bath which holds our shampoo soap etc, the bath has a free standing tap beside it with a shower attachment on it, but we have a separate shower.

Cleaning under it is easy, just run under it with a flat headed mop or a hoover attachment it’s hardly complex or onerous.

whem the bath was installed it’s fitted to the floor so doesn’t move. It’s not cold, I find that odd, why would ir be colder than any other bath as it’s not attached to a wall

and quite frankly it’s very purty 😄