Get rid of the bath???

[YouknowIknowbest]

We live in a modest 3 bedroom house (me, DH, DS 17 and DD13).
For context, the house was a small starter home when DH and I moved in back in 2002 and the intention was always to move once we had a family. The financial crisis in 2007 hit us hard and we decided to stay and extend instead, which gave us an en-suite, a bigger master bedroom and a generous “box” room. We’ve toyed with moving over the years but in all honesty we’re all happy here and have no intention of moving unless we win big on the lottery so we can get a house with a pool 😂

So now we’re ready to re-decorate our main bathroom which is approximately 2m x 2.5m and DH and DS want the bath removing and replacing so it becomes a shower room as the queue for the en-suite shower is ridiculous every day.

I’d like to keep the bath, but feel it’s a selfish ask as no one else in the house uses it except me…and this is the clincher, I only use it on average 2/3 times a YEAR!

We’ve looked at L shaped baths and fancy showers over baths, but the boys would like to have this as a shower room for them and us girls keep the en-suite, so it’s a simple: Bath or Shower?

WWYD? Has anyone else got rid of their only bath and regretted it or was it the best thing you ever did?

After a 3 hour walk in the freezing pouring rain, get home drenched to the bone.... into the bath with a glass of whisky and a book. The perfect Saturday. Maybe once a year but I'd hate not to have one, or poorly with a heavy cold, as above but not perfect. Again an annual event but something you can't do in the shower.
Your choice

Re potential grandkids I had a friend who just had a big walk in shower and no bath, moving wasn't an option so when they had kids they got a pop up kids bath and put them in that in the shower- plenty of room because the shower cubicle was massive

We ripped out all the bathtubs in the house and replaced with walk-in showers, except for one en suit which we have never used since moving in over 2 years ago. Only reason we didn't rip it out was because it was a relatively newly fitted suit otherwise that would have gone too. In our situation we are unlikely to move anytime soon and by the time we do, the house will probably be in need of a refurb and the new owners can reinstate the bathtub if they want.

All 3 members of the family have said if there is a shower above the bath, they will still use the walk in shower in the en-suite, so my problem will still be the en-suite is over used and the main bathroom is empty 363 days of the year.

Just say no, en-suite use is for you and DH only. My en-suite is my private space, I don’t even let my husband in there and I certainly wouldn’t be having kids traipsing in and out of my bedroom. Install a decent, tall shower over the bath, we have a rain head and an attachment which is perfect.

I've got the same dilemma. I've got an ensuite shower room, a shower room on top floor extension and no one actually uses the main bathroom ATM. I'm having main bathroom refitted and would prefer a really nice shower room but DH says we should keep the bath despite none of us ever having a bath. He says if we ever wanted to sell not having a bath might be an issue but really it could easily be changed back to put a bath in.

Given your update, you need to get rid of the bath. One person in the household having a bath once a year isn't a good reason for keeping it. You will be far more inconvenienced by the queue for the ensuite 364 days a year.

I agree, if the op wants her bi annual bath she can book into a local bnb which has one, making her family queue for showers so she can have a bath a couple of times a year is utterly selfish.

I look very closely at pictures of holiday places and if I can't tell what the arrangement is I email and ask.

With hotels I phone or email and request a shower and not a bath.

I don't think it's selfish to want to keep a bath in your own house. It's not as though you are removing shower options - the showers will still be able to have them (although tbh I would ban the kids from using the en suite unless I was out of the house).

My bathroom is being refitted now. We are moving everything around, but the bath is staying. I love a bath, and my husband prefers showers, so we're both happy. There is enough space to have a separate shower, but if there hadn't been I would have gone for a shower over the bath with a view to replacing it with one of those baths with a door in it if there is a need for it down the line. From the sound of things yours is a family house, of the type more likely to be bought by a buyer with children. I really think taking the bath out would be a mistake for that reason, but obviously it's your call if you don't think you'll be moving any time soon.

Is there anywhere you could fit a shower downstairs? I am considering converting a broom cupboard next to the downstairs loo - knocking them through and putting a shower in there. Partly future-proofing, and partly for convenience (we don't have an en-suite).

Can you share a layout and dimensions of the bathroom, including adjacent hallway? It may well be possible to fit in both a shower and a bath, with a clever layout - and potentially moving the door.

I'd consider moving the bath (with shower) into the en-suite and a shower in the main bathroom. Then they can fight for the main shower and you can have the en-suite to yourself.

I'd probably keep the bath. But that is only for the re-sale factor.

Our first house was a 3 bed, 1 bathroom terraced house and the bathroom was small so the previous owners re-modelled and just had a shower, while all our neighbours of the same house layout had small baths. It was fine for us as a couple but we worried about whether we'd be able to sell easily. Turned out to be absolutely fine as we sold on 4 years later to another couple who didn't care about having a bath. But I think the fact that it was a small home made that ok. If people are looking for a family sized home, I think they will avoid places without a bath. Again, it depends if re-sale potential bothers you or not.

I rarely have a bath, but I hate walk in showers. Even in a hotel I don’t like a shower room. My husband is 6’4 and happily has a shower in the bath - unless you’ve got really low ceilings or your shower doesn’t adjust enough it shouldn’t be a problem.

I would miss the option of a bath - I binge on them from time to time when my back aches or I go alcohol-free and I need a distraction. If no one ever has a bath and you have no worries about selling go for a shower but for most people selling on is a consideration. I'd probably go for a shower over the bath.

We got rid of our bath and replaced it with a large walk in shower. It is so much better. Shower baths don’t compare at all. It’s an easy decision for us. Neither DH and I can’t remember the last time we took a bath. Definitely before we were teens!

I put in a Japanese style bath so I could get a walk in shower in which I use every day.

They are short and deep so you sit more upright.
Mine is:
https://www.omnitub.co.uk

Could you fit one of these in?

These look great, definitely something I'd consider in the future.