Bath or Shower – What Solution Will Work for Your Bathroom?

Bath or Shower — this is the most common dilemma for people arranging or renovating a bathroom. You can choose a long, relaxing bath in a tub full of fragrant foam or a quick refreshment in the shower. With the right space, an ideal solution would be to have both, to meet the expectations of all household members. So, bath or shower? Before making a final decision, it is worth knowing the advantages and disadvantages of both solutions.

What will you learn from this article?

The choice between a bathtub and a shower cabin is crucial when arranging a bathroom. A shower will be appreciated by people who value economical and quick bathing. A bathtub allows for a relaxing bath and moments of relaxation only for oneself. From this article, you will learn:

• What to choose when water savings are a priority?
• What works better for daily use - a bathtub or a shower?
• What solution to choose when space-saving in a small bathroom is crucial?
• What to consider when choosing between a bathtub and a shower?
• Is a shower cabin the best choice for the elderly?

Bath or Shower — Everything Depends on the Bathroom's Space

When creating a bathroom design, you must consider both practical and aesthetic aspects. Interiors have a certain space to be managed, and in the case of a bathroom, it often needs to be maximized. Here, the choice between a bathtub and a shower is crucial. 

A bathtub is an ideal way to relax in the evening. A hot, aromatic bath relaxes perfectly, improves mood, alleviates muscle pain, and puts you in a happy mood. It's an excellent solution for people who need a moment of respite after a whole day. Moreover, it can be a real decoration of the bathroom - a freestanding bathtub looks really beautiful! You can opt for it when creating a bathing salon. You will gain bathroom equipment that will emphasize extravagance, add luxury, and be conducive to organizing a home spa. If you have doubts about whether it's the right solution for you, find out why choosing a freestanding bathtub is a good idea. 

A warm bath in a tub with fragrant oils is synonymous with relaxation. Many people appreciate the evening ritual that allows for a moment alone and relaxation after a hard day. With limited space, installing a large tub without sacrificing other important bathroom elements is a significant challenge. Alternative models are corner or rectangular, i.e., wall-mounted bathtubs. 

When it comes to showers, their undeniable advantage is compactness. You can set them even in a very small bathroom - cabins take up little space, much less than a tub. You can install them in a recess, as well as in a corner of the room. You will create a modern project and ensure high comfort of use for all residents. If you have a small bathroom, an excellent choice is walk-in shower walls. They optically enlarge the space, making the bathroom appear more spacious and brighter.

A shower cabin is a solution particularly recommended in homes with a larger number of inhabitants. You can take hot or refreshing short showers, which shortens the waiting time for a free bathroom. This also reduces water consumption, which you will notice on your bills. 

In the case of a larger bathroom, you don't have to choose between a bathtub or a cabin. You have two solutions to choose from:

1. Using both a bathtub and a shower as separate appliances.
2. A hybrid solution, i.e., a bath screen. 

Is Bathing in a Tub a Good Solution for Families with Children?

Having a bathtub is especially appreciated by families with small children. For kids, bathing is much more attractive than washing in the shower. A child can then take with them plastic or rubber toys and splash freely. In this way you create not only an opportunity for play for the little one, but also instill in them a habit of independent personal hygiene care.

In Mexen's offer, you'll find baths that provide comfort while standing out with modern design. They are spacious, have ergonomic shapes, which makes using them safe for children. 

What Works Better in Bathrooms for Seniors — Shower Cabin or Bathtub?

Seniors, as well as people with mobility limitations, will certainly appreciate the solution of a shower — preferably a walk-in shower without a tray. This economical solution increases safety in the bathroom. Entering a shower is easier than a deep bathtub. This aspect is particularly significant for older people and those with various disabilities. 

A walk-in shower and showers with a low tray look good in modern interiors, guarantee space savings, and use less water. With their help, you'll create a barrier-free bathroom, easy to maintain cleanliness and safe for seniors.

Regardless of which variant you decide on, installing elements that provide additional support and safety is a good choice — such as wall handrails.

Learn more, how to design a bathroom for a person with disabilities. 

How Do Showers and Baths Affect Water Saving?

A shower is an optimal solution for active and economical people. In short, a shower provides lower water consumption than even a quick bath in a tub. Moreover, modern shower fixtures are equipped with special aerators that aerate the stream. Thanks to this, using even 50% less water, we do not feel a loss of pressure. In terms of ecology and protecting the household budget – a shower is unmatched. 

A bathtub, apart from numerous advantages we have mentioned, also has its drawbacks. The main one, of course, is water consumption. It is also necessary to raise its temperature because the large evaporation area causes it to cool down faster. And all this translates into an increased burden on the household budget.

Shower or Bathtub – Which Is Easier to Clean?

Regardless of, what equipment you choose for the bathroom, you must anticipate regular cleaning of fixtures, trays, walls, or seats, which is a time-consuming process.

Due to the construction and shape of a deep bathtub, it is easy to maintain in perfect cleanliness. In fact, it's enough to rinse it thoroughly with cold water after each bath, thus removing residues and soap scum. It's also worth buying quality cleaning agents that last a long time in family homes. 

Classic shower cabins, on the other hand, require slightly more involvement during cleaning. Even a quick shower leaves drops of water and cosmetics on the walls. Additionally, scale builds up relatively quickly on them, which can sometimes be difficult to remove.

Check what to clean a shower cabin with.

Soothing Bath or Refreshing Shower? Or Can It Be Combined?

Discussions about the superiority of shower cabins over bathtubs, or vice versa, can be endless. Both advocates of a quick shower and lovers of long baths have their reasons to choose one of the solutions. Currently, one does not have to exclude the other. 

If you are facing a choice between a shower base and a tub, go for a bathtub screen single-, double-, or triple-panel, which is an excellent alternative to shower cabins. Thanks to this, you don't have to change the arrangement of the whole room and, equally importantly, break and lay tiles anew. Mounting a high-screen edge made from tempered glass allows you to use the shower without the worry of splashing the bathroom.

A more economical version is a sliding curtain on a rod. The screen not only takes up less space but can also be an original design element. This is an excellent solution for small bathrooms where both a bathtub and a shower cabin cannot be separately installed.

See how a bathtub with a screen works in a small bathroom.

In bathing salons, i.e., large and spacious bathrooms, you can opt for a freestanding bathtub and for example, a low-tray cabin. Then, what solution you choose at a given moment depends solely on your needs.

Installation of a Bathtub or Shower Cabin — Summary of Pros and Cons

The choice of both a bathtub and a shower can be supported by many arguments mentioned above. Let's summarize:

• In terms of water consumption, a shower undoubtedly wins in this clash.
• In most cases, the better solution for a small bathroom is a shower.
• When it comes to costs, it cannot be unequivocally stated. Both bathtubs and shower cabins can have very diverse price ranges. In Mexen's offer, you will find economical and ecological solutions for your bathroom.
• In our view, it's quicker and more convenient to clean a tub.
• If you're looking for relaxation after a hard day at work, obviously, choose a comfortable bath in a tub.
• A bathtub allows for play in foam, which meets the needs of children and also makes it easier for parents to wash younger household members. 
• With age, mobility decreases, making it easier for elderly people to use a shower than a tub.

These are just a few basic issues that arise in disputes between lovers of long and relaxing baths and those who support quick showers. At Mexen, you'll find solutions tailored to every bathroom. Choose our products at competitive prices.