By: Nigel F. Maynard
Though larger showers with multiple showerheads, linear drains and smart mirrors have been trending for years and continue to dominate the bathroom, tubs are still a focal point in the design.
In its 2024 trend report, the National Kitchen and Bath Association reported that tubs (and vanities) are main focal points in today’s baths. “Soaking and freestanding tubs will be the most popular bathtub types, and oval shapes will be the most prominent,” the association says.
On architect- or designer-driven projects, there is a good chance that a statement tub–in many cases, freestanding–is a part of the program. “Clients love freestanding tubs because they make such a statement in the space,” says Arlington, Va.-based designer Ame Gold.
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“Soaking tubs are part of a lot of our projects when either a tub is requested by the homeowner, or we have generous space available,” says Kelly Emerson, senior designer at Aidan Design in Silver Spring, Md. “Not everyone favors soaking tubs, but when they do, it’s a must. Some homeowners have ailments where taking a bath in a tub is helpful and healing. Aromatherapy can be added to tubs along with air bubble massages and heated elements.”
Shannon Kadwell, a kitchen and bath designer at Anthony Wilder Design/Build in Cabin John, Md., says freestanding soaking tubs remain a hot trend for the company’s clients for looks as well as for utility. “Not only do they offer a luxurious escape after a long day, but they can also be a stunning centerpiece in a bathroom,” Kadwell explains. “Clients want to relax and feel like they are in a luxury spa in their own home.”
But not every design is seeing the same enthusiasm for tubs. “Freestanding soaking tubs aren’t a must have, and we find that many clients prefer just a shower,” says Deborah Sauri, co-founder, TriVistaUSA Design + Build in Arlington, Va.
Tub installation varies. With a limited footprint, designers may simply opt for a traditional alcove installation, but one nice location is near a window to anchor a room and provide a place to take in views.
Alex Kober, a junior interior designer at TriVistaUSA Design + Build, says there is one installation that is popular among many of the firm’s clients.
“For the die hard bath-taker, wet rooms are a popular tub/shower set up because they create a place to contain all the water and they create that spa-like atmosphere,” Kober says. “For client’s who lean more traditional in terms of style, we often suggest drop-in tub models because you can create a larger tub deck area with a stone/countertop material and you can create a built-up apron with architectural molding that ties into the character of more traditional/transitional spaces.”
“Our experience is with installation in more focal areas, such as centered on a window or by creating a focal wall behind it,” Emerson says. “While our clients like the idea of a wet room, we rarely end up implementing them. If the tubs we incorporate aren’t freestanding, we are making them focal by waterfalling the solid surface tub deck material to the face of the tub.”
Tubs come in all shapes, styles and materials, but innovative versions are made with new eco-friendly composites, cast iron or even carved from a single block of stone. “Clean lines, oval shapes and textures–like ribbing on the outside–is popular right now,” Gold says.
Tracy Morris, of Tracy Morris Design in Washington, says freestanding soaking tubs continue to be a popular request in primary bathrooms, but they are not necessarily a must-have for every client. When clients do want them, a pattern emerges, Morris says. “We’re seeing high demand for clean-lined, sculptural styles in materials like stone resin and matte-finish acrylic, which bring a modern yet organic touch to the space,” Morris says. “And yes—tubs in front of large windows are still going strong, especially when the view or natural light adds to that serene, luxurious vibe.”
Here are some new tub introductions for your consideration:
The Natural Boulder bathtub is a collection of products that are carved from a single block of stone. Each tub is entirely unique, with variations in size, color and surface irregularities that reflect the material’s organic origins. The exterior remains untouched, preserving the natural ruggedness of the stone, while the interior is honed for a smooth finish.
The Dahlia Collection bathtub is crafted from recyclable stone composite, perfectly balancing luxury and environmental responsibility, the brand says. Inspired by the organic forms found in nature, the tub measures 67 inches by 34 inches and features gentle curves and earthy finishes—including white, sand, terracotta and grey. It is designed for indoor and outdoor use.
The Lunessa is an update on the brand’s Stella Libra. Redesigned for the armrests to offer a larger area for elbows and forearms, the freestanding tub has a larger center deck that users can sit on to get in and out of the tub. The same center deck is designed as a great place to grab onto when leveraging to get out of the tub, the company says. Measuring 70 inches, it uses AirBath technology that is quiet and offers gentle, effervescent air bubbles to provide a soothing, full-body massage.
Part of the Americh Freestanding Collection, Contura 7232 builds on the success of the previous incarnations, the company says. The freestanding series has been anchored by two end drain versions, including an against-the-wall model and the popular Contura III in six sizes. Measuring 72 inches long, it has an integral waste and overflow in polished chrome and is available in white and biscuit. The unit is available with an optional air system.
Handcrafted in Italy, Catino is a solid surface oblong-shaped tub that is crafted using a combination of modern technology and handcrafting techniques. The solid-surface, gel-coated material has a smooth feel and is antibacterial and resistant to UVA rays, impact and stains. Offered in three sizes–59 inches, 63 inches and 67 inches long–the tub comes in 44 matte or glossy colors.
The Trono-Bio bathtub features a distinctive blend of round and square shapes that offer two bathing experiences combined in one: Users can stretch out in the spacious circular area or use the full support of the half-body rectangular seat. It’s made from matte and silky Cristalplant, a sustainable, antimicrobial material composed primarily of high-purity aluminum trihydrate mineral filler and bonded with plant-derived biobased resin.
Measuring 67 inches long, the Iridescent freestanding tub offers a color-shifting blue diamond design with 28 powerful massaging and bubble jets. With a spacious 49.2-inch basin width and a 14.55-inch soaking depth, the Iridescent Tub offers ultimate comfort, the company says. The brand also offers this freestanding tub in silver, green, aquamarine and diamond finishes.
Designed by Konstantin Grcic, the VAL Luminex bathtub was inspired by the soothing and energizing power of light and color, the brand says. The tub uses LED technology and a high-tech remote control to modulate the intensity of the light and colors but also to choose between nine settings to intensify the bathing experience. Luafen’s research into the mineral casting material Sentec led to the creation of an innovative translucent material that also feels velvety and warm to touch and maintains the temperature of the water in the bathtub for a long time.
Inspired by the rooflines of Palm Springs homes from the 1950s and 60s, the Coachella tub features sloping sides and an integrated pedestal for support. It can be used as a classic soaking tub or optimized with hydrotherapies, including the brand’s cold plunge, hydro indulge or hydro fusion. The custom-made tub can be made to fit any size room or setting and can be ordered in 15 colors.
The Giove free-standing bathtub reproduces the typical gentle vertical ribbed design and elliptical shape of the washbasin in the collection, expanding it into a more elongated form, the company says. One inner end of the bathtub incorporates a molded backrest and a built-in space for tapware that converts to a shelf for storing toiletries if a free-standing bathtub column is used instead. The tub is made from Cristalplant, a biobased material fabricated from aluminum trihydrate mineral fillers bound together by a biobased plant-derived resin.