How to Select Deep Tubs for Small Bathrooms?

Selecting the right deep tub can have immense advantages for a small bathroom. They can make the room look spacious and luxurious at the same time. Take the Japanese-inspired ofuro designs as an example. They offer a deep soaking experience with just 230 liters of water. In comparison, the UK/US tub takes around 350 liters of water to ensure full submersion up to the shoulders. That is significantly less water with a smaller footprint.

In this guide, we will analyze deep tubs and how they compare to standard designs. It will equip you with enough information to integrate deep soak into a small bathroom practically.

Can You Fit a Deep Soaking Tub in a Small Bathroom?

Why Deep Tubs Save Space

The key to ensure deep soak while ensuring a small footprint is designing them deeper rather than longer. It allows the user to completely submerge themselves in water up to their shoulders. A standard bathtub is around 60 inches in length. Putting a deep tub against it, we find that they are up to 20 inches shorter in length. It is the primary reason why homeowners are opting for deep soak tubs.

Smart Layouts for Tiny Bathrooms

Planning your layout is a critical step. If we strategically place the bathroom fixtures, we can fit a deep tub in a bathroom with 35 to 40 square feet in a small bathroom. Designers use creative problem-solving skills to place the shorter tubs horizontally across the far end of a narrow bathroom. It leave majority of the floor space clear for other bathroom fixtures.

You can also tuck the tub into an unused corner to create a focal point that also saves space. To minimize the dead zone, placing them inside a fully waterproofed bathroom area with no glass partitions also ensures a feeling of openness in the small bathroom. Just pair the bathtub with a slim vanity to ensure that the storage units are hung on the wall. It will restore visual balance.

Deep Tub vs. Standard Tub: What's the Actual Difference?

▰ Depth and Full-Body Coverage

The standard tubs are designed for quick washes or soaking just the lower body. A typical alcove tub that fits between three wall wil give you around 14 inches of depth. Deep soak tubs start with 16 inch depth and go up to 20+ inches. Since the deep tubs have much higher water capacity, they can completely submerge your body for the therapeutic effect.

▰ Posture and Physical Relief

The major difference in the two tubs is that the standard tub is designed for leaning into water. The deep tub is designed to make you sit upright, similar to a seated posture. Since the deep tub has extra height, it creates a much higher buoyancy, allowing pressure reduction on the hips and tailbone.

▰ The Secret to True Depth

Another important factor to consider when looking for any tub is the overflow drain. Designers build them into the tub design to ensure that the water doesn't cause your bathroom to flood with water. However, it directly impacts the water immersion depth. Look for tubs with a higher overflow port. Deep tubs typically have them higher with respect to the floor.

▰ Water Capacity and Heating Demands

The deep soak tubs typically require a larger amount of water to fill. It may impact your water heating requirements. A standard 60-inch bathtub holds up to 60 gallons. While a deep tub for a small bathroom may hold up to 80 gallons. If you opt for a Japanese-style extra-deep design, then the requirement may go over 100 gallons. These are all values for small bathroom designs.

Types of Deep Soaking Bathtubs Suitable for Small Bathrooms

✦ Japanese-Style Soaking Tubs (Ofuro)

For users with a small bathroom, the Japanese-style soaking tub is the ideal choice. It saves much more floor space and is easier to manage when designing the layout. They take a maximum of 48 inches of space in length to provide an incredible water depth of 32 inches. Their unique shape allows the user to sit straight up instead of lying down. The water still reaches up to the shoulders even in the tightest of spaces.

While the tub has a shorter length, the height needs to be considered for accessibility. You actually need to consider space for a raised step or a matching step stool to allow access into the deep tub conveniently.

✦ Freestanding Mini Tubs

Moving into the luxury category, the freestanding mini tubs are considered at the top. They provide the feeling of a spacious interior as they have more light passing around their engineered structure. Typically, these models are around 50 inches long. Placing them near a window allows light to bounce off and create a breezy and bright atmosphere in small bathrooms.

They do not have any bulk frames like in traditional tubs. It reduces extra structural requirements that result in significant space savings. It also allows much easier accessibility for maintenance activities. These usually come in slipper style. One end is sweeping upward to allow ergonomic back support.

✦ Alcove and Corner Soakers

These rely on the standard three-corner wall support to fit. They are ideal for basic everyday shower-and-bath mix designs. They provide deep relaxation while effectively utilizing the small bathroom space. Some space-saving models can be asl short as 54 inches. There are tubs designed to utilize dead zones in the small bathroom. They can fit inside a triangular or square area conveniently.

Which Bathtub Material Works Best in a Small Bathroom?

When it comes to the small bathroom layout, the choice of material are limited. We need to ensure that the material looks cohesive with the environment and does not portray aesthetic incompatibility. Here are the two popular choices.

■ Solid Surface and Stone Resin

These are ideal when you want a deep tub that feels solid. There is no feeling of hollowness when you step inside. It also works with the deep tub water immersion, allowing longer heat retention. These can keep the water warm for up to 45 minutes. They are non-porous, therefore do not require frequent sanitization.

■ Acrylic and Fiberglass

These are very light and cost-effective options. They do not require any additional reinforcement and are easy to install. While they have a low initial cost, they are not good at holding heat. It can impact your hot water energy bill. Fiberglass is the most budget-friendly, but it is also the weakest in structural design. They are prone to cracks and fading.

Things to Measure and Consider Before You Buy

Measurements are a vital part of selecting a deep tub for a small bathroom. There are many things that can go wrong. Let's understand the factors that you need to weigh in to ensure a proper purchase decision:

• Outside vs Inside: The outside dimensions are mostly for marketing. The inside dimensions where you actually sit/lie are the main space you should focus on.
• Thickness: Consider the tub wall thickness and slope of the backrest. A stone tub that measures 60 inches outside will only give 52 inch in the inside.
• True Water Depth: The true depth is not equal to the height of the tub. You need to see where the overflow drain is. The height of the drain from the inner tub base is the actual height.
• Width for Comfort: The side-to-side space is vital to ensure that there is enough space to allow your shoulders to relax.
• Mapping the Route: Ensure that the route to the bathroom allows the deep bathtub dimensions to pass through. Plan out the map exactly and ensure that you can route it through doorways, hallways, and tight corners of stairwell.
• Heavy Lifting: In case you go from the solid surface material, the weight can drastically increase. Maneuvering 250lbs can be challenging for the delivery team.
• Awkward Shapes: Some Japanese deep tubs may be too tall to walk through a doorway vertically. You must figure out the exact orientation to allow it to reach the designated location.

Small Bathroom Layouts That Work with a Deep Tub

• Combining the Tub and Shower

One of the ideal and traditional approaches to tub installation is using a three-wall classic design. It allows more floor space for bathing and showering. Then, combine the alcove tub with a modern sliding door to save a lot of space. There is no need to plan the swing zone of the door with the sliding design. You can also use a single glass panel to separate the deep tub and shower area. It creates a feeling of opening without the bulky dividers.

• Smart Placements for Awkward Rooms

Consider putting a triangular soaker into the corner to free up some space. It allows enough room to put a shower that you can step right into. These are ideal for square or L-shaped bathrooms.

Putting a small tub horizontally at the back of the narrow bathroom gives the longest possible floor area to move around. It eliminates dead space effectively.

• Maximizing Room with Door Modifications

To increase the functional space of the small bathroom, consider replacing the swinging door with a sliding one. It gives you extra space to allow placement of objects to make it functional. It is often the only space you need ot fit a deep tub elegantly.

Conclusion

To get the ultimate deep soaking experience in a small bathroom its vital that we plan our project properly. It means selecting the right type of deep tub for space utilization, finding the right material for heat retention, picking the right design, planning the bathroom layout and finally analyzing the dimensional realities when moving the tub to the bathroom.

To create the ultimate deep tub experience with a modern, contemporary small bathroom inetor consider a freestanding solid surface bathtub. They offer an elegant, minimalist look with ideal space utilization. KingKonree offers some of the best materials and variety in deep tubs. We use solid surface material and a unique mold design to create elegant designs that match any interior. Visit https://www.kingkonree.com/ to explore all their options.

FAQs

Q: What is the minimum bathroom size for a deep soaking tub?

The bathroom size requirement depends on the length of the deep soak tub. Typically, a space of up to 50 square feet is required to ensure proper fitting.

Q: How deep should a soaking tub be for a full-body soak?

A full body soak means immersion in water up to the shoulders. The soaking depth that is typically required for an average heighted individual is around 22 inches.

Q: Do deep soaking tubs use more water than standard bathtubs?

Deep soak tubs require more water. They hold around 80 gallons of water in comparison to the standard alcove design that takes 60 gallons. It also means a higher hot water requirement and energy bill. That is why it's best to choose a low-conductivity material like a solid surface bathtub.

Q: Are deep soaking tubs safe for elderly users or people with limited mobility?

As the deep soaking tubs have a high height its important that we provide proper safety-associated accessories. It includes grab bars, non-slip floors, a stool and a walk-in door for elderly users.