Shower Vs Baths In A Small Bathroom

A close up image of a bath, capturing both the hot and cold tap with a folded white towel alongside.

Although the earliest known bath dates from the Indus Valley civilisation were some 4,000 years before the invention of the first mechanical shower, the compact design of modern bathrooms is forcing many architects and designers to reconsider whether baths should be overlooked completely in favour of showers.

When weighing up the baths vs. showers debate, it’s important not to focus purely on the use of space: evolving lifestyles, innovative bathroom design, and sustainability pledges should also influence your choice. Modern showers, such as shower pods, are a smart choice for anyone considering foregoing the traditional bath and offer important advantages for homeowners and tenants alike.

Making the best use of limited space

Small bathrooms demand outside-the-box thinking if the best use is to be made of limited space. Shower pods are designed to fit snugly into corners, along walls, or even in alcoves, making them an excellent choice for small bathrooms. Their compact design not only frees up more floor space but can also create the illusion of a larger room. In contrast, baths tend to dominate the bathroom, consuming more than 30 cubic feet, which can make the room feel incredibly cramped.

Blending into modern life

Modern life is fast-paced and hectic, especially for young professionals who combine high intensity careers with active leisure and social lives. Whereas baths demand patience – the average length of a bath (excluding filling time) is anything from 15 to 30 minutes - showers offer a quick and efficient solution for early morning or after-work rejuvenation.

Conserving water

Sustainability is a dominant theme at present, particularly as the impacts of climate change are felt more acutely across the world. Showers are highly regarded for their efficient use of water: a five minute shower will, typically, use approximately 12.5 gallons of water, whereas filling a bath can use 70 gallons. Water conservation is essential to ensure the sustainability of the Earth’s ecosystems, support future generations' needs, and mitigate the problems of water scarcity.

To bath or not to bath?

A recent survey reveals that showers remain the preferred choice for most people in the UK, with 57 per cent saying they prefer to shower compared with 32 per cent who opt to bathe. Hectic modern lifestyles are, in part, to blame for this trend, although a decline in mobility explains why twice as many older people say they never take a bath. As showers are associated with practicality, convenience, and speed, it makes sense for new homes – particularly those with smaller bathrooms – to feature attractive and modern shower pods, instead of wasting a large volume of space on baths that will rarely be used.

Tailored shower solutions for small bathrooms

At Advanced Showers, our range of bespoke shower pods is designed to deliver exceptional showering experiences no matter how small the bathroom.

Manufactured from durable and eye-catching GRP, our shower pods are a luxurious alternative to a bath and are available in different sizes and shapes to meet the needs of any restricted bathroom space. Easy to clean and guaranteed to be leakproof, our pods are the compact solution you need and are ideal for residential properties and student or hospital accommodations.