4 min readA beautiful soaking tub has long been a hallmark of a luxurious bathroom. But that centerpiece fixture can claim a sizable chunk of bathroom square footage while getting far less use than the shower next to it. And as homeowners rethink how their bathrooms should function, the tub is no longer an automatic inclusion, especially in the primary suite, designers say.
In fact, more than a quarter of homeowners renovating a primary bathroom removed the tub, according to the 2025 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study. Of those, 82 percent used the reclaimed space to enlarge the shower. That said, 34 percent of renovating homeowners upgraded a tub, with soaking models like freestanding and alcove tubs (which are tubs that are surrounded by walls on three sides) being by far the most popular choice.
So, are bathtubs becoming obsolete, or are people still warm to them? Designers say clients are getting more selective when it comes to bathtubs and how many they have in their homes. It mostly comes down to homeowners deciding whether a tub fits their routines and, if it does, treating it as a statement feature.
Bathtubs Are No Longer the Default
Demand for a bathtub depends heavily on who will use the bathroom. Designer Lexie Saine, founder and principal of Lexie Saine Design in San Francisco, says requests for tubs are becoming less common, particularly among older clients. Families still want tubs for bathing children, while homeowners thinking ahead to resale may retain one for future buyers.
“In a primary bath, a tub only stays if someone loves a long soak and isn't drawn to a steam shower or sauna,” Saine says. “Clients focused on steam showers and saunas tend to skip a tub altogether unless there is room for one. But if not, it's the first to go.”
That logic can apply to secondary bathrooms, too. Alice Chiu of Miss Alice Designs recently replaced the tub in a tween’s bathroom with a walk-in shower. The daughter had outgrown baths, and the change made the room feel larger. Chiu added a handheld shower wand on an adjustable slide bar to accommodate users of different heights.
Wellness Features Take Over
When a tub comes out, the extra space opens up several possibilities. A larger walk-in shower is the most common replacement, sometimes with dual showerheads or enough room to have a “wet room” with a shower and bathtub in the same enclosure, a trend that has started to gain steam in recent years.
Beyond upgrading the shower, some homeowners are putting the extra square footage toward storage and vanity space. Nine percent use it to expand their cabinetry, while 6 percent relocate the vanity and another 6 percent relocate cabinetry. An additional 5 percent enlarge the vanity or sink.
The most recent trend, though? Saine says some clients with enough square footage are prioritizing wellness features like you’d experience at day spas, including a steam shower, sauna, and cold plunge all within the primary bathroom.
In smaller, secondary bathrooms like guest bathrooms, skipping the tub can also make room for a more generous vanity. “Rather than dividing the room between a freestanding shower and a separate tub, we use the additional space to create a larger shower or increase the footprint of the vanity,” says Nathan Vanags, president of Nathan Vanags Design in Orlando. “That is typically a better use of the space because overnight guests are less likely to use a bathtub.”
Why Every House Should Have at Least One Tub
Even if you aren’t a bath person, think carefully before removing every tub in the house because doing so could limit your pool of buyers should you put your home on the market down the line, caution designers.
“If the home has three bathrooms, for example, you should consider retaining at least one lower tub that can be used to bathe a newborn or young child,” Vanags says.
Of course, resale isn’t the only argument for keeping one. If soaking is how you unwind, a tub may warrant the square footage. The goal is to design for your lifestyle, not a checklist of features a primary suite is supposed to have, designers say.
The Modern Way to Style a Bathtub
While tubs aren’t obsolete, certain styles do read as relics. Saine points to drop-in tubs surrounded by tiled decks and oversized corner jetted tubs as signature design features of the 1980s and 1990s, and often the first fixtures removed during a renovation.
Freestanding soaking tubs remain the popular tub of choice, selected by 45 percent of homeowners who upgraded or added a tub in the Houzz study.
“In a primary suite, the bathtub is being elevated into a spa-like feature with better technology, lighting, and a more sculptural appearance,” Vanags says.
Still, a freestanding tub can feel cramped without enough surrounding space. Chiu cautions that homeowners sometimes fall for the look before realizing the fixture doesn’t suit their layout or will be difficult to clean around. As an alternative, she recommends an undermount or drop-in tub clad in stone that can make a beautiful focal point, perhaps repeating the vanity countertop material to create a cohesive look.
Ultimately, the modern approach is less about declaring tubs “in” or “out” and more about putting them where they’ll genuinely be used. As Saine puts it, the new rule is: “Keep it where it’s actually used.”
