Tub Inside Shower (Design Ideas)

Below we share creative tub inside shower design ideas with a variety of layouts, features and bathtub styles.

Imagine a large walk in shower, and once you get inside, there is a bathtub. Up front this sounds strange, but it is actually growing in popularity. It makes sense too, usually the shower is just a bathtub that you stand in.

However, now walk-in showers are getting higher tech and can include more room for more features. Some examples of bathtub and shower combo designs and their features are shown below.

Walk in Shower with Tub

One of the most common examples of tubs inside showers is when there is a walk in shower with a large bathtub inside of it. Basically there is a separate room that is sealed with waterproof finishes with a 1 ½ inch to 2 inch drain in the middle, similar to large showers in public places. There could be large glass door or plastic curtain to separate this area from the rest of the room and keep all water inside the walk in shower.

Having this large of a space allows for features like dual sided sprayers, heated flooring, waterfall heads and much more. This situation would make it difficult to sit down and take a true bath, which is why in some cases there is section of the shower that includes a large tub. This also gives a nice place to rest a foot when shaving legs, or something to lean against.

Why You Might Put a Tub In Your Shower

Now you may be wondering why you would not want to just stick with the typical shower and tub together or completely separate. Well for one this is a fantastic option if you are bathing kids or pets.

If the tub is already in an enclosed location with waterproof finishes that are easily sprayed down it takes out a great deal of mess and damage that could come with splashing on finishes that cannot take the hydration.

In addition, having a tub in the shower can be a great place to relax when you need a second to yourself, or a helpful asset when you need to shave your legs and wash up. Tubs inside of showers make for easy cleanup and the opportunity for great features while still getting the versatility of both bathing and showering when needed.

Built-in Tub In a Shower

A built in tub is one of the easiest to install and most maintainable types of tubs that can be placed inside a shower. This type of tub can be unique to each space by incorporating waterproof tiles on the floors and walls to go up the straight side (or sides) of the tub to create a seamless look.

This modern built in tub is typically place in the far corner or on the farthest wall from the doors or curtain. This tub doesn’t allow for any exposed unused space, meaning there is less places for water or dirt to get and stay in, making clean up a breeze.

Freestanding Tub With Wet Room Shower

A freestanding tub is a bit more difficult when it comes to the installation and upkeep compared to a built in tub. This is because there can be dust or mildew, etc that gets behind the tub or around the legs that is not cleaned as well or as much as the rest of the shower space.

The nice part though, about all the materials in the wet room being waterproof and made for a shower setting is that it is a great deal easier to just spray the areas down, especially if you have a good sprayer on the shower part.

Installation is a bit tougher just because of the piping and such that goes into a freestanding sink. Just because these things are a little more difficult than a built in tub does not mean it is not worth it , a freestanding tub is beautiful and can be an iconic piece in the bathroom.

On top of that, it makes you less likely to set things on the corners of the tub (since there are not any) and that makes the shower area less crowed, leading to a minimalist look.

Japanese Soaking Tub Next To Shower

A Japanese soaking tub is a small, but deep bathtub. This type of tub has increased in popularity as it allows the water to cover more of your body and it stays warm longer as there is less exposed area. The design of the Japanese soaking tub is to promote a sitting position in the tub versus a lying down position.

This is a bathtub that can be easily placed inside a shower, which helps with versatility since a Japanese soaking tub typically does not have the capability to take a shower. However, this design utilizes a side by side orientation that may help minimize water accumulation and maintenance around the tub area.

With a small bathtub of this sorts there is a great deal of space for the shower portion. Some small, but deep bathtubs of this sort have small sealed doors that allow for easy access. This can be helpful to have a shower outside the tub so that when you open the door and all the water spills out, it can easily find the drain without creating a mess.

Clawfoot Tub To the Side Of Shower

Having a clawfoot tub inside a shower is aesthetically pleasing and can be found in many different types of design specifications. Clawfoot tubs can have classic rill rims, sipper tubs, double slipper tubs and double ended tubs.

These features change the slope of the side of the tub for a more comfortable laying back position taken while bathing. This can make the tub a little awkward to shower in, as it is made for lounging not standing.

On top of that, shower curtains do not sit it a great way when it comes to clawfoot tubs. With having the tub inside of the shower it removes the need for a shower curtain to be inside the tub sticking to a person trying to shower. Instead the curtain (or likely a glass door) will be a distance away and showering is not to be done in the tub itself.

While a clawfoot tub was once considered a luxury item, nowadays, they have become less of a hot commodity. However, for those who love the look, they can be a great addition to your bathroom design.

Tub In Shower Pictures

Choosing a bathtub to use inside your shower space will depend on your layout and square footage. Here are some more ideas to help with your bathroom remodel project.

This custom shower with built-in alcove bathtub uses floor to ceiling tile and a window with plantation shutters to give a contemporary look.

The wet room walk-in shower with freestanding tub uses a glass subway tile for the walls and an hexagon floor tiles with bronze shower and tub hardware.

This inviting bathroom features a glass shower enclosure with a step up to a freestanding tub platform. A built-in bench is a helpful addition for those who want to shave their legs or have a place to set shampoo bottles and conditioner.

This luxurious bathroom with walk-in shower has a large stand alone slipper tub with plenty of room to relax and stretch out. The back accent wall is built from rough stacked stone, while the main shower walls are constructed with travertine tile. Two large rainfall shower heads provide room for two.

Why Choose a Walk-in Shower With a Tub

Just because something is popular doesn’t always mean it’s the right choice for you. There are many factors to consider before making big decisions in your home, so consider all aspects before jumping into a rash decision; otherwise, you will risk wasting your money and effort. Before jumping in on the “walk-in shower with a tub” trend, let’s have a look at the pros and cons of having one.

Clean-up

The Good: Having your shower and tub in one area makes clean-up simpler, especially when they are enclosed. It also has the advantage of having the drainage system and basically the “wet area” of the bathroom in one area, so if you can take both a shower and a bath in one space, you don’t have to worry about constantly wiping down the “dry areas” when you move about in between them. This is especially great if your bathing ritual is like a Japanese: shower and rinse to get clean before going into the tub.

The Bad: depending on the size, distance, and shower setup of your walk-in shower+tub combo, you might have to accept that you might unintentionally get one area wet even though you’re not using it. If there is no shower curtain or glass in between the areas, you might get the tub wet even though you don’t intend to use it.

If you are sensitive about things like that, then you might want to make sure there’s enough space between the two areas, make sure the shower and spray heads don’t spray in the direction of the tub, or use a divider or shower curtain.  If your shower has steam room functionality, it may be impossible to keep condensation away from the tub.

Style & Space

The Good: It’s a real set-up that is not only stylish but practical. By having the shower and tub in one area, you are also somehow saving space. It definitely gives a lasting impression and has a luxurious feel. If it matches your lifestyle and your bathing rituals, then even better!

The Bad: If you’re solely considering this because of its popularity, you may want to reconsider because it’s definitely not for everyone. If you have kids that like to run and climb around, there’s a risk of slipping in the damp tub if they decide to play around the area when it’s not yet dry, so consider such risks.

Practicality

The Good: Because the bathtub and the shower will share one space, you only need to spend for only one partition. Depending on the design of your walk-in shower as well, it is also possible to share the same floor drain line, helping you save a bit on plumbing.

The Bad: Corner installations would probably still need a big partition, so it’s also possible that the savings would be fairly insignificant. Also, if there’s no division between the tub and the shower, it means the area will be bigger; hence there’s a possibility that the shower area will be colder overall as the heat will dissipate in a bigger area; hence the space will get colder more quickly. If you live in a cold region, you might want to consider this factor.

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