Picture this: you go home after a long day of work. Sore from craning your neck at your computer all day, your commute as packed and suffocating as usual. You really wanna plop down on your bed, but you need to shower first. How you wish you could stretch your legs and soak the exhaustion away with some warm water and essential oils. If only you have a bathtub to relax in…
But is it practical to have a bathtub in Singapore? What do you need to consider before installing a porcelain waterbed? Read on to find out!
SPACE
Let’s get this out of the way: bathrooms in Singapore aren’t exactly generous with space. Having a bathtub in a small bathroom makes it even more claustrophobic. The smallest bathtubs measure about 72 inches long and 32 inches wide. Yet, a small bathtub defeats the purpose of “stretching your legs”. On the other hand, a shower stall can be only half as long. If you must, there are space-saving bathtubs with built-in storage panels that can help you hide the clutter, but their availability is quite limited in Singapore.
WATER CONSERVATION
Obviously, bathtubs use much more water than showers. Bathtubs easily consume around 90 to 150 litres of water, whereas a good showerhead could go as low as 6 litres per minute. If racking up the water bills isn’t part of your concern, think about whether you have the patience to wait for bathtubs to fill up on a daily basis. Personally, I might do that once in a while when I have the time. Most days, I just want to get it over with, snuggle into bed and scroll Instagram until it’s way too late.
SAFETY AND ACCESSIBILITY
It is important to consider your household members when making this decision. You can have a fun time with your little ones, but they need to be supervised in bathtubs. Besides, bathtubs are an accident-prone fixture for elderly, disabled and those with restricted mobility. The smooth surfaces make climbing in and out of a bathtub difficult and challenging. In such cases, you should clean your bathtub often to prevent mold and mildew buildup from making it more slippery. Safety features like grab bar and non-slip mats are also essential.
HOME RESALE VALUE
You need to hire a good plumber and splurge a considerably large amount of money for a bathtub. Here’s the good news: all that investment results in a higher home resale value. Bathtubs can attract self-love practitioners and parents who wish to bathe their children more conveniently. They are rare and considered a luxury, which makes them a unique selling point of your property.
Of course, having a bathtub elevates your bathing experience, which is ultimately a great time to relax and unwind in private. For those who have the means to own one, you can install a shower system at the head of your tub to enjoy the best of both worlds. If you’ve decided against it, you can still indulge in a spa shower system that comes with multiple fancy showerheads to pamper yourself.