We rarely used the big tub in the master until our son came along. Now I'm really happy we have it. :) Rhoda

I love baths and to me taking a spa like bath in my master bath is the epitome of relaxation because that is usually the more luxurious tub in the house. Taking a bath is in my opinion meant for the "take me away Calgon" moment. It is not meant to just take a bath but the ambience. I am curious what kind of shower is so luxurious that it needs to replace a tub? If the shower would be very small is one thing but to have a three person shower does not make sense to me to sacrifice having a tub.

I wouldn't buy a house without a master tub. It doesn't need to be a huge built in jacuzzi or anything- a nice option is a soaking tub.

I love every time I walk into a clients home and see a giant tub empty ( except for dust ) that has sat there unused for years and they want to replace it as part of their renovation plans. This is a ridiculous waste of space and money ... No to mention completely un-green! These tubs can waste 70 or more gallons of water and unless you have a recirculating heater get cold in 15 mins.
Since they take up so much space there is usually a cramped shower and little storage.

I do agree a tub should be somewhere in a house .. Just doesn't have to be in the master bath anymore.

Most people want a great shower for their busy lives and when they have time and some extra money we can always add a steam unit with a nice bench to sit down and relax.

We had our house built a year ago and opted for a tub in the master with the advice of our builder. Looking back I wish I would have trusted my first instinct and just gone with an awesome shower in the master since we do have another full bathroom with a tub. We live in Las Vegas and even on the days when I really want to relax - I still take a shower... It may be a regional thing but I also believe that in our society we are just always on the go!

Don't need to have a tub just a nice shower.

My husband insisted on a bath and shower for our en-suite - I just wanted a large shower - I relented - he got his way - and now he never uses the bath, and chooses to use the children's double shower rather than our smaller one ! But on the up side - it means I have the en-suite to myself !!!
I think as long as there is at least one bath somewhere - you can indulge in a large shower instead of a bath and smaller shower in an en-suite !!

In my opinion you don't but for resale purposes it could be a tougher sell

Just be sure to have one tub in the house somewhere. If there is one in the kid's bath that is all you need. Most of us are shower takers and love large luxe showers.

To be honest it seems the opinions are based on whether people take baths or not. The point to consider is resale. It will possible discourage some buyers. Maybe it is location as I live in Michigan and a warm bath relaxes and then you put on a cozy robe. Too bad if it uses hot water. People waste water all the time running the water cleaning dishes. There is such a thing as enjoying life also. And it is recommended for therapeutic reasons to take a bath for relaxation. All Americans do is rush and rush. Ask dr. Oz about baths. It can be a form of meditation.

Go with what YOU want. If resale happens down the road, there will be plenty of folks in each camp!

It's too bad bevballew that you think so small when it comes to things like conserving water. I'm proud to live in California since its leading the way in saving energy with Title 24 and CalGreen. Many states are adapting similar codes.

I live in Calif. and hate the low flow shower head we accidentally had installed in our master bath. Now I shower in the kids' bath. I am all for being water smart, but in my own way! Don't want the gov. telling me what flow to have out of the shower head. I will take a shorter shower with more water, thank you very much!

We just built our house and went through this decision about two years ago when we were working with the architect. We spoke with some realtors and our architect shared his experience with many high end homes he designed.

Basically everyone said that unless you are building the house to flip right away, build for what you want and need. If you have a small bathroom area, and you are honestly not going to use the tub, better to eliminate it so that the freed up space can be reused for something that you will use and enjoy more.

Second, unless your home is of a certain size or price range where people expect a tub in the master, most people can get away with it from a resale perspective if there is a tub in one of the secondary bathrooms. The homes that people expect to see a master tub would be high end homes and homes that are 3500 sq ft and above (although I know of some in the 3500 sq ft that don't have a master tub).

Third, although most people are rightly concerned with future resale value, there are things that affect resale value more than others. For example, if your house has an awkward layout or floorplan, an outdated kitchen, or no backyard, that would affect resale value more than not having a tub in the master bath.

Fourth, know the future buyer that your remodeled house is targeted to. If your house is in an neighborhood where there are lots of young families and your future buyer is likely to be a family with young kids, having a tub is where their kids can be bathed is more important. If you are in a neighborhood where it is mixed but the homes are primarily purchased by older and more wealthy move up buyers in their 50s with teenaged kids, a tub is likely to be less relevant.

As for us, we have no tub in the master bath, but went with a larger shower with a bench, a dual sink vanity, an enclosed room for the toilet, and a large 24 x 90" linen cabinet. The additional freed up space went towards a more efficient layout for a large shared secondary bathroom with a nicer tub made of cast iron tub (instead of a cheap acrylic/fiberglass one).

There's nothing more relaxing than a nice bath, and I wouldn't want to be relegated to another bathroom when I am the Master. So many people don't slow down and take the time for a nice bath anymore... too bad. That said, it's your house and you obviously don't want a tub, so go for the luxury shower (but it better be the nuts!) and take your chances at resale.

Agree blunan! thanks! Interesting. I am 60 years old and love a bath! It is like a massage for me and to sit in a bit nicer tiled bathtub area is liking being in the Ritz for me and cheaper because I don't have to pay for the Ritz. Agree high end homes want a master bath. I have a larger home with a tub and larger shower in my master bathroom but only one sink. i just had a real estate agent over who just left and he said more important to have the tub and larger shower than double sinks since I have only one sink. I agree size of the house probably a big factor. When my children were young we had a 2300 square foot home with one bath. The master bathroom had just a shower. I dreamed for the day when I could have a more luxurious bath and one not so dated....but I am a bath person. It depends on the size of the bathroom as i think back to my smaller master bath. it was a nice size shower and i did enjoy it but had wished for a nicer updated bath in the other bathroom. It is up to you. I think it truly depends on the size of the home and bathroom!

As long as you have a bath tub in the house for kids. Most people want spa like shower and I am certain you do too! We ave sold 2 houses that we did spa showers and no tub in master. Don't believe regional. Ask anyone who has tub how often they use it??

Every day...

As long as you have a tub in another bathroom.

Quite frequently and I love my tub for spa like relaxation. I have spa like shower heads and use the tub more. It is the greatest thing to lay down and just soak in pure relaxation and not be standing.

Yes definitely. That's why it is called a master suite. I watched a lot of shows on HGTV where houses did not sell because there was no bathtub in the master bath.

If there is another bathtub in the house, then a larger shower in the master would be okay... Ultimately you do not want a space that feels overcrowded as this certainly may effect resale.

You can't read a good book sitting on a bench in a steam shower! Nothing better after a hard day of work than a soak in my jacuzzi tub, a scented candle, glass of Cabernet and a good book!

My kind of relaxation missdenny50!

This question comes up frequently on Houzz and with my clients. These days the majority of my clients opt for no bathtub. I feel this is a growing trend throughout the United States. I voted for Shower only.

I still think a tub is needed somewhere. When you have babies you need to give them baths and for those who don't have children something to think about: they have fun in the tub and it is a bonding and special times with the parent and child. Everything is cyclical.

The tub in our bath is a huge jacuzzi that has a leak so we can't use it. I really miss my bathtub- I've used the kids bathtub ( a standard size) and it's just not comfortable. We are just about to do a whole bathroom remodel- will get rid of the big jacuzzi and put in a freestanding soaking tub that has a nice curve for the back and is deep. Can't wait! I only take a bath every couple of weeks or so, but it always feels great.

YES

I wouldn't buy a house with more than one bathtub. In fact I would much prefer no bathtubs. I'm of the demographic that prefers small, well utilized spaces and a tub is a waste for my family.

Think about what your needs are. If you regularly take baths then it probably would be nice to have one in your space. If you don't why would you start?

Care more about future hypothetical homeowners than your family? Then spend time thinking about they would likely need/want. Would they be a young family (although a Rubbermaid tub in a bigger shower works for young ones) or older? Is your house large or small? Etc.

We are seeing more and more homeowners give up that garden soaking tub and turning that space into a spa shower experience!

These days all you need to have is one tub somewhere in your house. The primary use for this bathtub is for bathing children. I can not tell you how many people I know who have an oversized tub in their master and have never used it.

In modern/contemporary interior designs we recommend spa showers instead of batth tub. These are more useful, enjoyable and cleaner. Bathtubs are mainly needed for homes with childrens under 10 yrs, but not neccessarily on master bathroom.

Assuming the new trend is a luxurious shower or a wet room application in a master suite. What is the consensus in households with 1 bath or 1-1/2 bath whereas there is a choice of either a bathtub or shower.

We raised this question in our own posting and am following this post and others to see if opinions have changed since July.

Our Post: https://www.houzz.com/discussions/have-bathtubs-lost-their-resale-value-dsvw-vd~524096

Thanks in advance to all!

as long as you have a tub in another bathroom, you are good to go.

jmiller59 I'm going to remain as unbiased as possible because I love taking showers too. A few points, do you consider moving in the future? If so, I think that it would be best if you do keep the bathtub just to meet the needs of home-buyers. I actually just wrote a blog post that talks about the "Master Suite." You can read it here.

http://bit.ly/1duAAj7

The "Master Suite" differs from the Master Bathroom because it is essentially a deluxe version. The Master bathroom simply retains it's title due to it's relation to the master bathroom and the comparison to standard guest restrooms.

Getting back to your question, if you really think you won't miss your tub one bit, then go for it! Be sure that you are confident in your decision because it will cost your tons of $$ to go back to the old layout. If a larger shower suits you, then by all means, go for it! It is YOUR HOUSE after all!

I agree may hurt resell. But, hey you are living there now. I see no use for tub in master. They rarely get use. As long as there is one in the house should be fine. I love a big shower with stone, and glass tile. Get the multi shower heads, even a stream shower. All are great and will add value.

I agree with Denita, more and more people opting out of tubs. In Masters. I took out a free standing Tub and added a closet. Love it.

This question is from June15, 2013, I would imagine the decision has already been made.

Remember that another trend has been energy and resource efficiency. I also appreciate hearing from people with mobility issues for whom a tub could be dangerous (which could apply to us all). Showers are way more efficient for both actually getting clean and water use and can be safer for more people as long as the base isn't slick.

We're in the reno planning stage for our master bath now, which is smaller and our home is older. In order to add a tub, we would have to either get a cheap shower/tub combo or lose our linen closet (which has value of its own and is used daily). We can't afford costs of an expensive addition to expand its size so we're opting for a shower only with a base to prevent slippage, nice tiled walls, a bench, fancy faucet, and steam setting so it will be sauna-esque. We already believe we will use our schnazzy faucet settings far more than we ever used a tub, not to mention we will have far less to clean. We have a tub/shower combo in the 2nd bath in the hallway so we're covered for kids and our very occasional relaxation/pain relief baths.

Remember that resale is an important point to consider in updates, but unless you're flipping it, you will be living there indefinitely in the meantime. Sometimes because of the size of your space adding features could cramp it or limit other uses, which I believe can defeat the purpose--especially of its a feature you will rarely use yourself.

I'm in Yorba Linda CA. I will be remodeling my master bathroom and have that dilemma, I'm not a tub person, my husband is no longer with us, I'm 56, have older kids, a tub/shower combo in the hallway, two other showers only and I have both, my home is 3,000 sq.ft., I like to get in and out of the shower, I think for most people is the same, thinking, maybe in 10 years, to sell. I would absolutely love a large shower, but very afraid of the resale, I'm torn, my master shower is like 3'x3' square, would love to have a larger shower. Tub or no tub. HELP!

Heiduchi.. Looks like you have a lot of room that you could certainly have a bigger shower and if you are worried about resale in 10 years do a smaller free standing tub angled in the corner. You could also reduce that big vanity in size if needed to move the tub over and expand the shower to have a nice bench and more room.

Not all women like baths--I don't! I prefer showers because I always feel so much cleaner.

My thought exactly, puting a stand alone tub against the left wall area, I just have the issue of the shutter, won't be able to be opens, to open the window, I can change it to something else, I wonder if someone sells shutters on wheels, like the barn doors that slide to the side on wheels, a smaller version of that?? My window is new and opens out with a crank, so no changing here, I love pale greens or earth tones, any suggestions on color and materials?? most of my house, I have changed to travertine floors and bathrooms, granite counters and dark bathroom vanities, would love to do something spa like feel, but I also love the richness of dark wood and everything else light, it's so warm and not a hospital feell or sterile. Thank you

As long as there is a tub in another bathroom it works for resale. If it makes the owner happy that's the way to go

Here's our finished product. FYI, we do still have two bathtubs in the house.

That's a great shower.

does the guest bath need a tub?

I am a home designer and have designed floor plans for hundreds of clients in Texas. 99% of my clients want large two person shower. 60% of them do not want a tub in the master at all as long as there is another tub in a secondary bath. The other 40% do want a soaking tub along with their shower. If you do not have space for both and you DO have a tub in another bath room, then I suggest opting for the larger shower.

Of all my friends, I know of only one who enjoys baths at home. In the last 15 years, I've owned 3 different homes. Two had master baths with garden tubs and I've only taken 3 baths. Who has time for baths these days, really? Not me. I'd much rather be rid of the waste of space garden tub in lieu of a larger, more convenient shower and more storage. We have a standard bath/shower combo in our guest bathroom and not one person has ever used it to take a bath in. The closest we've come is bathing our dogs in it.

We're remodeling our master bedroom soon, and can't wait to get rid of the useless, waste of space garden tub! If we were looking for a house to purchase right now, we'd be looking for houses without a tub in the master ensuite.

After many years designing personalized, beautiful, functional, safe, and sometimes award-winning master bathrooms, I can assure you the decision about "tub vs. no tub" is absolutely personal.

Why in the world would you design your bathroom to suit the imagined needs of some stranger who may consider buying your home at some point in the future? As has been noted here and in many other discussions throughout the internet, "tub vs no tub" in the master bathroom is probably not going to be the #1 deal-breaker for the potential buyer.

What leaves me scratching my head, though, is the decision to "age in place" with a free-standing tub in your primary bathroom that most people over the age of 12 cannot get into or out of easily, let alone safely. Professional designers know that falling is the leading cause of deaths in the home, and that most falls occur in and around shower and tub areas. IMHO this is the more important topic about bathtubs -- how to design them into the room so that they are beautiful - and safe.