Your shower looks to be about 4 feet wide now?? That should be a good size already. I would opt for the storage. There is never enough.

If the plan is to age in place, I'd rip out the tub, make the shower larger with a bench, grab bars, and a hand shower, and make it curbless so there's no tripping hazard. If you don't want to put the grab bars in now, then I would tell your contractor to add the blocking/framing behind the wall for grab bars and you can add them later.

As for the remaining space, you could either put in a linen closet, or you could put in a make up/vanity area at a lower height than your sink vanity and add a cushioned stool.

Bathroom basement · More Info

Here's a make up vanity idea, but you could put it next to the shower:

Spacious & Open Bathroom - Mercer island · More Info

Interesting. So no tub at all? I don’t use mine now but it’s so hard to get in and out of. I don’t know how the free standing tubs are as far as getting in. I do have terrible arthritis and feel like a tub would be good for me with epson salt. Will have to think about that.

make the shower bigger and don't forget the grab bars,

no permanent seat, bring in a portable IF/when you need one.

I am retired in my home of 30+ years and recently took an old whirlpool tub out of our master bath and made it into a large shower with grab bars. My thinking was that if someone has to get in the shower with one or the other of us to help at some point, the shower will need to be large enough to accommodate that. The guest bath on the other side of the house still has a tub, so if I want to soak, I’ll use that. I also understand the need for ease of cleaning. We looked into many types of wall systems that were single sheets with no grout or seams and they either looked cheap or were the opposite - way out of our budget. We ultimately decided on 12x24 tiles with minimal grout lines and a strong, acrylic shower base. It looks very nice and is super easy to clean.

I’d want a nice sized shower and a deep tub in my aging in place home (which I’m searching for now). Even with some arthritis, proper grab bars and good access, a nice tub will work for you for a while. My mom used a tub til her late 80s,mos I wouldn’t automatically rip out a tub if that’s something you like.

A freestanding tub is even harder to get out of. At least with a tub deck, you can add grab bars to help you. But, you don't need that much tub deck. Get rid of the wall between the two. Scoot the tub to the right a bit. I would use the tub deck to also be the bench inside the shower, and place the glass on the deck, closer to the tub, so that you gain space in that shower.

In my opinion, a reasonably larger shower is always nice. But only you know if you need additional storage and if that need outweighs the benefit of a larger shower. I personally haven't experienced a standalone tub, but what you have now definitely seems like a massive waste of space. What is the length of that wall and the current shower measurement?

DeWayne that is so interesting! Which is why I love Houzz. To get new ideas! Now I’ve never been into a clear wrap around shower (nobody needs to see that). Haha. But I like your thinking! I have a lot to figure out here. I will say I after researching today, I am not going to get a stand alone tub. It would look nice but that’s it.

Here are some tub shower combinations.

More

Master Bathroom · More Info

My tub is a nice cast iron soaker, original to this 1966 built house. It is in absolutely perfect condition and I use it all the time. No problems getting in and out of it, (I am 84)

You need a tub. Epsom salt baths are therapeutic. Magnesium will help you sleep and relax tense muscles.