Shower Power

A good soak will never go out of style, but showers are making a strong case for standing room only

By Dawn Klingensmith
CTW Features

Image courtesy Hansgrohe

It wasn't long ago that a whirlpool tub was considered a must-have for the master bathroom. Now, people want homes that are more in sync with their lifestyle, and as they acknowledge that those big, bubbling tubs are mostly just for show, they're ripping them out to make better use of the space.

Even though bathtubs are still considered important for resale, their popularity over the past couple of years has been swirling down the drain.

By and large, Americans take quick showers. "Everything's fast-paced. We're always on the go," says Sarah Ware, principal of the real estate brokerage firm Carter Ware Group, based in Chicago. "It takes time just to fill those big tubs. Most people don't ever use them, and when they do, they're a pain to clean because of the jets."

Economic considerations might be steering people away from pricey whirlpool baths. During the boom, "Buyers were able to come in with this huge laundry list of items, but now they're weighing more carefully how things will fit in their budget," Ware says.

In today's market, new housing is smaller, and particularly in condominiums, "people sometimes prefer to use space for storage or a double sink instead of a tub," Ware adds.

Finances permitting, homebuyers are still investing in indulgences but are opting for amenities they will actually use, such as roomier showers with rain heads and body sprays. Steam showers are falling out of favor because of the amount of energy they use, says real estate broker Diane Saatchi of The Corcoran Group, located in New York. Whirlpool bathtubs also use a lot of energy and water, and they don't necessarily mesh with the prevailing idea of a "spa-like" bathroom, which is all about clean lines, airiness and simplicity.

"All the expensive, luxurious things people had to have in the past are sort of not politically correct anymore given the state of the economy," Saatchi says.

It's not as though bathtubs - high-end or otherwise - have gone the way of the chamber pot. "There are bathtub people and shower people," Saatchi says. And when bathtub people go all out, "It's not your usual 5-foot tub against three walls. Freestanding pedestal tubs in the middle of the room seem to be in vogue these days," she says. Tubs with heated backrests also are getting avowed bathtub people in a lather.

"Luxury purchases do continue but are based in the solid belief of value for money spent," says interior designer Diana Schrage, Kohler Design Center, Kohler, Wis. The company's bathtub sales are still strong, she says.

If a family decides they can and will make do without a tub altogether, "I say to go ahead and do their dream shower but make sure it's sized so that a tub can be added later," Saatchi says. "People should live how they want to live and be comfortable."

However, if marketability and resale value are of concern, there should be at least one bathtub in the house, though it need not be in the master bathroom. And a simple soaking tub will suffice. "More and more, I hear resale people say when they see a Jacuzzi, 'Who actually uses these things?'" Saatchi says.

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