Freestanding vs Inset Bath Designs: What’s Best For You?
Freestanding vs inset bath designs: what’s best for your new home?
Whether you’re soaking in fragrant bath salts and flower petals or a fizzing bath bomb, there’s nothing better than a nice, warm bath at the end of the day. Add a glass of champagne and a good book to the equation and your bathroom will feel like a high-class spa.
With this in mind, the bath design is a crucial consideration when you’re designing a new home. There are thousands of baths available on the market, but in the end, it all comes down to two fundamental bath designs: freestanding baths and inset bath tubs.
Inset baths are a standard inclusion in all of our new home builds, whereas freestanding baths are available in our exclusive Diamond Collection — so what’s the difference between the two? Which is better, and what’s best for your new bathroom design?
The benefits of a freestanding bath design
Exudes luxury
Without a doubt, a freestanding bath is the epitome of luxury. Rather than blending into the wall, a freestanding bath stands out and adds visual impact to the room — plus, there seems to be an unspoken agreement that freestanding baths are the height of sophistication!
Sophisticated yet simple
Beyond the aesthetic value of a freestanding bath, the installation process is wonderfully quick and simple. Freestanding bath designs don’t require support, tiling, grouting or a framework — we can simply place the bath and connect the tapware to a water source.
Easy to clean
Freestanding baths are also easy to clean and maintain long after the installation. Because the bath isn’t connected to the wall like a standard inset bath, you won’t have to spend time scrubbing grime out of tiles and grout. All you need to do is wipe it down now and then — you’ll find your bath is always sparkling clean!
Bathroom ideas with freestanding baths (Montgomery Homes’ own display bathrooms!)
The benefits of an inset bathtub
Safe & space saving
Practical and traditional, inset baths are installed against one or more walls so that they don’t take up too much space in the room.
The ledge around the bath makes it easier for children and older people to get in and out of the bath — it provides a handrail to assist with climbing out. Plus, the ledge provides a space to store shampoo, conditioner, soap and even candles!
Unique design opportunities
Inset baths can also add to the room's overall aesthetic, especially if you continue a feature tile up the side of the bath. For example, in our Whitehaven 238 display home, we installed an inset bath and added interest to the space by tiling the side of the bath, matching the tiled feature wall behind the tub.
Affordability
Inset bath designs are more affordable than freestanding baths. This makes them a practical choice for homeowners working within a budget but still want a stylish and functional bath option.
Stability
Once installed, inset baths offer stability and support; they are firmly fixed against the wall. This can be reassuring for households with children or older family members because it reduces the risk of the bath moving.
Inset bath ideas to inspire the design process
So, which bath design is right for you?
As you can see, both freestanding and inset bath designs have a huge range of benefits! In the end, it comes down to personal preference — a freestanding bath offers luxury and visual interests, while an inset bath offers safety and creative design options, like tiling.
We offer inset baths as a standard and fabulous freestanding tubs in our Diamond Collection. Download our brochures and discover the possibilities for your new bathroom or contact us for more information about inclusions, upgrades, and the home design process.
Alternatively, visit our Inspiration Gallery for other luxe bath ideas and designs, including tiling, colour schemes, patterns, and more.
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