If you’ve started planning a bathroom remodel, you’ve probably landed on the same question almost every homeowner in New Hampshire and Vermont eventually asks us: keep the tub, or go all-in on a walk-in shower? It’s one of the biggest decisions in any bath renovation, and the right answer really does depend on how you live in your home — not just what looks good in a magazine.
Here’s an honest look at the pros and cons of each, so you can walk into your design consultation with a clear sense of what matters most to you.
The Case for a Full Bathtub
Pros:
- Resale value. If your home has only one full bathroom, most real estate agents in our region will tell you to keep at least one tub in the house. Many buyers, especially families with young children, actively look for it.
- Soaking and relaxing. After a day of shoveling snow or hiking the Whites, there’s nothing quite like sinking into a hot bath. A deep soaker tub is a small luxury that pays off all winter long.
- Bathing kids and pets. A tub is simply easier for washing little ones or the family dog after a muddy walk.
Cons:
- Tubs take up more floor space and can make a small bathroom feel cramped.
- Stepping over a tub wall becomes more difficult with age or mobility issues.
- They use more water per use than a modern low-flow shower.
The Case for a Standup Shower
Pros:
- Accessibility and aging in place. A curbless, walk-in shower with a bench and grab bars is one of the most popular requests we get from homeowners planning to stay in their home long-term. No step means less risk of a fall.
- Everyday convenience. Most of us shower far more often than we bathe. A spacious, beautifully tiled shower with a rain head and handheld wand feels like a spa upgrade you’ll use daily.
- Design flexibility. Frameless glass, natural stone tile, and built-in niches let a shower become the visual centerpiece of the room.
- Easier cleaning. No tub to scrub, and modern large-format tile means fewer grout lines to maintain.
Cons:
- If it’s your only bathroom, removing the tub entirely can be a turnoff for some future buyers.
- A well-built curbless or oversized shower is often a bigger investment than a standard tub install.
What Matters Most: How You Actually Live
We talk to a lot of homeowners across the Upper Valley and the Lakes Region, and the decision usually comes down to a few honest questions:
- Is this your only full bathroom, or do you have a tub elsewhere in the house?
- Are you planning to stay in this home for the next 10, 20, or 30 years?
- Do you have young kids, or are the kids grown and gone?
- How much space are you working with?
A lot of our clients find a happy middle ground: keep one tub in a secondary bathroom for resale and family flexibility, and turn the primary or ensuite bath into a stunning, no-step walk-in shower built for comfort and long-term livability.
Let’s Design the Right Bathroom for Your Home
There’s no universally “right” answer here — only the right answer for your household, your home, and your plans for the future. Our design team can walk you through tub, shower, and combination options in person, with real fixtures and finishes you can see and touch before you decide.
Stop by the showroom or reach out to schedule a design consultation. We’d love to help you plan a bathroom you’ll love for years to come.
