Walk-In Showers vs. Bathtubs: What’s the Right Choice for Your Bathroom Remodel?

You start to notice the space once everything’s pulled out. The old tub’s gone, tiles chipped, drywall dust still clinging to the edges of the room. It’s open now, and that openness makes the question echo louder in your mind: Do you bring back what was there, or take the chance to try something different? In this guide, we will explore walk-in showers vs bathtubs so you can make the right decision for your home and lifestyle.

Walk-In Showers vs. Bathtubs: What’s the Right Choice for Your Bathroom Remodel?

Use Tells You More Than Style

Some people keep the tub out of habit. It holds heat, holds kids, holds water when the dog’s filthy and the weather’s bad. But it doesn’t always hold up to how you live now.

The rhythm changes. You stop soaking, and you move quicker in the morning, or slower at night, but not in a way that calls for climbing into a porcelain tub. The edge starts to feel like an obstacle. You step over it less and less, until the tub becomes a background feature.

Walk-in showers remove that barrier. You don’t lift your leg; you just step in. For many homeowners, the choice to install a walk-in shower becomes less about design and more about ease. No ledge, no curtain, no rail to grab. The tile meets your feet without asking for effort.

Showers offer a refreshing reset to your routine, especially when paired with modern features like handheld sprayers and built-in benches.

Tubs Still Offer Something You Can’t Replicate

That full-body heat, the weight of the water, the way the room quiets when you sink in and stay still. Showers don’t give you that, not even the expensive ones with the bench built in.

Losing the tub doesn’t feel like a design choice when you’re used to enjoying a soak and relaxation session. It feels like something’s missing. You don’t notice until you need it, and by then it’s too late to put it back.

Some homeowners try to keep both a hall bath with a tub and a walk-in for the primary. That split works, but only if there’s space. In smaller houses, or homes with one full bath, pulling the only tub is a weighted decision. You’re not just changing a feature, you’re closing off a use.

Removing the Tub Changes the Room

You’ll notice the difference almost immediately. Without the bulk of the tub, the room stretches, tile runs edge to edge, and the glass feels invisible. You get more floor without adding square footage.

That layout is ideal for smaller spaces, giving the illusion of openness and light.

That shift matters more when the house is older. The original footprint tends to feel narrow and boxed in. Removing the tub clears that. It doesn’t just look modern, it feels that way. In many cases, choosing between a walk-in shower vs a bathtub has just as much impact on function as it does on form.

Prep Work Becomes More Serious

A tub holds water by default; it contains everything inside its edges. You don’t think about slope or drain placement because there’s a built-in buffer.

With a walk-in, there’s no forgiveness. The pitch has to be exact, and the waterproofing behind the walls can’t have gaps. A few degrees off, and you’ll start to notice standing water near the glass, or worse, leaks under the floor.

You can’t shortcut that work. Once the tile goes down, fixing it means tearing it all back up.

Access Improves, Even If You Don’t Need It Yet

People plan a walk-in shower for aging, but what they get is less hassle. No slipping on the edge of the tub, no twisting to reach the faucet. The space just responds better when you’re sore, injured, or moving slowly.

Add a bench, set the sprayer where your arm naturally lands, maybe rough in support blocking so rails can be added later. These safety features don’t change the design, but they make it work harder behind the scenes.

If you or someone in your home has mobility issues, this kind of setup makes daily routines safer and more manageable.

Think About Buyers, But Only If You’re Selling Soon

Some people will still want a tub; there are parents with toddlers, and potential buyers who take long baths. But most care more about clean tile, strong water pressure, and a bathroom that doesn’t need repairs.

If this is your only full bath, and you’re listing soon, keeping the tub might help. But if the space mostly sits empty, and the layout’s been bothering you for years, building around resale isn’t worth it.

Especially if you only have one bathroom, removing the tub might shrink your buyer pool, but it might also make the space finally work for you.

The Room Usually Decides for You

Once everything’s out, the shape of the room starts to show you what fits. You might feel it open up and imagine a tile that keeps running, no interruption, just clear glass and space. Or you might feel like it needs depth, something rooted in the middle, a walk-in tub you want to use this time.

Whether it’s a bath or shower, whatever gets built next, let it fit how you move through the room now. Not how it used to be, not what someone else thought was right, but how you want it. And if you’re still torn between walk-in showers vs bathtubs, think about how each one fits your daily rhythm, your needs, and your personal preferences.

North Country Windows & Baths in Lincoln, NE, and the Surrounding Areas

At North Country Windows & Baths, our Windows are backed by a Lifetime Warranty, giving our customers peace of mind. Each window is custom-made to fit your home with state-of-the-art engineering by design, and energy efficiency enhanced by style. Our windows are made to last for years of maintenance-free beauty.

Whether you want a tub shower combo surrounded by subway tile or a low threshold shower with granite-like walls, you can customize your BathWraps space and even add accessories like soap dishes, caddies, seating, grab bars, and more. Contact us today.

More information about our Bathroom Remodels process: Click Here!