Freestanding baths are eye-catchers and focal points. But how do you find the perfect model for your home? And where's the best place to put it? No need to worry – here are the answers.
“Do something good for your body so that your soul may live there with pleasure,” Saint Teresa of Ávila once wrote. And little brings more relaxation into the home than a warm bath. But before the relaxation comes the decision. Take heed!
The right material: wood, glass or titanium steel?
Baths are available in any shape, and now also in any colour – even clear. But let’s be honest: who really wants to clean this huge area of glass? And that brings us neatly to the question of the material and what the freestanding bath should be made of.
Enamelled steel began its triumphal march early in the last century, replacing the versions in cast iron and galvanized steel sheet that had until then been just about the only options. Today, freestanding baths are even available in natural stone and wood. However, when it comes to the relationship between robustness and weight, materials such as sanitary acrylic and blends such as Quaryl and cast stone have also proved themselves. By contrast, the glazed titanium steel by Bette is a proven classic. The BetteArt Silhouette freestanding bath with its thin edge walls demonstrates the design flexibility of glazed titanium steel.
Just for me or for two: how big should my freestanding bath be?
A freestanding bath needs space, but that’s something we’ll come back to later. The same also applies to the person inside it. The bath’s dimensions are first determined by two factors: the number of users and their height/build. As a general rule, it’s always a good idea to try before you buy, so don’t hesitate to jump into a showroom display model to make sure it is the bath for you.
“My bath is mine alone!” If you don’t have to share your freestanding bath and would like to completely immerse yourself in the depth of a warm bath, then the BetteLux Shape bath could well be the perfect choice for you.
Two of you in your home sweet home, but don’t want to share a bath that makes you feel like sardines in a tin. Then the generous proportions of the BetteHome freestanding bath would be ideal.
Fitting a square peg in a round hole: freestanding baths and where to put them
A free-standing bath needs space. That doesn’t mean you have to start thinking about moving into a mansion, but by the same token you should have a minimum floor area of about 15 square metres to play with.
Allow a space of about half a metre between the walls and other bathroom elements to be on the safe side technically and design-wise. Experts advise against positioning the freestanding bath right in the middle of the room if there are no adjoining elements such as a wall, room divider or similar. Ideally, the freestanding bath should be close to at least one wall. The reason for this lies in our mind: we don’t like feeling exposed and vulnerable. An adjoining wall creates a feeling of security, which in turn increases our well-being.
Points to consider with freestanding baths
It is worth contacting a professional before choosing your bath so that you are aware of any installation restrictions you need to consider. Freestanding baths are often very heavy in themselves. And who wants their bath suddenly to come crashing through the ceiling of their lovely old apartment?
An important consideration with a freestanding bathtub is how the bath will be filled. If the bath is not near a wall you will need to either install freestanding tapware or choose a bath with an integrated bath filler.
If, on the other hand, the bathroom is a little cosier is size, then an entirely freestanding bath might not be quite the right choice. This is probably a good time to have a look at the specially designed BetteStarlet D Silhouette baths with back to wall and corner options that provide a freestanding look and open up a wide range of architectural options.
