7 trending bathtub styles for 2024

In this day and age, you need a stylish bathtub where you can sit back, relax and unwind. The pressures and stresses of modern life take their toll on the mind and body and a soothing deep soak does a great deal to relieve them. A trendy, eye-catching bathtub that matches your bathroom design will only add to this feeling.

If you're looking to add comfort and relaxation to your bathroom, then a Japanese-style bathtub should be your first choice. These soaking bathtubs are deep and small in width. They often come with a bench seat to allow you to bathe in comfort.

In Japan, there is an emphasis on cleansing the body and soul, so bathtubs of this nature provide a spa-like retreat to help aid that cleansing. With a Japanese bathtub, the water will rise up your neck to allow for full-body submersion during the bath.

With this tub, you'll be sitting up rather than lying down, which can be a change for many people. But they're designed with comfort in mind so that you can relax during your bath.

Japanese-style bathtubs are also ideal for small bathrooms because of their small footprint, allowing you to add other elements while still having a central statement piece.

In Ancient Rome, public baths were a place to socialise as well as relax. The bathhouses had tubs at various temperatures for patrons to enjoy. And wealthy Romans had their own private baths to enjoy in the comfort of their homes.

Modern-day Roman-style baths are inspired by these ancient baths and offer a spacious area for you to soak. These tubs are deeper and wider than a standard bathtub and allow the user to submerge in water up to their chin.

Roman-style bathtubs often have thicker walls because of the high water capacity. These tubs can be paired with Roman tub fillers, which have long or arched spouts that easily clear the tub's deck.

A bathroom with lots of floor space is necessary because Roman tubs have such a large footprint and are most commonly freestanding bathtubs.

Related article: Freestanding baths - a buyer’s guide for 2022

French-style bathtubs—also called French bateau tubs—originate in 18th century France. Designed with function in mind, original French-style bathtubs were made of cast iron.

"Bateau" is the French word for boat, and the tub was inspired by that shape. French-style bathtubs feature bowed edges, and the sides are high, allowing for a deep soak. The high walls were meant to keep the water hotter for longer.

Original designs featured walls that continued to the floor, also serving as the foundation. Later designs also featured legs similar to a modern clawfoot tub. The original French-style tubs also sat on a slab of marble, which can be a difficult addition for most modern homes.

Garden-style bathtubs are freestanding tubs that allow for deep soaking. These tubs are wider and deeper than a standard tub and thus require a significant amount of bathroom space to accommodate.

Contemporary garden-style tubs have a sleek design and are most often in an oval shape. But you can also find garden-style tubs that are rectangular, round, and asymmetrical, which are more in line with the modern bathtub and interior design trends.

These tubs provide a full-body immersion for the bather, giving your bathroom a relaxing spa-like feature. The design is also very sculptural, which adds a touch of luxury to a bathroom. These tubs will need a large bathroom with ample floor space.

Related article: Tips for your luxury bathroom renovation

Bring in a bit of the country into your bathroom with farmhouse-style bathtubs. This style is all about incorporating a rustic feel into your design.

Farmhouse tubs are freestanding and have four feet holding them up, allowing for an empty space beneath the tub. This empty tub creates a light and airy feeling to the room's atmosphere. These bathtubs also have high walls that allow for deep soaking.

To add to the rustic feel, farmhouse-style bathtubs are often made with a copper or steel surround. Another common design trait, especially refurbished ones, is a coloured exterior.

Inspired by the lounge furniture, hammock-style bathtubs feature two low sides and two high sides that you can rest on. These tubs are designed for a bath where you can lounge, so if you're looking for a new bathtub that allows you to lay flat, then the hammock style might be for you.

Hammock-style bathtubs can be either freestanding or attached at the front and back, similar to a traditional hammock. These are sleek and modern, providing a sculptural piece in the centre of the bathroom.

To incorporate a hammock-style bathtub, you'll need a large open space in your bathroom with a freestanding or floor-mounted tap to fill it.

Towards the end of the Victorian Era, bathtubs became a centrepiece of the then-modern home. Victorian bathrooms focused on luxury, and that can be seen in the bathtubs they added to their homes.

Original Victorian bathtubs were freestanding and most often made of porcelain and enamel, the favourite bathtub materials in the nineteenth century. Although, these tubs were also once made with iron, copper, marble, earthenware, and zinc.

Victorian-style bathtubs rest on decorative feet and have a design like stripes or a floral motif on the exterior of the tub. This style is best if you want to give an antique touch to a bathroom makeover.

Related article: What are the latest trends for bathrooms in 2022?

As you can see, there are some amazing styles of bathtubs to consider for your next bathroom renovation. Having a stylish, deep soaking tub will feel like a private oasis in the middle of your home. Staying on-trend will also mean that it will look the part while playing the part too.