Bath or shower? We’ll help you decide

The timeless dilemma when designing a bathroom — which is better? Bath or shower? There’s no definitive answer to this question. The decision is guided both by the household’s preferences and by the available space. However, we’ll suggest what to look out for when choosing the right sanitaryware for your flat.

What uses more water? Bath or shower?

This is one of the first questions people ask when fitting out a bathroom: which is more economical: a shower or a bath? The choice of preferred sanitaryware can affect your water bills in the longer term, so it’s worth thinking this through carefully. Estimates suggest that a shower handset lets through about 5–10 l of water per minute, depending on the pressure set. In the case of a rain shower, the figure is higher, at around 8–12 l. So a 10-minute shower involves using between 50 and 120 l of water. By contrast, an average bath holds 120–150 l, with large models reaching even 400 litres. Installing a shower therefore seems the more economical choice, but it depends on how long you spend under it. Fans of relaxing baths may still end up with lower bills than lovers of long stints under the shower.

How to reduce water consumption?

If you’re still concerned about high running costs, here are a few practical tips to cut your water and heating bills:

• shorten your shower time;
• if you use a bath, don’t top up the water during your bath;
• turn the water off while soaping your body;
• don’t use full water pressure unless it’s necessary;
• on warm days, lower the water temperature;
• don’t mount the shower handset too high — this cools the stream, which in turn makes you increase the tap temperature.

Bath or shower? Which is cheaper?

Taking the one-off outlay into account, a bath is relatively more expensive than a complete shower enclosure with a tray. However, thanks to its smooth, flowing shapes without bends, joints or nooks, it’s easier to keep clean. For this reason it will also last longer than a shower, which tends to scale up more quickly and will need replacing sooner.

Bath or shower for older people — which is better?

When designing a bathroom for older people, keep in mind that for those with reduced mobility some solutions can be very troublesome. Because shower trays have lower thresholds, older people are advised to choose a shower rather than a bath. Enclosures mounted against a wall usually allow additional grab bars to be fitted at the entrance and even inside the enclosure. This makes them safer and more comfortable for both older people and disabled people. What’s more, with low-profile trays you can even add a seat to make personal care easier.

Bath or shower enclosure in a block of flats — what to choose?

The last issue raised is the amount of floor space available. There’s no doubt that choosing a shower enclosure can save you even a few square metres. However, modern bath designs aim to meet the expectations of lovers of long, aromatic soaks. A 160 cm-long model will work well in new-builds and will let household members enjoy having a private spot to unwind.

In summary, when choosing bathroom sanitaryware you need to consider the needs and preferences of the household. If older people are among them, it’s better to opt for a shower enclosure. This solution will also be appreciated by those who value ecology and saving money. Young parents will see the undeniable advantages of baths, especially when bathing their little ones. As will enthusiasts of aromatherapy and splashing about in the water. The undecided who have plenty of space can choose to buy both and enjoy all their benefits. Whatever you choose, we invite you to purchase top-quality products available in our Łazienka Rea shop.