The Bathtub Was Taking Up the Best Part of the Bathroom
The brightest part of this bathroom belonged to a bathtub that rarely got used. Two large windows filled the corner with natural light, but most of that space was occupied by a raised tub deck instead of the feature the homeowners used every day.
Shared by Reddit user u/Bancer705, this primary bathroom remodel removes the oversized corner tub and turns its footprint into a spacious walk-in shower. Walnut cabinetry, heated floors, textured porcelain tile, custom storage, and frosted windows complete a redesign that makes better use of the room without changing its overall footprint.
Large Corner Tub Dominated the Entire Bathroom
The original bathroom centered around a large drop-in soaking tub wrapped in beige tile with a decorative border. Despite occupying one of the brightest parts of the room beneath two windows, the tub pushed the shower into a narrow enclosure while leaving large areas of tile dedicated to a feature the homeowners rarely used.
Dark espresso cabinetry, laminate countertops with integrated sinks, oil-rubbed bronze fixtures, and diagonal floor tile reflected common builder finishes from the period. The bathroom remained functional, but much of its footprint served the bathtub instead of everyday use.
Shower Stayed Small While the Closet Received More Space
The original shower occupied only a narrow corner beside the walk-in closet entrance. A framed sliding glass enclosure limited the opening, while the interior relied on white wall panels surrounded by beige tile. The shower served its purpose but felt disconnected from the generous size of the overall bathroom.
Positioning the closet directly beside the shower also highlighted how unevenly the room had been planned. Storage occupied substantial square footage while the shower remained one of the smallest elements in the entire suite.
Traffic Flow Wrapped Around Fixtures Instead of Open Space
Walking through the bathroom required moving around the tub platform, shower enclosure, and walls that divided each function into separate zones. Although the room appeared spacious, much of that square footage disappeared into permanent structures rather than usable floor area.
Separate entrances to the toilet room and closet created a practical layout, but the oversized tub surround interrupted movement between every destination.
Windows Supplied Light but Limited Privacy
Two large windows flooded the tub area with daylight, making this corner one of the brightest parts of the bathroom. Dark wood blinds remained closed much of the time, reducing the benefit of the natural light because neighboring homes sat close enough to overlook the space.
Rather than eliminating the windows during the remodel, the project found another solution that preserved brightness without sacrificing privacy.
Bathtub Removal Opened the Entire Center of the Room
Demolition exposed how much of the bathroom revolved around the tub platform. Once the tile surround disappeared, the available floor area became much easier to visualize, while framing changes prepared the room for a completely different arrangement.
Removing the tub also allowed plumbing, electrical work, and waterproofing to shift toward a larger shower footprint instead of maintaining two separate bathing areas.
Former Tub Area Became a Full Walk-In Shower
The completed layout transforms the former bathtub location into a spacious walk-in shower enclosed with a large glass panel and pivot door. Without the raised tub deck, the room feels wider and more connected from one end to the other.
Open shelving between the shower and closet creates storage for towels within easy reach, while the continuous flooring strengthens the visual connection across the entire bathroom.
Privacy Glass Keeps Natural Light Inside the Shower
Instead of reinstalling blinds or covering the windows completely, the remodel introduces frosted glass across the center portion of the shower enclosure. The treatment blocks direct views while allowing daylight to travel through the bathroom.
The homeowners also replaced the original window glass with frosted units facing neighboring homes, creating privacy without sacrificing the bright atmosphere they wanted. According to the homeowner, the windows became one of their favorite parts of the remodel.
Wood-Look Tile Covers Every Shower Surface
Large-format porcelain tile with a vertical ribbed wood appearance wraps the shower walls, creating a warm finish that resembles millwork rather than traditional ceramic tile. Matching material continues across the bench, niches, and window surrounds, producing a continuous architectural surface.
A large rainfall shower head, secondary handheld fixture, integrated bench, recessed storage niches, and slim linear drain replace the basic shower enclosure with a layout designed around everyday use.
Built-In Bench and Niches Replace the Old Shower Stall
The enlarged shower combines several practical features within one continuous space. A full-length bench sits beneath the large frosted window, providing seating, storage for toiletries, or a place to keep towels within reach. Two recessed niches with integrated lighting eliminate the need for hanging baskets while keeping bottles flush with the wall surface.
Vertical ribbed porcelain tile wraps every wall, bench, and window return, creating a continuous wood-look finish throughout the enclosure. A ceiling-mounted rainfall shower head pairs with a handheld fixture and digital controls, while the oversized shower footprint feels closer to a spa than the narrow enclosure that originally occupied the corner.
Double Vanity Uses Texture Instead of Color Contrast
The vanity introduces three distinct finishes that work together without competing. Walnut cabinetry supplies warmth, white quartz countertops brighten the work surface, and a charcoal textured porcelain accent wall framed behind each mirror creates depth through pattern rather than bold color.
Tall center storage separates the two sink stations while adding cabinet space without making the vanity appear heavier. Brushed brass faucets, cabinet pulls, and light fixtures repeat across the entire wall, tying together the wood grain, dark backdrop, and white countertops into one balanced composition.
Small Toilet Room Continues the Same Material Palette
Instead of treating the toilet room as a separate project, the remodel carries the same finishes into the smaller space. A dark textured accent wall echoes the vanity backdrop, while floating walnut shelves introduce storage for decorative accessories and everyday essentials without occupying valuable floor space.
Simple styling keeps the narrow room uncluttered. Ceramic planters, dried stems, trailing greenery, and small decorative objects soften the darker wall, while the floating shelves leave the floor open and make the compact room feel taller than its footprint suggests.
Before-and-After Shows How the Entire Layout Changed
Placing the original bathroom beside the completed remodel makes the biggest change immediately clear. The oversized corner bathtub disappeared, allowing the shower to expand into the brightest part of the room while opening the circulation space between the vanity, shower, and closet.
The renovation also replaces builder-grade finishes with layered materials that add warmth and texture throughout the room. Wood-look porcelain tile, walnut cabinetry, quartz countertops, brass fixtures, and integrated storage create a bathroom designed around everyday use rather than features that remained unused for years.
Image credit to Reddit user @Bancer705.
The post The Bathtub Was Taking Up the Best Part of the Bathroom appeared first on Homedit.
Comments
Post a Comment