What Garden Tubs Are—Plus 11 Inspirational Examples

Wider and deeper than standard bathtubs, supersized garden tubs offer an immersive, spa-like bathing experience that is increasingly becoming a must-have in upscale homes and apartment bathrooms that are large enough to accommodate them.

What Are Garden Tubs?

In current interior design and real estate jargon, the term garden tub generally refers to the types of freestanding, deep soaking bathtubs that have grown in popularity in homes in recent years.

Contemporary garden tubs range from sleek minimalist oval forms to reproductions of 19th-century French roll-top bateau-style tubs that are said to have been named for their resemblance to the bow of a ship. You can also find garden tubs in round, rectangular, or asymmetrical shapes. Fabricated in a range of modern materials from porcelain-enameled steel to fiberglass, they vary in cost, appearance, and heat-retaining properties.

Why Are They Called Garden Tubs?

Legend has it that modern garden tubs are a contemporary spin on the bathtubs of the 18th-century elite in France and England. In the days when indoor plumbing and a dedicated room in the house for bathing was not yet de rigueur, and everyday folks frequented public bath houses, aristocrats are said to have placed their mobile bathtubs in or with a view toward the garden, hence the name. These days, however, garden tub seems to be an American catchphrase. France’s interior design publication Marie Claire Maison refers to these fashionable freestanding tubs as "baignoire îlot" (literally, bathtub island) and the UK’s Living Etc. magazine uses the phrase garden bathtubs to reference a mini trend of placing outdoor bathtubs in the actual backyard. 

No matter what you call them, garden tubs are perfectly suited to our self-care-obsessed, stay-at-home times. But like any high-end home design feature, garden tubs present both practical advantages and drawbacks to consider before you take the plunge. 

Pros:

• Larger water capacity allows for full body immersion for a relaxing, spa-like soak
• Because they are separate from the shower, they require less cleaning 
• Creates a sculptural focal point for the bathroom that screams luxury and appeals to buyers

Cons:

• More expensive than standard tubs, making them inaccessible for many
• They take up and require a lot of bathroom floor space
• May require extra plumbing work, depending on placement
• Too deep to bathe young children comfortably
• Not suited for many older people or those with mobility issues
• Require copious amounts of water, which has financial and environmental costs

Still considering a garden tub? Check out these inspiring images of garden tubs in modern homes to get you dreaming about the possibilities.