19 Ideas for Putting a Tub in a Shower for a Spa-Like Bathroom (2024)

Room Design

Bathroom Design

Tessa Cooper

Tessa Cooper is a lifestyle writer and freelance photographer with more than 6 years of experience writing for publications like Apartment Therapy, 417 Magazine, and Feast. She lives in an 1886 Victorian home in Springfield, MO, that she restored with her husband.

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Published on 12/02/23

19 Ideas for Putting a Tub in a Shower for a Spa-Like Bathroom (2)

If you love the idea of having both a walk-in shower and a bathtub in your bathroom but you're working with a small space, putting the tub in the shower may be the solution. The technical name for this is a wet room, which is a bathing area that features a freestanding bathtub next to a stand-alone walk-in shower. Basically, you can think of it as sort of an open-concept bathroom.

We've pulled together 19 small to mid-sized wet rooms that prove you don't need a ton of extra space to fit both features.

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Add Two Shower Heads

You don't need a large bathroom to pull off a double shower situation. Even if your shower area is just the width of a bathtub, you might still have room to add two shower heads on opposite sides.
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Opt For an Arch

You can make your wet room look like a cozy little nook by adding an arch over the opening. The arch will also draw your eye upward and can create the illusion of more visual space.
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See Also
These Tub-Shower Combo Ideas Prove They Can Be Stylish and Functional 8 Bathtub and Shower Combo Ideas 30 Ways To Create A Wonderful Soaking Tub Shower Combo
Go With a Custom Built-In

If you're extra cramped for space, consider looking into a narrow built-in tub. You might just find that you can fit both a shower and a bathtub into a small corner if you're willing to sacrifice just a few inches of room on each.
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Make a Statement Wall

A freestanding bathtub inside a shower already commands your attention when you walk into a wet room. To really embrace this area as your focal point, you can make the wall behind the tub an accent wall. Choose a tile with a beautiful hue or geometric print (or even both) to make a beautiful design statement.
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Use a Rainfall Showerhead

A shower under a large rainfall showerhead will make you feel like you started or ended your day at the spa. Since this feature can go on the ceiling, you should be able to fit one in next to your traditional shower head and bathtub.
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Frame It With Two Curtains

A tub in a shower can be a beautiful design statement, so why not set the stage and lean into the drama with two shower curtain panels instead of one? We love how Logan Killen Interiors used curtain drawbacks with fringe to part the panels in this wet room. This works best with a rainfall showerhead that might not spray as much water everywhere.
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Choose a Clear Shower Door

You definitely won't want to hide a beautiful wet room setup. Show off your beautiful freestanding tub and thoughtfully chosen fixtures with a glass shower door.
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Build In Shower Niches

If you're going with a side-by-side shower and bathtub setup, you'll want to make sure to include a place for your shower gel and shampoo where you can access it from both spots. This may require adding in two niches or one strategically placed niche.
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Continue the Tile

Want to know one perk of a small bathroom? It's more attainable from a budget perspective to tile the entire room. You can use the same tile that lines your bathtub and shower area throughout your entire bathroom to make it look like one large wet room.
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Create Contrast With Tile

One way to make a bathtub and shower look cohesive together is to opt for a tile that is either darker or lighter than the wall color. The contrast will make the two separate entities look like one unit.
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Apply Two Tile Types to the Walls

It's obviously important to tile the entire area around your tub and shower to catch stray water droplets. Smaller tiles can cost a little extra to install per square foot, so one way to cut down the price is to combine it with a larger-sized tile. If you go with a larger-sized tile for your flooring, you can extend it up a few feet onto the walls and then opt for a smaller mosaic tile for the top half.
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Channel a Vintage Look

Wet rooms are a modern concept, but there are ways to make yours match a period home. A clawfoot tub is always a beautiful addition to a historic abode, and you can opt for a shorter one to save on room.
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Position Your Vanity Nearby

If your bathroom features a long and narrow footprint, you may still be able to fit a double vanity next to your bathtub and shower. Building a small half wall next to your shower will allow you to position your vanity right next to it.
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Build It Next to a Closet

In a new build or remodel, figuring out where to position a closet can be tricky. If you're left with a section of empty space next to your bathroom closet, you may consider utilizing it as a wet room.
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Carve Out a Skylight

You can invite natural light into your wet room without sacrificing privacy by installing a skylight. Just think about how relaxing it would be to watch the clouds go by or raindrops falling from the comfort of your bath.
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Install Ceiling Lights

While dim lighting may be nice for baths, you'll want to make sure you have adequate lighting to see during your showers. A few waterproof light fixtures should do the trick.
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Tile the Ceiling

It's pretty common to leave a ceiling bare in a wet room. However, tiling your ceiling may be more affordable than you'd think if your bathroom is relatively small. A tiled ceiling is a great option if you love taking steamy showers.
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Frost the Windows

A shower curtain between your tub and shower head may ruin the aesthetics of your wet room. If there is a window in your bathroom and you want privacy from the outside world without a shower curtain, consider frosting the windows.
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Add a Horizontal Ledge

One long horizontal ledge that runs from your shower area to your bath is the perfect place to place your soaps and shampoos. Store your bottles between the two fixtures so you can access them no matter which bathing option you choose for the day.