When it comes to luxury and comfort in the bathroom and your bath tub, there are plenty of choices—built-in tubs, drop-in tubs and freestanding tubs, just to name a few. They all have strengths and weaknesses, but if you’re looking for true luxury, a freestanding jetted bathtub can be a great way to go.

Why? Because they look great, and they offer a variety of health benefits that are different from those offered by soaking tubs. Here’s a breakdown of some of those benefits, along with a guide to what’s involved in buying and installing a freestanding jetted bathtub.

Freestanding Tub vs Standard Tubs

Definition-wise, freestanding tubs are exactly what they sound like. Unlike standard tubs, all four sides are exposed, and in theory they can be placed anywhere in your bathroom, although they’re often located in corners and or specially-designed alcoves.

One of the biggest benefits offered by freestanding tubs are the design possibilities. Most standard tubs offer a utilitarian look, but freestanding tubs look more like pieces of furniture, and they can even look like works of art.

Are Built-In Tubs Out of Style?

While built-in tubs can be designed to provide a unique look, they can also appear outdated, especially if they’re older and they’ve become drab or pedestrian due to age.

Freestanding tubs, meanwhile, have become popular in the  world of bathroom design for the versatility and options they offer when it comes to colors, materials, etc.

The Benefits of Freestanding Tubs

Jetted or not, freestanding tubs offer a variety of benefits on their own. Here are some of the most significant ones:

• Location flexibility. For the most part, built-in tubs have to be located along your bathroom walls, but freestanding tubs give you a lot more flexibility. They can even be located in the middle of your bathroom if you have enough space.
• Style and design. Design-wise, freestanding tubs definitely make a statement. They tell guests that you’ve taken the time and money to make your bathroom a special, intimate space, and a jetted freestanding tub can even give you a home spa experience.
• Show off your bathroom. Is your bathroom spacious? Does it have interesting corners or architectural features? If so, a freestanding tub is one of the best ways to highlight them and put the focus on the aesthetics.
• Create extra space. Freestanding tubs sometimes take up more space than built-in tubs, so it might seem counterintuitive that they can make your bathroom look spacious. But the open area beneath the tub can create the illusion of extra space and give your bathroom an expansive feel.

Fun with Freestanding Tubs: Pedestal Tubs and Clawfoot Tubs

Freestanding tubs offer a variety of possibilities when it comes to colors and materials, and you can use them to create a vintage look that adds to the illusion of extra space. Here are two of the most intriguing possibilities:

• Clawfoot tubs. These tubs represent the ultimate way to get a vintage look. They rest on four “feet,” and the basic design is considered a timeless classic that dates back to several historical periods. To add to that classic look, You can use color for contrast to give your bathroom an eye-catching appearance.
• Pedestal tub. Pedestal tubs are an outgrowth of the clawfoot design. They use a plinth or a pedestal to raise up the tub, and the solid base tends to blend in better in some bathroom designs while still being distinctive.

Enhance Your Bathroom With More Freestanding Tub Design Ideas

You can also go modern with your freestanding tub, and you can use other features of your bathroom to get the look you want:

• Mirrors. Can be used to create the feeling of more space
• Lighting. Highlight the best features of your bathroom.
• Tile designs. They can be eye catching in their own right, or they can highlight whatever bathroom features you choose.

Can a Freestanding Tub Be Jetted?

Yes! This can be done in any number of ways. You can get a freestanding tub with a number of tiny jets that gently blow heated air into the bathwater from the base of the tub, or you can use a hydromassage pump to create a more powerful water stream. It’s a great way to get a home spa experience in your bathroom.

What is the Difference Between a Jetted Tub and a Whirlpool Tub?

Jetted tubs come with a number of small holes at the base of the tub, and these holes blow heated air into the bathwater. Bathing in the steady, smooth stream of bubbles is like getting a soft tissue massage.

Whirlpool tubs feature a powerful hydromassage pump that feeds water into the jets of a jetted tub. The combination creates a turbo massage effect that’s the  equivalent of a deep tissue massage.

The thing they have in common is that they’re both very addictive. Once you experience the benefits of a jetted tub or a whirlpool tub, you won’t want to go back to your standard tub. Ever.

The Benefits of a Jetted Tub

There are two major benefits that come with a jetted tub:

• Comfort. When it comes to luxury in the bathroom, few experiences rival that of stepping into a jetted tub at the end of a long day. The stream of bubbles helps create a special kind of relaxation that can help you unwind and let go of stress and tension.
• Health benefits. Depending on the kind of jetted tub you choose, you can experience the water version of either a soft tissue or a deep tissue massage. If you’re active or athletic, that’s a special benefit, and it’s also great for both stress reduction and recovery.

Which is Better a Soaking Tub or a Jetted Tub?

It depends on your needs and preferences. Soaking tubs basically provide a passive experience, using added depth that allows a more complete soak that can reach more of your body.

Jetted tubs, meanwhile, use active bubbles for relaxation and health benefits. You get to choose the force of the bubbles and water supplied by the jets depending on the kind of massage experience you want.

Are Jetted Freestanding Bathtubs Worth It?

It depends on your needs, but here are some of the features that make jetted tubs worth the expense:

• Soothe muscles and joints with hydrotherapy to improve your heath
• Jetted tubs can come with self cleaning features to lower the maintenance requirements.
• Water pumps can help resist bacterial and mold, making them safer to use.

Shop for a Great Jetted Freestanding Bathtub from Hydro Massage

Now that you know some of the options, it’s time to take the next steps. You can call us at (303) 356-7427, and you can also visit us at hydromassageproducts.com, where you can do a live chat and check outcome of our products. We also have some great videos and blog posts there that will show you everything you need to know about freestanding jetted tubs and give you the essential information you need.