1. Key Takeaways
2. Clawfoot Tub vs. Modern Shower
3. Historic Home Considerations
4. The Option That Best Suits Your Bathroom Remodel
Clawfoot tubs offer classic elegance and a relaxing soak, while shower stalls offer convenience and space efficiency. It can be a matter of factors like the size, upkeep, and water consumption of your bathroom. Keeping that in mind, with this TurnKey Renovators guide, you can create a functional and stylish bathroom for your lifestyle.
Whether you’re leaning toward timeless charm or modern simplicity, it helps to know how each option fits your space and daily routine. Our team can guide you through the pros and cons so your choice feels right for your home.
Let’s talk about what would work best for your bathroom—give us a call and we’ll help make the decision easier.
When deciding between a modern shower and a clawfoot tub, certain factors rely on your taste, lifestyle requirements, and bathroom design. Both have pros and cons, so look at their style, use, and impact on space.
Clawfoot baths are celebrated for their elaborate foot and freestanding format, wherein they create a center of attraction for vintage or classic-themed bathrooms.
Modern showers are all about clean minimalism. Frameless glass shower enclosures offer an open, airy look that suits modern and minimalist tastes.
A clawfoot tub takes up a lot of floor space because it does not lean on anything and is therefore best suited for large bathrooms. Showers for the contemporary world—corner shower units or doorless showers—are suitable for utilizing smaller configurations to the fullest. A clawfoot tub dominates a room, but a glass-enclosed shower appears spacious. Storage options, like wall shelves, can provide functionality to both.
Clawfoot bathtubs are an indulgent oasis, ideal for a soothing soak. With their spacious, deep design, there’s space for that longer bath that some of us find so therapeutic. Contemporary showers are economical and can be fitted with steam or rain shower options for a revitalizing experience. For kids and people with mobility issues, non-slip tiled and grab bar-adorned showers are much safer and easier to access.
That doesn’t include the possibility of reinforced flooring and exposed pipes to install a clawfoot bathtub, making both harder and more expensive. Newer showers, particularly prefab shower stalls, are a breeze to install, which is why so many find them so desirable.
Clawfoot tubs give vintage homes some character, whereas modern showers attract today’s buyers. Both boost resale value but appeal to different tastes.
As if renovating bathrooms in historic homes wasn’t complicated enough, there is the age-old dilemma of the clawfoot tub versus the modern shower. Preserving solid construction, honoring original design details, and modernizing systems takes some careful planning.
Clawfoot bathtubs, which are many times original to older homes, are extremely heavy because they’re cast-iron. Floors can be strengthened in anticipation of supporting their weight, which will increase renovation expenses.
Today’s shower systems are lighter and generally more straightforward to install, placing less strain on aging floors. Aging or uneven floors in a historic home can make both choices a challenge. To combat these problems, problems often include leveling the subfloor or adding additional supports for firmness during use.
Clawfoot tubs with exposed plumbing can be a lot of fun in a vintage-style home. Retrofitting ancient plumbing for modern showers can be a real pain. Most old houses have old pipes and may not support the increased pressure or flow of modern fixtures.
Clawfoot tubs, so grounded in history, keep the magic of historic homes alive, especially here in a city like New Orleans! Modern showers, of course, can be outfitted with classic subway tiles or brass hardware to balance out a historic home.
The choice of fixtures and finishes that are both period-specific ensures updating doesn’t take an overhand on the personality of the home but rather obtains the right balance between functionality and preservation. You may choose to keep the original tub but fit in an independent shower unit.
Traditional tile, such as hexagonal mosaics, is elegant with claw-foot tubs. Contemporary showers are taking advantage of the convenience of large-format tile use; however, slip-resistant tiles are a necessity.
Ambient lighting brings out the clawfoot tubs’ beauty, while task lighting is a must in showers. Natural light can tie the space together.
Do you opt for a clawfoot tub or a contemporary shower in your NOLA bathroom? Each has its merits, and it’s a question of finding balance in how each works with your lifestyle, style, and ambiance of your New Orleans home.
Choosing between the two often comes down to how you use your space—whether you value long, relaxing soaks or quick, efficient routines. With the right design, either option can elevate both function and style in your bathroom.
If you’re not yet convinced or would like to view some custom options, speak with our professionals at TurnKey Renovators. Reach out to us today—we’re here to help create a bathroom that looks incredible and truly works for your way of life.
Turnkey Renovators 
