Whether it's Valentine's Day or any other day of the year, sharing a bath with your partner can be a romantic experience.
You can probably imagine the scene: Some scented candles emitting a soft and relaxing glow, soothing music and a bottle of fizz nicely chilled for the occasion. Perhaps it’s something you’ve always wanted to try, but your current tub simply isn’t large enough?
On the other hand, you may find the idea utterly ridiculous. Bath time is sacred—a chance for you to have some quiet time to yourself.
Whatever your opinion, in this special Valentine’s Day article, we’ll show you the best options when it comes to sharing your bath, plus some other alternatives which will let you and your partner enjoy bath time together.
Lacking inspiration when it comes to choosing that perfect Valentine's Day gift? Show them how much you care with a bathroom-based romantic gesture...
Sharing a bath: The practicalities
Let’s start by examining the facts: The standard UK bath size is 1700mm x 700mm, which, if you consider that the average UK female is 1620mm (5 feet 3 inches) tall and the average UK male is 1750mm (5 feet 9 inches) tall, doesn’t provide much room to share at all. Then there’s the dreaded tap end to contend with…
A single ended bath is great for one, but not designed for two
Why share a bath?
Before the widespread advent of the modern bathroom, many families would use a tin bath for their weekly wash. The father of the family would go first, enjoying the hottest and cleanest bath water, followed by mother and then a succession of children, from oldest to youngest, with the final water resembling something from a bog. For the common couple, there really was no scope for sharing.
In 1976, during the worst drought in the UK since records began, the British government actually started sending out leaflets asking people to “Save water, bath with a friend”. The idea was that, by sharing a bath with your partner, you could both keep clean without using too much water. The slogan soon found its way onto T-shirts and car bumper stickers; one of the more memorable government campaigns from that era. Indeed, sharing bath water (but bathing separately) has become a hot (or should that be lukewarm?) topic in recent times, with eco concerns high on peoples' agendas. Even property expert and TV personality Sarah Beeny admitted to sharing bath water in her exclusive interview with us.
Aside from saving water, there are many excellent reasons to share a bath:
- It saves on heating bills—by sharing, you both get to enjoy a hot and steamy bath without having to heat any additional water.
- It saves time—if time is tight in your household, a bath together means one person isn’t waiting for the other to finish.
- It brings you and your partner together—instead of mindlessly staring at your phones and sitting in silence, a shared bath gives you precious time to talk openly and honestly with each other, promoting a better understanding and strengthening the bond between the two of you.
- The chance to relax together—there aren’t many activities that allow you and your partner to simultaneously relax and unwind. This is one of them—putting you both in a good mood.
The best baths for sharing
When it comes to sharing a bath, bigger is most certainly better. The largest straight baths we sell measure in at 1800mm x 800mm. So, if you are still keen on sharing but don’t have the extra room to spare, your best option is a double ended bath.
With a large freestanding bath like this one from our Ellis collection, you can comfortably share the luxury of a spacious bath with your partner
With the taps, overflow, waste and plug hole all situated in the middle of the bath, double ended baths are a great option for sharing. Both ends are usually sloped to provide a comfortable experience for both users. No one ends up at the aforementioned “tap end”.
At 1750mm in length, the gorgeous Dulwich double ended roll top bath from Orchard Bathrooms provides plenty of room for two
Double ended baths come in various forms, including the more common straight bath, which fits neatly into a corner, a back to wall bath, which only sits against a single wall, or a fully freestanding bath.
This premium 1750mm length back to wall bath from Mode Bathrooms, means you can enjoy the look and feel of a freestanding bath without taking up too much space
However, if a bath isn’t quite your thing, there are other ways of sharing your “bathroom time” together.
Other ways of sharing
Bath and shower enclosure
If you have the room to spare, separate bath and shower installations really are the way forward in a sharing partnership, especially if you have different preferences when it comes to your daily routine.
This means both of you can use your bathroom simultaneously in the morning, evening or even when you’re getting ready to go out. Plus, to make things go even more swimmingly, why not add a double vanity unit with twin basins?
Hydro massage shower cabin
With a hydro massage shower cabin, you can take your showering experience to another level entirely, and what’s more, there’s plenty of room for two. A fully enclosed double-outlet shower with hydro-massage body jets and pop-up seat makes this the most luxurious of all options. Pop your favourite music on and chill out with some ambient mood lighting. An indulgent experience both you and your partner can enjoy together.
Enjoy a hot and steamy experience together in a hydro massage shower cabin from Mode Bathrooms
Shop double ended baths
Double ended baths aren’t just for Valentine’s Day. You can, of course, enjoy them whenever you like. So why not check out our full range of double ended baths today?
