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Walk In Shower vs Bathtub in Vernon Hills, IL: Which One Actually Makes Sense for Your Home
- May 16
- 6 min read
If you are planning a bathroom remodel in Vernon Hills, there is one decision that tends to create more debate than almost anything else.
Should you keep the bathtub or switch to a walk in shower?
At first, most homeowners think the answer should be obvious. Then they start talking through how they actually use the bathroom, what matters long term, and what buyers might want someday, and suddenly the decision becomes a lot less simple.
Some people have not used their tub in years. Others cannot imagine not having one in the house. Some want a clean modern shower with less maintenance. Others worry removing the tub might hurt resale value later.
The truth is, there is no universal right answer.
The best choice depends on your home, your lifestyle, your long term plans, and how you want the bathroom to function every single day.
This guide breaks down the real world pros and cons of walk in showers versus bathtubs so you can make a smart decision without second guessing yourself halfway through the remodel.
If you want to see examples of finished remodeling projects and bathroom inspiration, start here
And if you are thinking about remodeling your bathroom, you can reach out here
The first thing homeowners should ask themselves
Before thinking about resale value or trends, ask yourself one simple question.
How do you actually use the bathroom right now
Not five years ago. Not what social media says looks good. Right now.
Do you take baths regularly
Do you mostly shower
Do you have young children
Are you planning to stay in the home long term
Do you want easier accessibility in the future
Those answers matter more than trends.
A bathroom should fit your life first.
Why walk in showers have become so popular
There is a reason so many homeowners in Vernon Hills are leaning toward walk in showers during remodels.
They feel cleaner
More open
More modern
And usually easier to maintain
A well designed walk in shower can completely change how a bathroom feels.
Especially in older homes where the original bathroom layout feels tight, replacing a bulky tub with a larger shower often makes the room feel more spacious immediately.
The comfort and convenience factor
Most homeowners use their shower every day.
That sounds obvious, but it matters when making remodeling decisions.
A walk in shower often feels more practical because it improves the thing you use most.
Larger shower space
Better lighting opportunities
Easy access
Built in benches or niches
Cleaner layout
For many people, that daily comfort matters more than having a tub they rarely touch.
Accessibility and aging in place
This is one of the biggest reasons homeowners choose walk in showers.
Stepping over a tub wall becomes less appealing as time goes on.
A walk in shower with minimal threshold entry feels easier and safer long term.
Many homeowners are not necessarily thinking about aging right now, but they are thinking about comfort, convenience, and avoiding future limitations.
That is why curbless or low threshold showers continue to grow in popularity.
Why some homeowners still strongly prefer bathtubs
Even with all the popularity around walk in showers, tubs are not disappearing anytime soon.
There are still plenty of reasons homeowners want them.
Relaxation
Bathing young children
Resale concerns
Traditional bathroom feel
Some people genuinely enjoy baths and use them often. For them, removing the tub would make no sense.
Others simply like knowing there is at least one bathtub in the house.
The resale value question everyone asks
This is where things get interesting.
A lot of homeowners worry that removing a tub will hurt resale value.
Sometimes it can.
Sometimes it does not matter at all.
The real answer depends on the house and how many bathrooms you have.
If your home only has one bathtub total, removing it completely can limit appeal for some buyers, especially families with small children.
But if the house already has another tub elsewhere, many buyers are perfectly happy with a large walk in shower in the primary bathroom.
In fact, some buyers strongly prefer it.
What buyers in Vernon Hills are actually reacting to
Buyers usually respond to overall feel more than specific features.
Does the bathroom feel updated
Does it feel clean and functional
Does the layout make sense
Does the shower feel spacious
Does the space feel comfortable
Those impressions matter more than whether the bathroom technically has a tub.
A poorly designed outdated bathroom with a tub does not automatically beat a beautiful walk in shower layout.
Maintenance differences
This is something homeowners often underestimate until after the remodel is done.
Walk in showers are usually easier to maintain.
Especially when designed well.
Fewer tight corners
Less awkward scrubbing
Cleaner glass layouts
Simpler overall surfaces
Large tubs can become something people clean more than they actually use.
That reality changes how many homeowners think about the decision.
Space considerations
Bathroom size plays a huge role in this conversation.
In smaller bathrooms, replacing a tub with a walk in shower can make the space feel dramatically larger.
The room often feels more open immediately.
In larger bathrooms, homeowners sometimes have the luxury of doing both.
A freestanding tub plus a walk in shower creates a more spa like layout when space allows.
But in many Vernon Hills homes, especially older layouts, homeowners are choosing one or the other.
Cost differences between tubs and walk in showers
People often assume removing a tub automatically saves money.
Not always.
A custom walk in shower with tile work, glass, waterproofing, benches, and upgraded fixtures can absolutely cost more than a standard tub setup.
At the same time, simpler shower conversions may still make financial sense if they improve daily function.
The key is understanding where your investment is going.
Better waterproofing
Better layout
Better usability
Better comfort
Those are the things homeowners tend to appreciate long term.
Common walk in shower upgrades homeowners love
This is where the remodel starts feeling personal.
Built in niches for storage
Bench seating
Frameless glass
Rainfall shower heads
Handheld shower combinations
Warm lighting
Larger format tile for a cleaner look
These upgrades help the shower feel intentional instead of basic.
Common bathtub mistakes homeowners regret
Buying a large tub they rarely use
Choosing trendy shapes that become difficult to clean
Forcing a tub into a layout that feels cramped
Ignoring storage while focusing on aesthetics
The best bathrooms balance comfort, practicality, and appearance.
A mistake homeowners make with this decision
The biggest mistake is designing based only on resale.
You still have to live there.
If you hate your current setup and never use the tub, designing your bathroom around a future hypothetical buyer may not make sense.
At the same time, if this is your forever home and baths are important to you, removing the tub because of a trend also may not make sense.
The right decision is the one that fits how you actually live.
The emotional side people do not talk about enough
Bathrooms are personal spaces.
People want them to feel calm. Comfortable. Easy.
A good bathroom remodel changes how your mornings feel. That sounds dramatic, but it is true.
Better lighting
More space
A shower that feels relaxing instead of cramped
Storage that actually works
These things affect your routine every single day.
Seeing real projects helps more than looking at samples
A tile sample and a full finished bathroom feel very different.
One of the best ways to decide between a shower and tub setup is to look at finished spaces and pay attention to what feels right.
What layouts feel open
What bathrooms feel relaxing
What styles feel timeless
So which one should you choose
Choose a walk in shower if:
You mostly shower
You want easier access
You want a cleaner modern feel
You want lower maintenance
You want the bathroom to feel larger
Choose a bathtub if:
You regularly take baths
You have young children
You only have one tub in the house
You strongly prefer a traditional layout
And if space allows, combining both can give you the best of both worlds.
Ready to plan your bathroom remodel in Vernon Hills
A bathroom remodel is not about following trends blindly.
It is about creating a space that feels good to use every single day.
Whether that means a walk in shower, a bathtub, or a combination of both depends on your home and how you live.
If you want help planning a bathroom remodel in Vernon Hills, the next step is a conversation.
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