The Ultimate Bath Buying Guide

Make your bathroom feel complete with a bath as an inviting centrepiece. Baths set the tone for the rest of the room, and you can explore options in a range of stylish shapes and bath sizes to find the best bath for your space. 

Our guide to buying a bath will tell you everything you need to know about the different types of baths and what to consider when purchasing one.

The most common type of bath, straight baths, are slim and compact and work well in virtually any bathroom layout. This shape bath is usually installed against a wall, with both single-ended and double-ended designs available depending on the space available.

Shower baths are space-saving two-in-one units that make it even easier to shower in your bath. They’re ideal for smaller bathrooms that don’t have room for a separate shower and bath. They generally come in either L-shaped or P-shaped designs to give you more space at the showering end.

If you have plenty of space to play with and you want to create the ultimate luxury bathroom, a freestanding bath is the perfect showstopping centrepiece. They’re available in a range of styles, from traditional and ornate roll-top baths with claw feet to clean-cut contemporary designs with flat rims.

A corner bath could be the ideal solution if you’re working with a small bathroom or an unusual layout. As the name suggests, corner baths fit snugly in the corner of your bathroom. They’re ideal for small bathrooms or bathrooms that aren’t quite long enough for a standard-length bath, and they offer a spacious bathing area.

The first thing to think about when buying a bath is where it will be positioned and how much space you have. Every bathroom is different, which is why our baths come in a variety of lengths and widths. You can also choose between single-ended and double-ended options depending on your bathroom layout and your preferences. Check out our guide to choosing the right bath size if you need some help to pick the perfect bath for your space.

Fixtures and fittings are where you can introduce some design flair. Consider where the taps will go: at one end of the bath or in the middle, either in tap holes or mounted on the wall. No bath is complete without a stylish set of taps. For a traditional bathroom, choose Victorian detail taps like those from the Mira Virtue range, or for contemporary styling, choose minimalist designs from our Precision or Honesty ranges.

If you’ve chosen a shower bath, then you’ll need to choose a shower, too. We offer a shower and bath fill combination with two of our Mira Mode products, as well as our extensive range of electric showers, mixer showers, digital showers and power showers.

Tiles are common in bathrooms because they’re aesthetically versatile and more water-resistant than paint. However, tiling is costly and time-consuming, and grout can be hard to keep clean. 

Mira wall panels and bath panels are easy to fit, durable and leak-proof. They even help to minimise the growth of mould in your bathroom. They’re available in different sizes to suit your space, or you can cut them to size for a bespoke, custom fit.

Keep your bathroom dry with a bath screen or a shower curtain. Shower curtains have a lower upfront cost and are handy if you have small children, but they’re harder to keep clean and can look untidy. If you want a sleeker and more modern look, bath screens are easier to clean and will make your bathroom seem bigger, brighter and neater. 

Trying to choose between a bath screen and a shower curtain? Find out more about whether a bath screen or shower curtain would work best for you before you make your decision.