Homeowners looking to renovate their residence often look to spruce up the bathroom as part of this work. An improved bathroom will be functional and beautiful, and can easily improve the home's value.

You might consider putting in a new bathtub so you can enjoy a peaceful soak whenever you need to relax. If so, you'll need to decide whether to get a built-in or freestanding tub. Both options have their advantages and disadvantages, and your choice should come down to your own taste and needs.

Built-in

Built-in tubs have water supplied by plumbing in a wall, so they need to be installed where a faucet can be easily located. The interior design site Homedit says they're unfinished on at least two sides and need to placed against a wall, in a corner, or in an enclosure.

Naturally, this limits the places where a bathtub can be placed. However, it can also lead to a more efficient use of space. Laurysen Kitchens, a Canadian company, says built-in tubs will be flush to a wall, opening up more space elsewhere in the room.

The efficiency of built-in tubs has generally made them a more common choice in bathrooms. The plumbing for the feature is also readily available, and the bulk of it is concealed within the wall.

Built-in tubs can easily serve multiple purposes. Homedit says they can be used for showering simply by installing a showerhead higher on the wall. It also tends to be easier to incorporate built-in shelving for storage.

One disadvantage to built-in bathtubs is their visual appeal. Laurysen Kitchens says there are usually limited options for built-in materials, and that the design options tend to pale in comparison to freestanding tubs.

You can still create an attractive surround to make more of a visual statement, but this can lead to other problems. Building, sealing, and mounting this feature will require more effort and cost. Audrey Bauer, writing for the home design site Apartment Therapy, says a bolder surround can also potentially take up more room, eliminating the benefit of efficiency.

Freestanding

Freestanding bathtubs are finished on all sides and can stand alone in the room. The flexibility of freestanding bathtubs is arguably their biggest advantage. The bathroom fixture line Moen says they can be located in the center of a room or anywhere else you'd like to place them.

Placing the tub anywhere you like also means it's easier to install. Built-in tubs usually require a contractor and decorator to create the tile, surrounds, and other features. Laurysen Kitchens says freestanding tubs just require a plumber to connect the water pipes.

The tub is designed to be a striking feature in the bathroom. Bauer says there are a variety of designs and materials available, and the bathtub may even be a focal point in the room. Freestanding tubs also tend to be a natural choice for creating a spa-like bathroom, as they provide plenty of room for a soak.

Many freestanding tubs are made of heavy materials, such as cast iron or marble. Moen says this quality, combined with the weight of the water when filled, means you may need to reinforce the floor to ensure that it can handle the weight.

While freestanding tubs have more flexibility in where they can be placed, they also typically take up more room. Homedit says the tub usually needs to be supplied by a plumbing fixture coming out of the floor instead of one that can be efficiently built into the wall.

Unless you're taking a bath every day, a freestanding tub may not be too practical for your daily bathing needs. It's more difficult to store soap, shampoo, and other items unless you use a bath shelf or nearby freestanding storage option like a shower caddie. Laurysen Kitchens says it's also more difficult to mount a shower to a freestanding tub, and that installing a shower curtain makes the setup look considerably less appealing.

Freestanding tubs also tend to be less friendly to those with mobility issues. It's much more difficult to get into and out of freestanding bathtubs than it is with built-in tubs.