news

한어Русский языкEnglishFrançaisIndonesianSanskrit日本語DeutschPortuguêsΕλληνικάespañolItalianoSuomalainenLatina

an outdoor bathtub is the ultimate luxury, but you have to be willing to maintain it.

when it comes to food, pairings are fun, combining our favorite foods to create something even better: peanut butter and jelly, wine and cheese, chocolate and strawberries. the list goes on.

when you combine two of your favorite things, do you create a third thing that's even better, or do you simply diminish the qualities that made each of them great? that's the question we have to ask ourselves when we think about this new design trend: outdoor bathtubs and spa porches.

"my husband and i remodeled a rarely used screened porch on our property, added a hot tub, and named it the 'spa porch,'" designer megan molten told house beautiful. "it's filled with plants we collected, and it's just magical at night... adding plumbing outdoors is often completely feasible, and it's an easy and very satisfying addition for anyone who enjoys a soak."

related: backyard bathtubs are trending — but should you try one?

there are both advantages and disadvantages to having an outdoor tub, but most of the advantages stem from the fact that you can have a beautiful tub in the privacy of your own home while enjoying nature.

an outdoor tub can offer a lot of relaxing and stress-relieving benefits, which are not only good for your mental health, but also for your physical health by improving circulation, reducing muscle tension, and helping you sleep better. if you treat this tub like a hot tub or jacuzzi, it's great for hosting parties - but if you use it like a regular bathtub, it's not so great.

one of the great things about this feature is that it brings the outdoors into your bathing experience, allowing you to connect with nature and enjoy the fresh air, scenery and natural surroundings. plus, it just looks really cute.

related: 20 screened porch ideas for an inviting outdoor entertaining space

it’s not all plain sailing, however: an outdoor tub or porch spa requires a lot of maintenance and regular cleaning that your regular bathroom tub doesn’t. if you leave your outdoor tub filled with water all the time, you’ll need to balance the chemicals to ensure it doesn’t get murky. plus, it’s weather-dependent, which may limit the amount of time you can actually use the tub.

privacy is one of the biggest concerns. depending on where your outdoor tub or porch spa is located, it can be tricky to make it secluded enough for you to have a peaceful experience. and all of this setup can be expensive—especially if you decide to do any kind of plumbing or electrical work.

if your place has an outdoor tub or porch spa, it might be the perfect way to enjoy a relaxing summer evening. but if your garden doesn't fit the design trend, or you live in an area with unpredictable weather, it might be time to update your bathroom.