Freestanding bathtubs: designing the bathroom around a gesture of wellbeing

A freestanding bathtub is not just a furnishing element: it is a design choice that changes the way you experience the bathroom. Positioned at the centre of the space, free from wall constraints, it becomes the visual and functional focal point of the room,an invitation to relax that transforms a daily ritual into an experience.
In recent years, freestanding bathtubs have become key features in high-end residential and hospitality projects. However, integrating them requires attention, expertise, and a comprehensive vision. Dimensions, materials, weight, taps and fittings, and surrounding space all influence the final result.

Shapes: pure geometries or organic volumes

The shape of a freestanding bathtub immediately defines the character of the bathroom.
Round and oval tubs are ideal for fluid, harmonious environments: they soften spatial geometries and create a more intimate, enveloping perception. Rectangular or square shapes, on the other hand, dialogue with more rigorous and contemporary architecture, establishing a precise balance between order and comfort.
Alongside more classical geometries, organic forms inspired by nature and the movement of water are increasingly prominent. An emblematic example is the DR collection by Agape, where the bathtub becomes a true sculptural volume, capable of interacting with light and the surrounding space.

Agape – DR Bathtub

Dimensions and use modes: not all bathtubs are the same

When it comes to freestanding bathtubs, size is not merely an aesthetic matter, but also a functional one. There are compact or “seated” bathtubs designed for smaller bathrooms or for those who prefer a quicker, more intimate ritual.
At the opposite end, large-format bathtubs become true islands of wellbeing, ideal for spacious environments and projects where the bathroom takes on a central role. A separate chapter is dedicated to the Japanese bathing ritual, reinterpreted by Agape with the Immersion bathtub: a deep tub designed for full-body immersion, where the act of bathing becomes meditation and self-care.

Agape – Soaking Bathtub

Materials and colours: aesthetics, weight and performance

The choice of material affects aesthetics, tactile sensation, overall weight, and long-term performance.

Acrylic
A lightweight and cost-effective solution, easy to install and versatile. An example is the Desire bathtub by Jacuzzi, available in matte or glossy white, with a contained weight of approximately 53 kg.

Jacuzzi – Desire Bathtub

Natural stone or marble
Highly scenic solutions with significant visual impact but considerable weight. The Orion bathtub by antoniolupi, made of natural stone, can reach 410 kg—an option that requires careful structural evaluation.

antoniolupi – Orion Bathtub

Enamelled steel
Kaldewei uses high-quality enamelled steel that is resistant, hygienic, and durable. Available in white and in a wide range of enamel colours, it ensures resistance to impacts and scratches, easy cleaning, and long-lasting performance.

Kaldewei – Meisterstück Classic Duo Oval Bathtub

Cristalplant®
An iconic material in contemporary bathroom design, appreciated for its matte aesthetic and uniform surface. It has remarkable weight and requires careful planning.

antoniolupi – Dune Bathtub

Cristalmood
Developed by antoniolupi, it is a transparent coloured resin with a glossy finish, composed of high-quality polyester resin and pigments. Compared to traditional solid surfaces, it is approximately 30% lighter.

antoniolupi – Reflex Bathtub in Cristalmood

Flumood and Colormood
Among antoniolupi bathtub collections, Flumood becomes both a design tool and a technical material. It is a matte, compact, non-porous solid surface, silky to the touch and restorable, allowing the creation of monolithic, seamless volumes. This enhances the formal purity of the bathtubs, emphasizing their soft geometries and the quality of light on the surface. From an interior design perspective, the possibility of customizing the exterior with textured lacquers according to the antoniolupi colour chart allows you to integrate the bathtub into the room’s chromatic project, or to transform it into a statement piece.

antoniolupi – Cuba Bathtub in Flumood

With Colormood, research goes further by introducing a through-coloured eco-resin with a matte, velvety finish. The colour is not just applied superficially but is integral to the material, ensuring depth, uniformity, and lasting aesthetic consistency. In bathtubs, this translates into a more sculptural and distinctive presence: colour becomes a design language capable of defining the bathroom’s atmosphere and dialoguing with surfaces, coverings, and furnishings. The bathtub is no longer merely functional, but the compositional core of the environment.

antoniolupi – Reflex Bathtub in Colormood

Aquatek®
Developed by Disenia, Aquatek is an advanced surface made of natural mineral fillers and next-generation resins, designed to offer high performance and strong aesthetic quality. To the touch, it recalls the solidity and depth of natural stone but with a silkier, warmer, and more uniform feel. Its matte, non-porous, and highly hygienic finish makes it ideal for the bathroom environment, ensuring easy cleaning and everyday comfort.
From a technical standpoint, it provides excellent thermal insulation, maintaining water temperature longer, and it is restorable in case of minor surface marks, like the most advanced solid surfaces. A material designed to last over time, capable of combining substance, functionality, and refined design.

Disenia – Ellisse Bathtub in Aquatek

System bathtubs and wellness bathtubs

Beyond traditional bathtubs, there are system bathtubs such as those by Makro, designed to become an integral part of the bathroom’s architecture. They are not simple standalone elements but modular solutions combining tub, support surfaces, storage volumes, and functional integrations into a single coherent volume. The bathtub thus becomes a central design element, capable of dialoguing with materials, furnishings, and spatial proportions—especially in contemporary, bespoke environments.

Aretusa by Disenia is a freestanding bathtub in Aquatek that interprets wellbeing in a contemporary way, combining ergonomic comfort, sophisticated materiality, and architectural function. The air whirlpool system creates a gentle, enveloping effect: microbubbles rising from the base massage the body evenly, quietly, and non-invasively, transforming the bath into a ritual of deep relaxation.
Its wide, sculptural shape naturally embraces the body, while integrated elements – support surfaces, storage volumes, carefully engineered proportions – make Aretusa much more than a bathtub: a true focal point of the bathroom project, capable of organizing space and defining the environment’s identity. An iconic presence designed for those seeking sensory wellbeing, exclusive design, and an aesthetic that endures over time.

Disenia – Arteusa Bathtub

Installation: what to evaluate before choosing

Designing a freestanding bathtub requires several fundamental thorough checks, as every solution has aesthetic and technical implications that must be assessed during the design phase.

● Weight
It is essential to consider:
• the weight of the bathtub
• the weight of the water when fully filled
• the weight of the person
The total load must be compatible with the structural capacity of the floor slab.

● Clearance space
Adequate space around the bathtub is necessary to:
• move comfortably
• carry out cleaning
• ensure visual and functional comfort

● Taps and fittings
The choice of fittings greatly affects the final result. The main solutions include:
• floor-mounted column with mixer, spout, and hand shower
• freestanding bathtub spout with wall-mounted remote controls including mixer and hand shower
• water supply from the waste column with wall-mounted remote controls including mixer and hand shower

Consultation makes the difference

A freestanding bathtub is not chosen by sight alone. It requires a comprehensive vision that considers materials, structure, plumbing systems, and usage habits. At Bertani, design always begins with listening: understanding the space, your needs, and your way of experiencing the bathroom is the first step toward transforming a freestanding bathtub into a daily experience of wellbeing, balance, and beauty.

Contact us for a dedicated design consultation and discover how to develop a bathroom that combines aesthetics, functionality, and wellbeing—starting from a holistic vision.