The Outdated Bathroom Feature That's Ready For A Big Comeback In 2026

In recent years, freestanding bathtubs that make a statement have become desirable additions in many homeowners' bathrooms. At the same time, walk-in showers have been getting bigger, sometimes coming at the expense of having a bathtub in the bathroom at all. However, these trends have overshadowed a longstanding bathroom staple: the built-in bathtub. This once-ubiquitous design has gradually garnered a reputation for being too bulky and even outdated, but some designers say it's time for this old faithful bathroom feature to push its way back into the limelight and join the ranks of other bathroom trends taking over in 2026.

"For years, everyone's been ripping them out in favor of freestanding tubs, but I'm ready to see them return," interior designer Amy Switzer told Apartment Therapy of built-in bathtubs. And it shouldn't be a one-size-fits all approach. Erin Hackett Nordholt, owner of Hackett House Studio, told Good Housekeeping that she anticipates different types of built-in bathtubs making a comeback. "We're going to see a strong return to drop-in and undermount bathtubs in 2026," the designer said. "The freestanding tub absolutely had its moment, but clients are gravitating back toward function and beauty."

While we love a relaxing freestanding bathtub, built-in bathtubs can be the smartest choice for many homes. Since built-in bathtubs are often built into a wall or corner, they're tucked away nicely and tend to take up less space — making them a tidier, more practical choice for smaller bathrooms or apartments. And even the little extra space they do have around the rims can be put to good use; unlike freestanding tubs, built-in bathtubs usually have room around the edges for storing shampoo and soap bottles, or even little indulgences such as candles or essential oil diffusers.

Not only do built-in bathtubs tend to be cheaper to buy and install, they're also generally easier to clean. Tight corners and tough to reach places can be among the hardest spots to clean in your bathroom, but built-in bathtubs are simpler to scrub because they sit flush against the wall without little crevices around and under the tub. Plus, if you opt for a built-in bathtub and shower combination, it's less surface area to clean because the shower and tub are together rather than having a separate standalone tub and standalone shower to tackle individually.

And let's not turn our noses up at the versatility you can get from that classic built-in bathtub and shower combo. Although some people are doing away with having a bathtub in their bathroom at all, the reality is that for parents of small children, a bathtub is an absolute necessity for cleaning little ones, as is the ability to jump in a quick shower (whenever you can squeeze one in). Combining the two into one tidy package is often more convenient than individual, elaborate walk-in showers or freestanding soaking tubs.

Not all built-in bathtubs are created equal! If you're ready to take the plunge, so to speak, on a built-in bathtub in your own bathroom, there are plenty of different styles to choose from. You could go with an alcove bathtub, which feels intimate and cozy tucked between two walls — and is also a perfect option for extra-tiny bathrooms. Or, if you have more space, you could opt for a built-in bathtub that still has the airy feel of a freestanding tub by building only one side of the tub attached to the wall and leaving the other sizes open.

There are also different installation types to choose between. You could go with an undermount tub, which sits seamlessly inside the bathtub deck; or a drop-in bathtub, which sits on top of the bathtub deck with a visible rim around it. No matter which option you select, built-in bathtubs give you lots of ways to get creative — like playing with bathroom tile trends on the walls and surface of the bathtub itself, for example — so you're sure to find a look and style that suits your design tastes.