How to Replace Bathtubs in Small Bathrooms

Determine your needs for the bathtub. If you're replacing a bathtub in a guest room or second bathroom that doesn’t get much use, you may not need to spend as much money as you might on your main bathroom, especially since those rooms won’t take as much abuse from regular daily use.

Consider replacing the bathtub with a combination bathtub-shower instead of just a bathtub. In a small bathroom, combining your shower and bathtub can save a great deal of space. While many bathtub-shower combinations are fairly basic, you can have a contractor or designer build one to your specifications, which may be ideal if you're in the process of a large renovation. Combination bathtubs and showers can be built to suit all styles of homes -- from traditional ones to those that are more modern.

Avoid using large claw-foot or stand-alone tubs. While their style may work well in your bathroom, they take up a lot of extra space that built-in bathtubs don’t, making your room feel even smaller.

Stay away from large tiles when redoing your bathtub. Large tiles make small rooms seem even smaller. If you want to use natural or manmade tile, use smaller tiles to add visual depth to the room and make it feel a bit larger when working in a small space.

Find a local contractor with experience installing bathroom fixtures in your style of décor. If you have a traditional home, hire a contractor who generally works in more traditional spaces; if you have a contemporary-style home, hire a contractor with experience installing modern fixtures, as the processes can be different.